e-1759 (National day)

Petition to the Government of Canada

• Search and rescue personnel are unpaid volunteers who drop whatever they are doing any time of day or night to search for and provide aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger;
• The contribution these volunteers make toward the safety of all Canadians is immeasurable;
• There are more than 12,000 search and rescue volunteers throughout Canada who train thousands of hours to provide search and rescue services in the air, on land and waters with hundreds of established search and rescue teams;
• Canada acknowledges National Volunteer Week recognizing Canadians who selflessly improve the lives of others and build better communities;
• The possibility for danger and inherent risks at play in search and rescue operations are over and above the typical service of other volunteers and volunteer organizations;
• Search and rescue volunteers are unsung heroes who assist citizens in distress and are credited with saving lives;
• These volunteers are deserving of distinctive recognition;
• One way to acknowledge the gratitude we have for their dedication and service is to proclaim a National Search and Rescue Day for all SAR volunteers from coast-to-coast; and
• In British Columbia, March 2 is proclaimed SAR Volunteer Memorial Day to honour those volunteers who have lost their lives while on a quest to save others.