Search and rescue volunteers question need for Nova Scotia Guard

When he retired from the provincial government, in 2010, Ron Jeppesen offered his organizational skills as a project manager to the local search and rescue organization in his community.

As the volunteer president of the Eastern Shore Ground Search and Rescue Team, Jeppesen said he was stunned to hear Premier Tim Houston announce the creation of the Nova Scotia Guard, a new volunteer organization to help out during major emergencies.

"To be honest, I felt like somebody gave me a slap in the face as a search and rescue person, because the 23 Nova Scotia search and rescue teams currently do a lot of civil emergency response work," Jeppesen told CBC News. "Maybe the premier doesn't even know what we do or doesn't know we exist, or he thinks somebody else could do it better."

He wasn't the only one blindsided by the news.

"It was a shock, for sure," said Sherry Veinot, president of the Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association, which represents the 23 volunteer search and rescue teams in the province and their 1,200 volunteers. "There should have been lots of discussion, lots of planning for the idea" to determine whether it's feasible in Nova Scotia.

"This is just a complete surprise."

The Ontario government created a similar organization in 2022, called the Volunteer Corps.

Jeppesen and Veinot both wonder how much money the province will spend creating the guard.

"I do think the money would be better spent" funding existing search and rescue teams, said Veinot.

Last October, the association requested an increase to the $3,000 in yearly operating grants teams have been receiving for the past 15 years. Veinot said she was still waiting for a response from the Nova Scotia government.

"That $3,000 doesn't go far today," said Veinot.

Jeppesen was more direct in his appeal.

"I mean why not just give us some funding," he said. "You know, we're always scratching for a dollar to buy new equipment or upgrade our skills and take training," said Jeppesen. "Maybe we could get better equipment, have some more training and just continue on with what we've been doing."

Jeppesen also wondered where the province expected to find volunteers.