Our mission is to locate and bring home lost loved ones to families and to help our community during an emergency.
The Pictou County Volunteer Ground Search And Rescue team was created in 1995 by Hank Dunnewold - Warden of Pictou County and Don MacKenzie - Regional Emergency Management Officer for Pictou County because of the need for a search team. At the time, the nearest GSAR teams were Colchester and Sheet Harbour.
Since 1996, the PCVGSAR team has taken part in major search and rescue events such as:
Since then there have been many responses to callouts from either Nova Scotia Emergency Management Organization or Police agencies. Volunteers and equipment must be ready.
Our team averages 60 plus volunteers, but could use many more. Since its inception, the team has worked to supply vehicles, a building, search and rescue related supplies and equipment.
As times change, our team must adapt and evolve to a more technologically-based search and rescue operation. Volunteers use computer programs to load various maps to ease team tracking and plotting. Computer networking and supporting software will enable our team members to better plan, coordinate, and record searches and civil emergency events. Our 2005 Incident Command Post is being retrofitted to accommodate these changes requiring a major financial investment.
Natural disasters need a multi-team and agency response, provincially and nationally. Our team, when called upon, contributes their knowledge, equipment, and resources during a civil emergency.
See our team in action and how Ground Search And Rescue has more fun together!
As an integral part of your local community we:
Of course, we wouldn't be able to do what we do without our wonderful supporters.
Upon being called into action, we want to be ready for response. Be with us and prepare!
