The Georgian Bay Search and Rescue team is a highly trained, not-for-profit organization providing support to police agencies of jurisdiction in the form of equipment and trained search and rescue personnel. GBSAR has search and rescue business relationships with Central OPP, Barrie Police Services, Midland Police Services and South Simcoe Police Services.
Georgian Bay Search and Rescue’s service area is extensive and encompasses various communities and areas within the Georgian Bay region. It extends from Parry Sound to Huntsville, East side of Lake Simcoe to Bradford, and Alliston to Collingwood.
Georgian Bay Volunteer Search and Rescue is one of the few OSARVA teams to have an OPP/OSARVA certified civilian search and rescue dog. Although these K9 Units are affiliated with a specific OSARVA team, such as GBVSAR, they are considered a provincial resource to be requested by any search team in Ontario. These certified units could be requested by the OPP to help out anywhere in the province.
The GBSAR training program ensures that each member is prepared and trained above the certification set out by Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association and the Ontario Provincial Police. The team trains on various topics such as search patterns, clue awareness, compass, ropes, and knots, map reading and GPS. GBSAR has approximately 40 volunteer members, most of whom provide much of their own equipment necessary for their search pack. Other key items such as our command post, rescue gear, and insurance are paid for through local fundraising efforts.
The Georgian Bay Search and Rescue Team (GBSAR) was established in 1998 and joined with 18 other volunteer Search and Rescue teams in Ontario under the Ontario Volunteer Search and Rescue Association (OSARVA).
Like other SAR teams in Ontario, GBSAR provides police and other agencies with professional volunteers in the form of highly trained and equipped search and rescue personnel who are available 24/7.
The Georgian Bay Search and Rescue logo features the unmistakable silhouette of a windswept pine, a tree shaped by the rugged beauty and relentless elements of the Georgian Bay coastline. To those who live here, this tree is more than just a feature of the landscape, it’s a symbol of endurance, resilience, and adaptability.
Much like the pine, our team is shaped by the environments we serve. Whether navigating dense forests, icy trails, or turbulent shorelines, we operate year-round, in all seasons, all conditions, and often when the stakes are highest. Our members are trained to adapt and respond quickly, bending to the demands of the moment but never breaking.
Rooted in our community, we are called to action when others are in need, often during their most vulnerable moments. We volunteer not for recognition, but “so that others may live.”
The windswept pine stands as a quiet sentinel, tested by wind, water, and time. It mirrors our commitment to perseverance, our readiness to rise to every challenge, and our deep connection to this place and its people.
Georgian Bay Search and Rescue is proud to stand tall under this symbol. Ready, resilient, and always reaching out to help.
