A. Establishment of the Awards Program

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) Awards Program was introduced in 1995 to acknowledge outstanding work by search and rescue (SAR) professionals and organizations, and to raise awareness of SAR efforts across the country.

The Outstanding SAR Achievement Award recognizes the most exceptional contribution to SAR in Canada by an individual or organization. One Outstanding SAR Achievement Award can be awarded each year.

The Certificates of Achievement recognize individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to SAR efforts. Approximately five Certificates of Achievement are given out each year.

B. Eligibility

1. Any type of contribution to SAR in Canada shall be considered for nominating an individual or organization for the NSS awards program.

2. The nominee must have performed outstanding work in the field of SAR above and beyond routine work and service.

3. The contribution must be in the form of sustained effort over a period of time.

4. The Award and Certificates may be granted posthumously.

5. If an individual or organization has been nominated for any NSS awards in the past, whether or not they received an Award or Certificate, substantial new information must be presented for the NSS to consider this nominee. A list of past recipients of the Outstanding Search and Rescue Achievement Awards and Certificates of Achievement is available upon request.

6. An individual who has received one or more of the following decorations from the Governor General for a particular incident cannot be considered for the NSS awards program for that same incident:

Meritorious Service Decorations, including
Meritorious Service Cross (military),
Meritorious Service Cross (civil),
Meritorious Service Medal (military), and
Meritorious Service Medal (civil);
or
Decorations for bravery, including
Cross of Valour,
Star of Courage, and
Medal of Bravery.

7. The information contained in the nomination is the basis for the evaluation, so it must be complete and fully justify the nomination. The committee will not routinely contact the nominator or seek any supplementary information.

8. Nominations may be reviewed by officials from the government departments/agencies and volunteer organizations affiliated with the NSS including the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, the Department of National Defence*, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Parks Canada Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Transport Canada.
*Nominations of active Canadian Forces members will be subject to examination through the chain of command.

C. Preparation and Submission of Nominations

1. All nominations shall use the NSS awards program nomination form and follow the attached guidelines for preparing the nominations.

2. Nominations shall be submitted no later than July 09, 2008. Nominations received after the deadline date will be filed for consideration in the next year's awards program.

3. A nomination can be submitted by any person over the age of 18, who is familiar with the contribution of the individual or organization being submitted.

4. Employees of the NSS cannot nominate an individual or organization for the awards program. Employees of the NSS are not eligible for the Award or Certificates.

5. An individual cannot nominate himself/herself or the organization with which he or she is affiliated.

6. A good nomination will use plain language to tell the selection committee what the nominee has done and how the contribution has helped SAR. The outcome and the process of the contribution must be described and substantiated.

7. A current biographical sketch, including dates of active participation in organizations, and any awards or honours earned by the nominee, is useful to the selection committee.

8. Dates and details about the nominee's work and how it has affected their community and SAR in general provides the selection committee with a valuable decision-making tool.

9. The nominator must provide two references (with names and complete contact information) who can substantiate the facts in the nomination.

Submit the information to

Awards Program
National Search and Rescue Secretariat
275 Slater Street, 4th Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0K2
Facsimile: (613) 996-3746
E-mail: inquiry@nss.gc.ca

D. Selection process

(i) Criteria
The nominations will be rated against the following criteria:
1) Education and prevention
· Identification of a need for a program
· Planning and design of a program
· Introduction of a successful SAR educational or prevention program
· Application of the program
· Success of the program
· Scale of effort

2) Technique and technology
· Development of a new technique or technology
· Introduction of SAR technique or technology
· Success of the new technique or technology
· Scale of effort

3) SAR services
· Changes or improvements to SAR
· Positive impact of changes
· Range/scope of impact
· Fundraising

4) Dedication
· Years of service to SAR
· Amount of effort
· Role/impact

5) Extraordinary rescue effort
· Success
· Use of SAR techniques
· Personal risk

6) Leadership
· Leadership activities
· Number of years as SAR group/team leader

(ii) Selection Committee
1. The selection committee is made up of senior NSS management.

2. Nominations will be discussed and confirmed with the organization(s) the nominee is affiliated with.

(iii) Selection of Recipients
1. References may be checked upon receipt of nomination.

2. After July 09, 2008, nominations will be compiled and sent to the selection committee for evaluation as soon as reference checks are complete.

3. The NSS will notify the Outstanding SAR Achievement award recipient, the certificate recipients and all nominators.

E. Presentation and Form of the Award and Certificates

Award and Certificate recipients' names will be officially announced at the annual SARSCENE awards banquet on October 18, 2008.

The Award and Certificates will be presented by the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue or his/her representative at the annual SARSCENE awards banquet.

The NSS will provide news releases on the award and certificate recipients to the appropriate media.

The NSS will pay the following expenses: travel, registration fees, meals (per diem), banquet tickets and accommodations for the Outstanding SAR Achievement Award recipient to attend the SARSCENE workshop and the awards banquet. The NSS will make the travel and accommodation arrangements for the Outstanding SAR Achievement Award recipient. The NSS will also pay for the banquet ticket of each of the certificate recipients.

Guidelines for Preparing Nominations

1. Fill out the candidate information on the application form.

2. Write the reasons for the nomination in the area provided. Describe in a qualitative manner

• the nature of the candidate's contribution to SAR (achievements applying to this nomination)
• the significance of the candidate's contribution to SAR (including the importance of the contributions and the benefits resulting from them)
• the context of the contribution (including background against which the contributions were made and problems overcome)

Use a separate sheet if necessary. Refer to the award criteria in the Rules for more detail.

3. Provide an up-to-date biographical sketch of the nominee on a separate sheet.

4. Provide 2 other references (with their names and contact information) to corroborate the information you have provided.

5. Fill out the nominator information on the applications form.

6. Attach all relevant supporting documentation, including endorsements.

Submit nomination to the awards program coordinator.

Awards Home page