Become a Member

Search and Rescue is a rewarding volunteer experience that involves camaraderie, continuous learning, and helping others. When you become a SAR member, you become part of Canada's 15,000 specially trained air, ground and marine SAR volunteers who provide response assistance to authorities and deliver prevention messaging to the public to help minimize the frequency and severity of SAR incidents.

Search and Rescue Regina needs two types of volunteers

1. Professional Ground SAR Volunteers
2. Support Team Members

Applying to become a professional SAR Ground Searcher volunteer

Search and Rescue voluntarism is a long-term commitment. It can take up to a year to be ready to activate, and our chapter invests heavily in member training. Ideally, applicants should plan to be a ground searcher for a minimum of three years.

Regular attendance to tasks and training events is the key to keeping skills sharp, building teamwork and trust, and ultimately being part of an important group that saves lives.

SAR Regina members are on-call 24/7 and professional SAR Volunteers are expected to respond to as many tasks/call outs as possible and a majority of training and community events. If you are prepared to meet this time commitment, then please read on.

Applying to become a Support Team Member

SAR Regina needs people to help run our organization. The ideal candidates are those with

business/professional skills who can help with marketing, accounting, technology, etc.
teaching skills to go into the community to offer AdventureSmart training
fundraising skills with particular emphasis on grant writing, sponsorship and donor stewardship
organizational skills to help lead and work at our training and in-community events

Ground Searcher Volunteer

Phase 1: Self-assess your capabilities and commitment

Professional SAR volunteers must be:

18 years of age or older
mature, accountable and professional, and agree to abide by the Search and Rescue Regina Code of Conduct.
physically able to
- walk with a SAR-pack that weighs between 15-25 kilograms over three kilometres (two miles) in one hour in a typical search terrain
- walk and push through heavy bush and on uneven surfaces for a work-day; and,
- work in and endure extreme environmental conditions, including hot, cold, humid, dry, and dusty areas.
  - to self-assess your personal health-risks, complete the Get Active Questionnaire
hold a valid drivers licence, and be able to drive to and from training, community events, meetings and activations using their own means of transportation
have access to a computer or cellphone to receive chapter information, manage an online account, communicate through group chats, and effectively use technology during training and searches

SAR Regina members must give a significant amount of time and money:

meet the initial 40-hour ground searcher and 2-day standard first aid minimum training requirements.
in addition to maintaining the minimum training requirements, attend a bare minimum of 20 training hours plus one mock search a year.
contribute to a minimum of two community and/or fundraising events, and/or board approved projects (i.e. Governance review) totalling an average of three hours per quarter (or 12 hours annually).
pay for personal clothing and gear, and spend money to get to and from urban and rural events and search activation muster points.
be prepared to be on call 24/7 for activations with the goal to attend as many activations as possible

Phase 2: Information Gathering

If you have answered yes to all of the above, then we invite you to

attend a mandatory Information Session to meet our team and discuss the expectations of volunteers
attend a prospective member field day where basic SAR skills are practised
complete the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency's free online course Incident Command System (ICS) 100

Information session are scheduled twice a year and are set based on volunteer presenter availability.

Field Days expose prospective members to a sample of some practical training and search exercises, and our team, which enables us to determine if the potential member is a good fit for us, and if we're a good fit for the potential new member.

Phase 3: Application

Submit the online Professional SAR Volunteer application that includes:

ICS 100 Certificate
Application form
Code of Conduct form
Confidentiality Agreement
Criminal Record Check, including vulnerable sector check

Submit the $80 payment that includes the membership fee and a jacket deposit.

Phase 4: Selection, Training and Probation

A maximum number of applicants will be selected to attend a 40-hour Search and Rescue Saskatchewan Association of Volunteers Basic Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) course, which includes a written test and practical skills assessment.
Those passing GSAR must also complete a Standard First Aid course within two months of completing GSAR.
Once GSAR-certified, new professional SAR volunteers will be on probation for one full year and must attend the minimum training and community/fundraising hours. Failure to participate, without reasonable cause, or failure to abide by the Code of Conduct will result in termination as a SAR Regina member.

Phase 5: Membership Maintenance

Members must secure a new Criminal Record Check, including vulnerable sector check, and recertify in the GSAR and Standard First Aid courses every three years.

Passing the initial initial GSAR training is the bare minimum expectation. To become fluent ground searchers, members must continuously train and practice their skills. Being prepared in the winter versus summer, in urban versus rural settings must become automatic. Not being prepared is a disservice to the missing and their families, and other ground searchers.

In addition to meeting the above requirements, all members must:

attend a minimum of 20 hours plus one mock search a year for training.
contribute at a minimum of two community or fundraising events, and/or board approved projects totalling an average of three hours per quarter (or 12 hours annually)

Members who do not meet their training requirements may continue as a Support Team Member, and will not be activated on searches.

Support Team Member

Phase 1: Self-assess your capabilities and commitment

Support Team Members must:

be 18 years of age or older
have a strong desire to be active within a non-profit organization
have time to do independent work, help set up training sessions, or attend events in the community
SAR Regina needs individuals with the following skills: Accounting, Fundraising, Technology/IT, Social Media, Video production, Event organizing, Teaching/Training/Facilitation
have access to a computer or cellphone to receive chapter information, manage an online account, communicate through group chats, and effectively use technology during training and searches

Phase 2: Application