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Search and Rescue

The Canadian Forces are responsible for coordinating Search and Rescue activities in Canada, including Arctic waters, and for providing dedicated Search and Rescue aircrafts to aid in marine Search and Rescue incidents. A Search and Rescue service is defined as the performance of distress monitoring, communication, coordination, and search and rescue activities through the use of public and private resources. Any incident requiring assistance must be reported to a Marine Communication and Traffic Services Centre.

The Canadian Coast Guard works with the Canadian Forces to coordinate marine Search and Rescue activities within the Arctic. They search for and provide assistance to people, ships, and other craft that are, or are believed to be, in imminent danger. They provide dedicated marine Search and Rescue vessels in strategic locations.

Search and Rescue helicopter and shipRescue Co-ordination Centres are staffed 24 hours a day by Canadian Forces and Canadian Coast Guard personnel. They are located in Victoria, British Columbia, Trenton, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Marine Rescue Sub-Centres are staffed by Coast Guard personnel and are located in St. John's, Newfoundland and in Québec City, Québec. They coordinate local marine Search and Rescue operations. There are 41 Search and Rescue stations in critical locations to offer the best possible response to maritime Search and Rescue incidents.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Trenton provides emergency response and alerting systems for Search and Rescue in the Great Lakes and Arctic regions. Visit their website for more information.

Additional information on Search and Rescue Services in Canadian waters can be found in the following publications, available from the Canadian Hydrographic Service:

  • Sailing Directions Arctic Canada Vol. 1 Fourth Edition Chapter 1
  • Canadian Annual Edition of Notices to Mariners Section D
Date modified:
2010-01-14