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forges inter-provincial partnerships
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by Mark Bowlby
Based in Chelsea Québec, Search and Rescue Global 1, a non-profit organization, is part of network of volunteer search and rescue groups serving the Eastern Ontario-Western Québec region. SAR Global 1 is unique in the sense that they serve both the province of Québec and Ontario. The organization was formed in 1996 following the disappearance of a local man during a winter storm. After the provincial police had called off their search efforts, family and community members were determined to continue the search.
Beverley Pick, founder of SAR Global 1 volunteered when asked by friends of the family to help as search manager to coordinate volunteers in a follow-up effort to find the missing man. Having experienced the recent loss of her own son in the mountains of B.C., and having participated in that unsuccessful search, Ms. Pick understood the family's desperation. On the first day of the renewed search effort (during one of the worst winter storms on record for the area) 150 untrained people arrived at the search to help. This 'unofficial' search continued for 14 days and was daunting. The following spring, the community of Wakefield rallied around the cause. Ground search training began and partnerships were established between ground SAR, trained K9 and fixed wing aircraft support teams.
Unique partnership begins
Within months SAR Global 1 was federally incorporated, a new regional
police force (Municipalité Régional des Collines) was established
and a unique partnership began.
SAR Global 1 now contains over 40 members. Wilderness navigation, first aid, CPR, and other basic SAR skills are part of a core program for all new members, skills that are kept current by regular refresher courses offered by volunteer trainers. From this core group, members have formed specialized teams of advanced first responders, high angle rescuers, and recovery divers.
During operations trained search managers coordinate the entire team. These managers work with partners in Québec and Ontario from volunteer K-9 (Ottawa Valley SAR Dogs Association), aerial search teams, police agencies, and parks and emergency measures planning authorities. Search Manager in Command, Nicolas de Breyne, along with co-manager of operations Kristina Walker, continue to strive towards developing solid partnerships throughout the SAR community.
Avoiding burn-out
Two years ago, a unique approach to operations management was established.
To avoid common 'burn-out' that many SAR team managers face, SAR Global
1 appointed de Breyne and Walker as co-managers of operations. Together,
they work to ensure that training, equipment and everything surrounding
operational capability are taken care of. De Breyne explains "Our
goal is to provide police agencies with reliable and professional SAR
expertise on a voluntary basis. Everything we do - mandatory training,
criminal police checks, and meetings with police agencies to present our
capabilities for their consideration - is done to meet this goal".
SAR Global 1 also works with children to help prevent searches. They offer the RCMP's Hug a Tree and Survive prevention program to local schools and youth groups. The program teaches basic survival skills and woods-proofing.
Calls for assistance range from lost hikers in the wilderness to urban searches for hospital walk-aways. Like thousands of other SAR volunteers across the country, members must juggle the ad hoc nature of SAR calls with family and professional responsibilities, and must also commit to regular training. To maintain an effective level of operations during a search, SAR Global 1 needs to draw from a large volunteer base. While an active recruitment effort has increased membership over the past year, a need for new members still exists.
For more information on SAR Global 1 contact sarglobal1@canada.com or www.geocities.com/sarglobal1.
Mark Bowlby is a volunteer with SAR Global 1.
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