Government of Canada funds data management system for more efficient search and rescue in Saskatchewan

WHITE CITY, SK, March 9, 2019 /CNW/ - The search and rescue community works tirelessly to keep Canadians safe as they play, work and explore in the great outdoors across our country. The Government of Canada is determined to support these brave women and men with the tools and technology they need to best serve Canadians.

At his opening remarks at today's Multi-Jurisdictional Search Exercise, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale highlighted the ongoing success of the Saskatchewan Data Management and SAR Resource Tracking: From Field to National Fora project funded under the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF). 

This funding of over $512,000 has been used in part to fund today's exercise as well as provide the province of Saskatchewan with a comprehensive search and rescue incident and activity reporting system. As this project approaches its third year of implementation, the data management improvements have strengthened the Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers (SARSAV) ability to view and assess, in real time, what resources, equipment, personnel, and training levels are available at any given moment and manage them throughout an ongoing incident.

Quotes

"Mounting an effective search and rescue operation is a highly technical undertaking. Success relies on well-trained, well-equipped and skilled individuals deployed in a way that is both tightly organized and flexible. This program will help keep Canadians safe by ensuring that responders are able to manage a search and rescue operation efficiently. The Government of Canada is proud to support initiatives like this one that result in a more effective and coordinated search and rescue capacity."

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"SARSAV is appreciative of the SAR NIF program and the funding that this allows for a Provincial Data Management and SAR Resource Tracking project to be brought to Saskatchewan. Simply put, this will save lives! Support from Public Safety Canada through the National Search and Rescue Secretariat and the New Initiatives Fund with ongoing commitment to the professional volunteer SAR community is vital to the important work of our members as we respond to search efforts. This system will allow SARSAV to respond to a search emergency in a more coordinated way provincially, which allows a faster response in the event that you or your loved one becomes lost or missing."

- Bobbi Buchanan, SARSAV President

Quick Facts

• In Canada, search and rescue is a responsibility shared by governments, the military, volunteers, and industry groups.
• There are approximately 15,000 search and rescue volunteers across Canada, representing ground, air and maritime domains.
• Canada's search and rescue area of responsibility is 18 million square kilometres of land and water, and includes the longest coastline in the world.

Associated Links

• National Search and Rescue Program
• Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF)
• Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) 

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Scott Bardsley, Manager of Media and Communications, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]