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SAR NEW INITIATIVES FUND

Sharing best practices to improve SAR NIF

By Jae-Sang Park

In February, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) and the Ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec hosted representatives from Provincial/Territorial governments in Québec City, for the annual Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) Provincial/Territorial Workshop.

Every year, the NSS seeks to improve the way that it administers the program by conducting a workshop with provincial/territorial recipients and potential applicants. The workshop provides an opportunity for recipient to have a further understanding of the processes related to the management of SAR NIF projects. The theme of this year’s workshop was focused on the reporting elements of SAR NIF project management.

Approximately 30 participants attended the workshop and discussed best practices, shared ideas and exchanged information on how they managed and reported on their SAR NIF projects.

Further, participants provided the NSS with valuable comments and suggestions for implementation. Comments and suggestions contribute to the continuing improvement of the SAR NIF and its ability to provide federal funding in an effective and efficient manner.

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Thirteen new projects to be funded

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat will be funding 13 new SAR NIF projects in 2008-2009. Projects cover a wide range of activities across marine, air and ground SAR environments with provincial and territorial projects mainly focused on providing SAR volunteers with equipment. Interoperability continues to be addressed in projects through the SAR NIF, which highlights the importance of coordinated SAR responses across Canada.

Projects include:

• The purchase of Small Pack Aerial Rescue Kit (SPARK) for CASARA and training for members.
  
  
• Strengthening interagency response through the development of multi-jurisdictional exercise groups in the Canadian Coast Guard's four key communities on the BC coast.
  
  
• Development of a system (CASTRACK) to track and account for all casualties involved in major marine incidents.
  
  
• Installation of the Weatheradio service to northern communities as well as 24/7 continuous broadcasting of weather information.
  
  
• Research into the hazards associated with ice and freezing fog in northern latitudes while improving detection through satellite instruments and statistical tools.
  
  
• Incorporating scatterometer measurements from operational satellites to improve ocean surface wind and ocean currents analyses and forecasts.
  
  
• Building a sustainable planning and management framework to advance ground SAR through the Ground SAR Council of Canada.
  
  
• Building a national framework by developing a public education and awareness strategy as well as a national training and exercise strategy for members of the SAR Volunteer Association of Canada.
  
  
• Enhancing the safety of volunteer SAR responders in BC through analysis, training and materials, while increasing capacity to track SAR volunteers in the field via automatic position reporting.
  
  
• Enhancing SAR in the province of Manitoba through multi-agency training exercises and ground SAR courses, as well as promoting interoperability through the acquisition of GPS technology.
  
  
• Improving the New Brunswick Ground SAR Program by developing policy and procedures to facilitate strong partnerships among all emergency service providers.
  
  
• Establishing nine regional helicopter high line rescue teams in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.
  
  
• Equipping the Nova Scotia Ground SAR Association with GPS units while increasing public safety and awareness.
  
  

For the complete project list with summaries, visit the NSS website at www.nss.gc.ca.

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Call for new proposals

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) is accepting SAR NIF proposals for initiatives to start April 1st, 2009. The deadline for submitting applications through a recognized SAR NIF partner is August 29, 2008.

The SAR NIF can provide funding for up to three years for projects that enhance air, marine and ground search and rescue (SAR) activities in Canada, as well as prevention initiatives. The SAR NIF has an annual allocation of $8.1 million that is used to fund ongoing and new SAR projects.

SAR NIF projects must be supported by a federal SAR department or agency, or a provincial/territorial SAR authority. All SAR NIF proposals must reflect the priorities of the National SAR Program, as well as the SAR priorities of the partnering department/agency or province/territory.

The National SAR Program priorities for 2009-2010 are:

• Integrating data management with decision-making and management decisions
• Eliminating the barriers that prevent SAR partners from working together effectively
• Minimizing the number of SAR incidents through public education and awareness.

For further information, please consult the SAR NIF Applicant’s Guide (2009/2010) available on the NSS website at www.nss.gc.ca.

For questions concerning SAR NIF applications, contact Jae-Sang Park, SAR NIF Manager at 1-800-727-9414 or jsparks@nss.gc.ca.

Federal SAR departments or agencies and provincial/territorial SAR authorities must submit SAR NIF Applications by August 29th, 2008 to:

Josée Marengère
SAR NIF Manager
National SAR Secretariat
4th Floor, 275 Slater Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0K2

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