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<P><B><FONT face=Arial>Hi All:</B> </P>
<P>SARA Happenings is issued to foster communication within the Search and
Rescue community in Alberta. It is going to 328 e-mail addresses that are listed
as the primary contact of SAR Alberta member groups or which were requested to
be added to the mailing list.</P>
<P>Subscription and unsubscription information is at the end of the newsletter.
</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P><B>
<P>SAR ALBERTA STANDARDS COMMITTEE UPDATE</P></B>
<P>(It takes a lot to get the train rolling, but once it gets moving…)</P>
<P>Wow! Since the approval of the Draft Terms of Reference at the July2008 SAR
Alberta Board meeting we’ve been busy. Four members with experience and diverse
backgrounds came forward to participate as well as others who have expressed
interest in working on specific standard areas. The Committee members are: Cindy
Heselton, Les Brace, Allan Tomalty, John Chaychuck and Matthew Christopher.
We’ve created an internal web-page for organization and discussion, added a page
to the SAR Alberta Wiki
http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/SARAlbertaStandardsCommittee and had our
first in-person meeting on Sunday November 16. The key outcome of the meeting
was the scheduling of consultation sessions in conjunction with AEMA for ALL SAR
stakeholders. We also recognize that our Committee needs to expand to include
tasking agencies and other SAR stakeholders and will be starting to make
contact.</P>
<P>One of the key outcomes of our Nov 16 meeting was the scheduling of
consultation sessions in conjunction with AEMA for ALL SAR stakeholders. We
recognize that this is an extremely aggressive schedule with short notice, but
we were in the situation of playing catch-up to AEMA on their Fire and Emergency
Services Training Initiative.</P>
<P>We are committed to doing the best job on behalf of all SAR volunteers and we
encourage your participation and input. Please log on to the wiki page or
contact any one of us if you have questions or comments.</P>
<P>Cindy Heselton <A
href="mailto:sarasouthcentraldirector@yahoo.ca">sarasouthcentraldirector@yahoo.ca</A>
</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P><B>
<P>OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO AEMA AND THE SAR ALBERTA STANDARDS
COMMITTEE</P></B>
<P>(Round 1 - Six Consultation Sessions Planned between November 21 and November
29)</P>
<P>The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and the SAR Alberta Standards
Committee have planned six (6) joint consultation sessions to check the current
status of search and rescue within Alberta. This will complete the initial
consultation with fire and emergency services started under AEMA's Fire and
Emergency Services Training Initiative (FESTI). The sessions are open to ALL SAR
stakeholders including volunteers, tasking agencies, industry or anyone else
having a stake in search and rescue - now and in the future. Information is also
being sent out to the SAR Alberta Regional Directors and Deputy Directors.</P>
<P>I expect that future sessions will be planned with much more notice, but in
the meantime I am asking that everyone recognize the opportunity that is being
created, do their best to participate and go forward with the attitude and
ability that SAR is so well known for – to perform on short notice under extreme
conditions. Please make every effort to notify your members and others whom you
think might be interested, to help us generate the excitement and motivation
needed to make this a success. We will also be arranging for alternative ways
you can provide feedback should you not be able to attend a session. Note that
you can provide your feedback directly via the wiki page indicated
previously.</P>
<P>Fred Tyrrell, Manager of Stakeholder Relations for AEMA will be coordinating
the logistics and facilitating the consultation process. Please RSVP directly to
Fred at <A href="mailto:fred.tyrell@gov.ab.ca">fred.tyrell@gov.ab.ca</A>
or register by clicking the link shown beside the date you plan to attend.
