News

Cultural Awareness Strengthens Search and Rescue Response

Cultural Awareness Strengthens Search and Rescue Response November 2–8 marks Treaties Recognition Week in Ontario— an opportunity for Ontarians, and Canadians more broadly, to deepen understanding and engagement with Indigenous peoples as part of the ongoing process...

Can you guess who’s who?

We’re proud to welcome back our re-elected SARVAC Executive! 🙌 Janelle Coultes – SARVAC President Guy Lapointe – SARVAC Vice President Bobbi Buchanan – SARVAC Secretary Jason Hudson – SARVAC Treasurer Although not everyone could be present for a photo opportunity...

2025 SARVAC Humanitarian Workforce Wildfire Operations Recap 

July 15 – August 29, 2025 More than 179 trained Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) volunteers from across Canada answered the call to support wildfire response. Deployment Highlights Manitoba 107 responders 783 person-days Newfoundland & Labrador 88 responders 656...

Humanitarian Workforce (HWF) Deployment Update

This week, our final rotations remained fully engaged with operational tasks while preparing for demobilization. Some SARVAC HWF responders from Nova Scotia returned home on short notice to support their own communities facing active wildfire emergencies. Meanwhile,...

SARVAC Humanitarian Workforce Program (HWF) Update – NL and MB Deployments

📍 Newfoundland & Labrador: Since the start of this week, the National Incident Support Team (NIST) has been activated, and SARVAC HWF response planning is ongoing. Mission Ready Group NL Rotation 1 has been selected. Travel is arranged, a Base of Operations has...

Searcher Training Coursework for members of the Innu Nation

We are proud to share coursework provided by the Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association (NLSARA) who have worked hard to offer Searcher training this Fall for members of the Sheshatshiu and Natuashish, Innu Nation communities alongside Royal Canadian...

Revitalization to Enhance All Hazards Response Project

The Search and Rescue Association of Alberta hosted SARVAC at its quarterly Stakeholder Committee meeting on September 29th in support of the objectives of the "Revitalization to Enhance All Hazards Response Project." Key members of Alberta's SAR community were also...

Humanitarian Workforce Project – Phase 2 Update

On May 16, 2022, Public Safety Canada advised SARVAC that a submission for Phase 2 “Supporting a  Humanitarian Workforce to Respond to COVID-19 and Other Large-Scale Emergencies” program had  been approved with the formal agreement signed on July 6, 2022.   The...

Guidelines for SARVAC AdventureSmart Stipend

Guidelines for SARVAC AdventureSmart Stipend

The AdventureSmart Stipend is back! The purpose behind the stipend is to help offset minor travel and meal costs when delivering AdventureSmart programs (for parking, mileage and or meals over lunch time etc.) as no other cost are reimbursed. For teams to qualify for...

SARVAC Interim Assistant National Prevention Coordinators

The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada is proud to announce recent changes to the SARVAC/AdventureSmart team including the recruitment of two Interim Assistant National Coordinators in efforts to streamline and strengthen program direction under...

WELCOME TO SUMMER 2022 (Spring Recap)

WELCOME TO SUMMER 2022 (Spring Recap)

(Dedicated to the GSAR members from across Canada who we've lost this year) On behalf of SARVAC we want to wish all of our members, those in training (MITs), and auxiliary team members across the country a safe and happy Summer. If you're interested in what has...

Join Our

Newsletter

 

Every year, Ground Search and Rescue volunteers put themselves on the line to help those in need.
Sign up to get stories, updates, and ways you can support their lifesaving work.