Minister Praises Ground Search and Rescue

Emergency Management Minister Carolyn Bolivar-Getson today, March 27, thanked ground search and rescue volunteers for their role in finding a missing boy in the woods of Moser River last night.

"Our volunteers do incredible work," said Ms. Bolivar-Getson, "and usually without a lot of fanfare and publicity, so I want to thank them for their speedy response yesterday. The co-ordination among RCMP, the Sheet Harbour and Area Ground Search and Rescue Team, EMO staff member Dominic Fewer, paramedics, volunteer firefighters and the helicopter crew from the Department of Natural Resources was exemplary."

Ms. Bolivar-Getson added that other volunteer search teams from Musquodoboit Valley, Eastern Shore and Halifax Regional had assembled and were enroute when the search was called off just after 6 p.m.

"A little boy is alive today because everyone involved in the search worked well together. These volunteers are truly committed to public safety, and we owe them a deep debt of gratitude."

There are 24 ground search and rescue teams in the province, members of the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association. It was announced last month that they will receive $348,000 in federal technology funding to supply teams with satellite technology for operations and administration.