Search and Rescue

Search & Rescue: How It Works

Search and Rescue (SAR) is a volunteer service offered at community level throughout the territory of Nunavut.

Each community has their own search and rescue team that will be tasked by the division of Nunavut Emergency Management (NEM) as the jurisdictional authority in the territory. The teams volunteer their time but are supplied funding from NEM to cover such expenses as food, fuel, and equipment repairs.

Notification of a search and rescue tasking will usually begin at the community level. The team will be notified of a missing person or party, and they then will contact NEM.

Alternatively, NEM may get a notification from a SPOT device (provided by NEM to each community) and they will then contact a member of the SAR team in that community to activate a search.

NEM has developed its own Nunavut-based SAR training program and has begun training teams in the territory in January 2020. This training is the first of its kind for Nunavut with emphasis on GPS and InReach.

Each team will receive a new GPS and InReach after completing the program. NEM is also in the process of equipping each team with a set of “Go Bags” including (sleeping bag, sleeping mat, water proof matches, single burner Colman stove, camp-pot set, headlamp, signal mirror, tarps, snow knife, survival shovel, thermos, spare mitten and hat). NEM has been busy providing new tools and training for the territory and will continue to do so.

If you are interested in becoming part of SAR in your community, please contact your local SAR representatives through your local hamlet office.

NEM is thankful to the SAR teams for their continued hard work and dedication to serving their community.

Contact Us: 

Nunavut Emergency Management
Department Community and Government Services
Government of Nunavut
P.O. Box 1000 Station 700
Iqaluit, Nunavut
X0A 0H0
Fax: (867) 979-4221
Email: @email

Emergency Measures 24 Hour Toll Free: 1-800-693-1666
Emergency Services Response 24 Hours: 1-867-979-6262