The diversity and vastness of Canada's landscapes offer a unique challenge when it comes to search and rescue (SAR) operations, and regular improvements are key to saving people when they are in distress.
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, President of the King's Privy Council for Canada and Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, announced $46,408 in funding to the Association des Radioamateurs de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue for their two-year initiative entitled SAR Mesh (Collaboration and geolocation in search and rescue).
Public Safety will fund the initiative through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF), which annually provides funding for projects that will improve Canada's search and rescue system.
With this new funding, the Association des Radioamateurs de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue, an association of amateur radio operators, will establish a real-time information sharing platform to support SAR operations carried out by multiple search and rescue partners, such as police, firefighters, volunteers and others.
In many rural and remote areas, commercial telecommunications coverage may be unreliable. The project recipients will set up SAR-Mesh radiotracers to establish a telecommunications network that is independent of commercial infrastructure and that can be deployed in remote forest environments. The system will provide live geolocation (tracking) of teams in the field and allow partners to see and share search areas, points of interest, such as hazards, clues, and tracks, and the position of equipment or personnel in real time.
Canada's SAR system is built on the dedication and hard work of professionals and volunteers. The Government of Canada is committed to advancing search and rescue to minimize Canadians' risk of injury or loss of life.
