Some folks were asking about numbers/stats:
Search and Rescue (SAR) in Eastern Canada
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax leads and directs all SAR operations in the Halifax search and rescue region (SRR). This region covers eastern Canada. The commander of Joint Task Force Atlantic (JTFA) is responsible for SAR operations in the Halifax SRR.
The Halifax SRR has more than
29,000 kilometres of coastline. It is an area of some
4.7 million square kilometres that is 80 percent water. This area includes:
- all four Atlantic provinces
- the eastern half of Quebec
- the southern half of Baffin Island in Nunavut
- the north-western quadrant of the Atlantic Ocean
Regional SAR response centres
JRCC Halifax is located in Halifax, N.S. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) run it. JRCC Halifax monitors the eastern region for SAR incidents. It also directs SAR alerts and emergency response in the region.
There is also one Marine Rescue Sub-centre (MRSC) located in Quebec City. The function of a MRSC is to reduce the JRCC's workload in areas of high marine activity.
JRCC Halifax receives about 2500 calls for assistance per year. This breaks down approximately as follows:
- 75 percent relate to maritime incidents
- 10 percent are air incidents
- 15 percent are requests for humanitarian aid
Search and Rescue (SAR) in the North
Responsibility for launching an air or marine SAR response in Canada’s North generally rests with the Joint Rescue Coorination Centre (JRCC) in the region where the response is needed:
- JRCC Victoria provides the primary SAR response to the Yukon Territory
- JRCC Trenton covers the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, including the north of Baffin Island
- JRCC Halifax covers the southern half of Baffin Island
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) SAR assets are carefully managed and strategically located across the country. These assets are based where they can effectively respond to SAR incidents in all regions. This takes into consideration:
- where SAR incidents occur the most
- how those areas are affected by weather
- making sure there is supporting infrastructure
A JRCC can call on any SAR squadron to respond to a distress call in the North. It can also request the support of any nearby military asset. The JRCC can also call on nearby civilian or commercial vessels or aircraft to help if needed.
The CAF also sponsors the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA). It has member organizations throughout Canada, including the North. Specifically, this includes Northern-based commercial operators in Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet. This will help speed initial response to SAR incidents. It will get help sooner to those in need.
Northern Ground Search and Rescue (SAR)
Ground SAR in the North falls under the legal authority of each territory. They delegate the authority for ground SAR response to the police services in the area. Parks Canada takes the lead for SAR in national parks.
The Canadian Rangers often help with ground SAR in the North, upon request.
Arctic SAR agreement
The CAF cooperates with other countries to cover SAR in the Arctic. Canada also runs joint SAR exercises with other Arctic nations. In May 2011, Canada and seven other Arctic Council member states signed an Arctic SAR agreement in Nuuk, Greenland. This strengthened how Arctic Council members respond to emergencies in the Arctic.
Search and Rescue (SAR) in central Canada
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton leads and directs all SAR operations in the Trenton search and rescue region (SRR), which covers central Canada. The Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC), based in Winnipeg Manitoba, is responsible for SAR operations in the Trenton SRR.
The Trenton SRR is an area of more than 10 million square kilometres. This is the bulk of Canada's land mass. The Trenton SRR also includes:
- Hudson's Bay
- James Bay
- the Canadian portions of the Great Lakes and the Arctic Ocean
The Trenton SRR extends from Trenton, Ontario on the shore of Lake Ontario, east to Québec City and west to the Alberta–British Columbia border. From south to north, it extends from the Canada–United States border to the North Pole.
Regional SAR response centre
JRCC Trenton is located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, Ontario. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) run it. JRCC Trenton monitors the central region for SAR incidents. It also directs SAR alerts and emergency response in the region.
JRCC Trenton receives about 4000 calls for assistance per year. They break down approximately as follows:
- 70 percent of the responses are maritime
- 20 percent air
- 10 percent humanitarian
Search and Rescue (SAR) in Western Canada
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria leads and directs all SAR missions in the Victoria search and rescue region (SRR). This region covers western Canada. The commander of Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP) is responsible for SAR operations in the Victoria SRR.
The
Victoria search and rescue region (SRR) covers the following land and sea areas:
- British Columbia and Yukon Territory. This is about 1,427,000 square kilometers of mainly mountainous terrain.
- Some 687,000 square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. The area extends to about 600 nautical miles off Canada's west coast.
Much of the land area of the Victoria SRR is remote and rugged. There are few people and the area is not easily accessed. However, there is plenty of recreational activity. This can result in SAR incidents. The region also includes the city of Vancouver. It is one of the largest shipping ports of North America.
Regional SAR response centre
JRCC Victoria is located in Esquimalt, B.C. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) run it. JRCC Victoria monitors the Western Canada region for SAR incidents. It also directs SAR alerts and emergency response in the region.
JRCC Victoria receives about 3000 calls for assistance per year. This breaks down approximately as follows:
- 75 percent relate to maritime incidents
- 10 percent are air incidents
- 15 percent are requests for humanitarian assistance
Source:
Search and rescue operations - Canada.ca
That is a LOT of land and water to cover. Like I said...we're far from stumbling over "too many SAR assets" in Canada. Halifax SRR extends WAY past the southern tip of Greenland. That is a pretty long flight just to get to the search area.
most Canadians, even many in the RCAF conflate Domestic SAR, which in Canada is National or NSAR as other NATO nations would call it, with any type of deployed operational SAR capability, which is incorrect. Yellow aircraft/helicopters with a red stripe on them are essentially domestic capabilities only with a rare exception of international capacity building, eg. OP JAGUAR, where yellow RCAF SAR CH-146 deployed to Jamaica to help the JDF develop its National SAR capability.
