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INTERVIEW

Interview with Harry Blackmore as Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada names new President

The Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) has named Harry Blackmore as its new President for a term of two years. Mr. Blackmore replaces Monica Ahlstrom, who served as President for seven years.

After raising all the funds themselves, the members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Ground SAR Association built this command post, and within six months, it will be equipped with a complete GIS system. Pictured with the new command post is Harry Blackmore, President of NLGSARA.

Mr. Blackmore is a retired professional fire captain who has been involved in search and rescue (SAR) for the past 35 years, has been involved with the Newfoundland and Labrador Ground Search and Rescue Association for 32 years and has been its President for the past 12. Mr. Blackmore was also the recipient of both a 1999 and 2004 Certificate of Achievement, presented by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat at its annual SARSCENE Workshop.

SARVAC is a national ground search and rescue (GSAR) volunteer association and has approximately 22,000 members.

During a recent visit to the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, Mr. Blackmore discussed his thoughts and goals for SARVAC.

The main issue is a reorganization of SARVAC so it becomes a strong national voice for GSAR volunteers across Canada. Mr. Blackmore says a national voice is necessary, especially for communicating national GSAR information to all the groups in the province.

"We want to work together so that all the information comes from one voice and goes to all the organizations at the same time," he explained. "No one is missing out because everyone will get the same information," about policies, procedures, issues or trends affecting volunteers.

Along with reorganization, Mr. Blackmore would like to build stronger relations with partners such as police organizations across Canada, Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, Transport Canada, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat and others.

Further down the road, Mr. Blackmore would like to focus more on prevention programs and the creation of a national database with statistics on volunteer training and operations.

He's not sure he can accomplish all he has set out to do in these two years, but Mr. Blackmore is optimistic because "with 22,000 members, you can make a difference, no matter what you do."

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