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| ARGO, PEI's newest all-terrain search and rescue vehicle |
Stationed at the police department in Borden-Carleton, the vehicle was funded by Federal and provincial partners, as well as Master Packaging Ltd.
The ARGO is equipped with a rescue sled and a complete vehicle radio system, which allows the crew to talk to other emergency agencies across the province.
Ground search and rescue teams, fire departments and members of the Canadian Ski Patrol have been trained to operate the vehicle.
This past January, the Halifax Regional Search and Rescue team launched a mobile command centre to manage ground search and rescue incidents.
Costing $350,000, this command centre is a fully self-contained incident command centre, with 225 square feet of space for planning in all weather, with integrated multi-level communications capability.
Response times will be improved because equipment is already stored in the vehicle and searchers will have quicker access to a variety of rescue and site management tools and supplies. As well, set-up time on location will be reduced because of improvements to radio tower set-up and improvements in basic readiness of the new command centre. All in all, the teams will be able to get into the woods faster.
Tony Rodgers, spokesperson for the volunteer search and rescue team, as well as past Director for the group based in Lakeview, N.S., says "all of the accolades for the development and planning for this mobile command vehicle go to our team members."
The Georgian Bay and Parry Sound regions of Ontario now have more accurate weather data. On November 13, 2002, Environment Canada announced the opening of the Georgian Bay Doppler weather radar and the new automatic weather station located in Parry Sound.
| The Office of the Fire Marshall in Hay River, Northwest Territories awarded "I Survived!" certificates to students who completed the Youth SAR Camp last June. The camp, which included lessons in water safety, hypothermia and shelters, was part of an on-going SAR prevention program, the Risk Watch Program, funded by the Government of the Northwest Territories. |
The Honourable Andy Mitchell, MP for Parry Sound-Muskoka said "this advanced weather radar will provide meteorologists with valuable data to predict severe weather more quickly and precisely."
This is the fifth Doppler radar located in Ontario, part of a country-wide network of radars being installed by Environment Canada. (See feature story)
Six municipalities across Ontario will be pilot sites for the Ontario Ministry of Public Safety and Security's new Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) Ontario program.
The six municipalities are: Brampton, Carleton Place, Hamilton, Oliver Paipoonge, Prescott and Timmins.
CERV Ontario is trying to gather a broader base of experience, knowledge and skills by recruiting retired emergency responders, such as former police officers, firefighters and paramedics for leadership roles and liaison roles with current emergency responders.
The volunteers will be trained in a variety of general emergency and disaster management skills, including: basic medical and lifesaving skills; the psychology of disaster; decision-making and teamwork; self-help emergency functions; and light search and rescue operations.
Modelled after the successful Community Emergency Response Teams program in the United States, CERV Ontario hopes to continually improve emergency management practices in the province.
The program will be available by spring 2003. Anyone interested in joining an existing team or starting a team, should contact his or her local municipality.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Search and Rescue Association (NLSARA) was awarded "Top volunteer dedicated to safe boating" for 2002.
Nominated by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) for outstanding achievement in promoting safe boating across Newfoundland and Labrador, NLSARA has participated in over 200 events since March 2002. NLSARA consists of 27 teams with more than 900 volunteers across the province who have completed over 10,000 hours in searches.
Brian Avery, Newfoundland Superintendent for the Office of Boating Safety, CCG, says "the volunteers have been very active in promoting safe boating in many communities across Newfoundland and Labrador."
The Dementia Walk-A-Way information kit, a New SAR Initiatives Fund project
developed in Nova Scotia, has now been translated into French and adapted
for use in Québec and other jurisdictions where French is spoken.
To obtain a copy, contact Charlie Strickland at searchr@pchg.net.
Present and former students, crewpersons, coordinators and support staff of the Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB)/ Responsible Recreational Boating (RRB) program are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the program at a reunion in Victoria on May 10, 2003.
The IRB Program was implemented to augment Coast Guard personnel and resources during the summer when there is an increase in search and rescue activity. It provides students with summer employment and an opportunity for a marine career.
For information on the reunion or if you know anyone who has been involved
with the IRB/RRB Program, contact Carol Fitzsimmons at
fitzsimmonsc@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca or telephone (250) 363-5360.
By 2009, all operators of pleasure craft fitted with a motor will be
required by law to carry proof of competency under the Competency of Operators
of 
Pleasure
Craft Regulations. The program received a boost this spring when Canadian
Tire and Ted Rankine, host and producer of Powerboat Television, began
marketing a study course accredited by the Canadian Coast Guard. The book
and CD-ROM are being sold in Canadian Tire stores across the country where
about 800 proctors from the Canadian Red Cross provide in-store testing
for boat owners. Mr. Rankine, former President of the Canadian
Safe Boating Council, began his career in boating safety with support
from the New Search and Rescue Initiatives Fund in 1989, broadcasting
boating safety information in his recreational boating show, Powerboat
Television, seen weekly across Canada, and in the United States. The show
carries boating safety messages in each episode.
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