Canada - a SAR leader

Because of our massive, sparsely populated geography, extensive coastline (the world's longest), variety of terrain and harsh climate, Canada has had major challenges to overcome in developing an effective search and rescue system.

There are three Joint Rescue Coordination Centres in Canada, in Halifax, Trenton and Victoria, operating 24 hours a day to respond to calls for search and rescue. These centres are staffed jointly by the Canadian Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard.

Furthermore, Canada's SAR area of responsibility extends far out into the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, adjoining that of the United States, Denmark (Greenland), Russia (over the Arctic), and Portugal (the Azores).

Despite these challenges - maybe because of them - we are considered world leaders in the field of search and rescue.

Far and wide, people look to Canada for know-how in the fascinating, painstaking and sometimes life-and-death world of search and rescue.