Supporting Search & Rescue Canine Teams
Supporting the training, safety, and operational readiness of search and rescue canine teams is central to the SARVAC Canine Program.
The resources provided here help ensure teams across Canada follow consistent standards and best practices when preparing for and participating in search and rescue operations.
SARVAC’s greatest strength is the volunteers who dedicate their time, skill, and partnership with their canine teammates to supporting search and rescue efforts across the country. Providing clear standards, guidance, and supporting materials helps ensure these teams are prepared to operate safely, effectively, and consistently in the field.
Sarvac Canine Standards
The SARVAC Canine Standards outline the national guidelines for the training, evaluation, and operational readiness of search and rescue canine teams across Canada.
These standards establish the minimum performance requirements and evaluation procedures used to determine whether a canine team is ready for operational deployment.
Download SARVAC Canine Standards
Evaluator Manual
The Evaluator Manual provides detailed guidance for certified evaluators conducting SARVAC canine evaluations. This document includes procedures, evaluation criteria, and supporting materials used during official assessments.
Download Evaluator Manual
Mental Wellness Resources
Supporting the mental health and well-being of search and rescue volunteers is an important part of maintaining strong and resilient teams. Search and rescue work can involve challenging environments, long hours, and exposure to stressful or traumatic situations. Ensuring volunteers have access to the right resources and support is essential.
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis, help is available.
Call or text 988 for immediate mental health support in Canada.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Additional resources are available below:
Boots on the Ground
1-833-677-2668
An anonymous peer support line for first responders, offering confidential support from others who understand the realities of emergency response work.
Talk Suicide Canada
988
A 24/7 national crisis line providing immediate support for anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerned about someone else.
Hope for Wellness
1-855-242-3310
A 24/7 helpline offering culturally appropriate mental health support and counselling services for Indigenous people across Canada.
Counselling
If you’re looking for long-term help with your mental health, you might want to consider counselling. The goal of a counsellor is to promote and optimize a person’s mental well-being, whether that be before, or after a critical incident.
PSPNET
Online cognitive behavioural therapy programs designed specifically for public safety personnel and their families.
Badge of Life Canada
Peer support meetings and specialized counselling resources focused on supporting the mental health of Canadian public safety personnel.
Wounded Warriors Canada
Programs and counselling services that support the mental health of veterans, first responders, and their families.
Before Operational Stress (BOS) – Wayfound
An online resilience training program designed to help frontline workers understand and manage the impacts of operational stress.
CIPSRT Self-Assessment Tools
Anonymous online screening tools that help individuals identify potential symptoms of anxiety, mood disorders, or post-traumatic stress.
Indigenous Resouces
In support of SARVAC’s commitment to Reconciliation, Decolonization and working to meet the Articles and Calls of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) reports, we have curated specific First Nations, Métis, and Inuit based cultural awareness training for our Volunteer Responders.
Restoring the Circle Native Women’s Association of Canada
- Free Course
- Self-paced, takes approximately 6 hours total
- Must print out sheet to track progress
- Includes historical and current perspectives with a gender-aware lens
- Good awareness for additional challenges that non cis-gendered Indigenous people face on top of general colonial challenges
Restoring the Circle Native Women’s Association of Canada
Indigenous Awareness Canadian Police Knowledge Network
- Accessible to SARVAC GSAR volunteers (not accessible to general public)
- Free Course but must ask for login through CPKN
- Self-paced, takes approximately 6 hours total
- Includes historical and current perspectives
- Good overview course
- Aimed at police services but relevant to all
Teach the Genocide
Native Women’s Association of Canada
- Short but powerful course on historical and current genocide
- Links from this page to other relevant information
- Trigger warning on page – please use good self-care strategies when viewing this information
- Takes approximately 15 minutes to complete
Indigenous Ally Toolkit
Legacy of Hope Foundation
- Short but information-packed toolkit on best practices for Allyship
- Includes general cultural awareness, definitions, language to use and avoid, and more
- PDF can be printed to keep as reference or read
- 6 pages of relevant information – about 5-10 minutes of reading
Emergency Management Fact Sheet
Native Women’s Association of Canada
- Two-page resource sheet on best practices suggested for Emergency Management and cultural safety, with a gender-aware lens
- Has a section specifically targeted at Search and Rescue
- PDF can be downloaded/printed to keep as reference or read
Culture Card: A Guide to Build Cultural Awareness
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Based on a template created in US, this one is Canadianized
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Two-page resource sheet on wide variety of awareness and information pieces
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Includes Etiquette do’s and don’ts
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Includes First Nations, Métis, and Inuit information
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PDF can be downloaded/printed to keep as reference or read
All resources are available at SARVAC's Humanitarian Workforce Resources