P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue first recipients of Exemplary Service Award

Three members of Prince Edward Island Ground Search and Rescue were recently honoured as first-ever recipients of the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award, a national recognition delivered collaboratively by provincial, territorial, and federal governments. Cindy MacEwen, Scott Stevenson, and Ken Hall were the driving force behind the expansion of search and rescue across the Island, spearheading the amalgamation of three teams into one robust provincial team. Their dedicated volunteerism and leadership helped provide P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue with specialized training, and critical equipment to achieve a higher level of response.

“Over the past 10 years, Cindy, Scott, and Ken have led P.E.I. GSAR in significant growth and advancement, through team recruitment, training, strategic project implementation, and fundraising,” noted a release from Public Safety Canada. “This award recognizes their vision, integrity, and contributions to Prince Edward Island on the national level and P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue couldn’t be prouder of their contributions and recognition.” The award was presented in Ottawa, Ont., on May 24. MacEwen represented P.E.I. Ground Search and Rescue at the award ceremony.

The Island’s Ground Search and Rescue is a 23-year-old volunteer-based, non-profit organization based in Charlottetown and serving the entire province. Managed by a volunteer executive, the team has evolved from a rudimentary operation that worked from the back of a pickup truck in 1995 to nearly 100 volunteer members today. In 1994, Shirley Anne Duguay went missing in Richmond. At the time, there was no organized search and rescue team on the Island and soldiers from CFB Gagetown were brought in to conduct the search. As a result of this incident, RCMP Cpl. Terry Totten worked to establish and train the first team of searchers in western P.E.I. Soon afterwards, teams were also established in Charlottetown and King’s County.

Now as one team, their mandate is to search for and rescue individuals who are lost or injured. P.E.I. GSAR volunteers train multiple times a year to practise and maintain skills in navigation, survival, first aid, search techniques, search management, clue identification, tracking and more.

On call 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, members respond at all hours of the day and night and in all seasons. Searches range from short responses to those that last for several days.

P.E.I. GSAR is also the responding agency for Project Lifesaver P.E.I. and runs AdventureSmart programs across the Island.