SARSCENE WORKSHOP
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO ACT AS A LOCAL HOST

Objective
Why the NSS wants a local partner
Workshop venue and facilities - specifications
Games
Demonstrations

Objective

SARSCENE workshops facilitate networking and information-sharing within the Canadian search and rescue (SAR) community by

• introducing new techniques and technologies
• creating a climate for strengthening partnerships, especially volunteer/agency relationships
• providing a forum to help resolve common issues
• showcasing best practices, success stories and search and rescue assets
• providing a cost-effective opportunity for training
• bringing together search and rescue organizations for business and professional development
• fostering a common spirit of pride and community among diverse sectors of the search and rescue community
• raising the profile of search and rescue nationally and within a specific region

The NSS promotes the workshop through its website, direct mail and SAR publications.

Why the NSS wants a local partner

Since 1996, the Secretariat has been working in conjunction with local host organizations and provincial and territorial governments to host SARSCENE. The local host provides leadership and advice in bringing together a coalition of SAR providers in the region to assist in planning and implementing workshops and associated activities in partnership with the Secretariat. Only one proposal per province or territory will be considered to ensure that they have the exclusive support of the provincial/territorial SAR authority.

An agreement defines individual and shared roles and responsibilities of the local host, the provincial/territorial SAR authority and the Secretariat.

The NSS may solicit funds to pay for the cost of activities for which the Secretariat is responsible. The local organization may solicit funds to pay for the cost of activities for which it is responsible, and may undertake fundraising activities at SARSCENE, such as a silent auction, or souvenir sales at organization's tradeshow booth.

Workshop venue and facilities - specifications

The city where SARSCENE is held must be readily accessible to attendees from all across Canada, and international delegates.

The workshop venue must include

• one large room that can hold a plenary of 600 people theatre-style
• space for at least 50 tradeshow booths. Ideal size of each booth is 10' by 10' (minimum size is 8' deep by 10' wide). All booths will preferably be in the same room.
• at least four large meeting rooms that can each hold approximately 100 people theatre-style (plenary room, complete or broken down, can be included)
• at least three smaller rooms for workshop office, meeting room and media room
• one large room that can hold a sit-down banquet meal for 400 people at round tables (plenary room or tradeshow room can be turned into banquet room)

The facilities must

• include space for simultaneous interpretation equipment in all presentation rooms used without changing the above-mentioned numbers,
• have on-site catering or access to catering for food and beverage functions,
• allow service/search and rescue dogs in sessions and public areas, and
• be wheelchair accessible.

At least 400 guest rooms should be available in the main venue's immediate vicinity (i.e., walking distance of ten minutes or less). Guest room rates should be as low as possible.

Games

The Games showcase the many important skills of search and rescue workers by motivating teams to higher standards through competition and visibility. Ideally, the SARSCENE Games site should be within walking distance of the main venue so that no transportation is required. An approximate space of ten acres, of which at least three acres should be a wooded area, would be ideal. Access to water or other environmental features may provide for extra challenge in the Games. In the past, the Games have included events such as first aid, emergency scene management, navigation, line-throwing, wilderness survival, search management and low-angle rescues. Bathrooms or portable toilets are required, as well as shelter/warm-up facilities in the event of inclement weather.

Demonstrations

The demonstrations showcase current search and rescue techniques and technologies. In the past, demonstrations have included staged rescue scenarios with CF Labrador, Cormorant and Hercules aircraft, CCG vessels and aircraft, RCMP vessels and static displays, the Toronto Heavy Urban SAR team, provincial police vessels and vehicles, Parks Canada kayaking demonstrations and local SAR teams - to name a few. A space with ample area for at least 500 spectators to watch air, ground or marine demonstrations, close to a water feature and a large open flat area is ideal.

Application Form (.pdf format)