Serving Nova Scotia for 50 years, Ground Search and Resuce (GSAR) officially started in November 1969 after a five day search in the Cape Breton Highlands for a father of five, who was found alive. While he was in the hospital recovering, Cape Breton Search and Rescue was created. Since then another 22 teams have been created in Nova Scotia, with over 1,200 volunteers.
The Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association (NSGSARA) began in 1992 after two years of meetings with all 23 teams and EMO-NS. This gave one voice for all teams in Nova Scotia to EMO-NS. We respond to lost/missing persons, evidence searches and Civilian Emergency Response for EMO-NS, the RCMP and many municipal police forces in the province.
The NSGSARA is a registered not-for-profit society in the province of Nova Scotia.