</P>
<P>Fri Nov 21 Calgary (7 - 10 pm) <A
href="http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1818">http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1818</A>
</P>
<P>Sat Nov 22 Lethbridge (1 - 4 pm) <A
href="http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1823">http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1823</A>
</P>
<P>Thurs Nov 27 Red Deer (7 - 10 pm) <A
href="http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1824">http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1824</A>
</P>
<P>Fri Nov 28 Edmonton (7 - 10 pm) <A
href="http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1825">http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1825</A>
</P>
<P>Sat Nov 29 Cold Lake - (9 - 12 am) <A
href="http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1826">http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1826</A>
</P>
<P>Sat Nov 29 Grande Prairie (3 - 6 pm) <A
href="http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1827">http://www.missioncontrol.co.nz/itm/Event_Master_Item_Public.aspx?ID=1827</A>
</P>
<P>More information on the SAR Alberta Standards Committee can be found on the
SAR Alberta Wiki at <A
href="http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/SARAlbertaStandardsCommittee">http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/SARAlbertaStandardsCommittee</A>
</P>
<P>The next step will be the development of an appropriate accreditation /
certification process, etc. which is scheduled to begin in mid to late January.
</P>
<P>Cindy Heselton <A
href="mailto:sarasouthcentraldirector@yahoo.ca">sarasouthcentraldirector@yahoo.ca</A>
</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P><B>
<P>SAR RELATED TRAINING INSTRUCTOR LIST </P></B>
<P><A
href="http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/CourseInstructors">http://saralberta.dnsalias.org:8080/CourseInstructors</A>
</P>
<P>(Who you gonna call?)</P>
<P>If you are an instructor, institution or service provider that is able to
provide search and rescue related training, please take advantage of this
opportunity and add your information to the wiki pages (see link above). THIS
INCLUDES VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS IN THE VARIOUS ERI COURSES SUCH AS BASIC SAR
SKILLS, SAR FUNDAMENTALS, TEAM LEADER, ETC.</P>
<P>While AEMA and SAR Alberta are sorting stuff out, in the meantime, ALL teams
are busy trying to organize and coordinator their current and upcoming training.
This is just a reminder of the wiki page that was created to list potential
training providers (free advertising!!!) for SAR groups to access if they are
seeking instructors in a particular topic area. Please note that the pages are
completely self-serve and that SAR Alberta (and AEMA) has not vetted them and
therefore does not endorse any or all of the information provided. It is up to
the individual SAR group to confirm the credentials and qualifications of the
instructors they employ as well as to ensure their courses or programs meet any
applicable standards or requirements. It’s a good idea to document this.</P>
<P>Cindy Heselton <A
href="mailto:sarasouthcentraldirector@yahoo.ca">sarasouthcentraldirector@yahoo.ca</A>
</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P><STRONG>
<P>The following stories our compliments of the Red Deer Advocate and SAR
Alberta appreciates their support in allowing us to share them with you (1
article - CASARA Pilot & 2 articles on a bear mauling)</STRONG> </P>
<P><STRONG>SPRUCE VIEW MAN DIES IN PLANE CRASH</STRONG></P>
<P><BR>By Stacy O'Brien - Red Deer Advocate<BR><BR>Published: November 09, 2008
5:06 PM <BR>Updated: November 10, 2008 8:23 AM </P>
<P>Many Central Albertans are mourning the loss of a life-long pilot who was one
of the founding members of the Innisfail Flying Club. </P>
<P>Herluf Nielsen died in an airplane crash late Saturday night, shortly after
taking off from Red Deer Regional Airport heading to the Innisfail Airport. He
was the lone occupant in the aircraft. </P>
<P>He once told the Innisfail Province that he got the flying bug watching
Harvard trainers fly out of Penhold in the late 1940s and early 1950s as a boy.
He didn’t have his first flight until 1960 and had his pilot’s licence by 1961,
around the time the Innisfail Flying Club was getting started. </P>
<P>Alvin Hand, who is one of the original members of the Innisfail Flying Club,
said Nielsen was a capable pilot and had his night endorsement, meaning he was
able to fly at night. Hand, a pilot himself, said losing him is a big loss to
the club. </P>
<P>Nielsen was a strong supporter of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s
Young Eagles program. </P>
<P>As part of the program, Nielsen and other Innisfail Flying Club members would
take youngsters from Bowden and Innisfail up for 15 to 20 minute flights over
Central Alberta, pointing out landmarks and sometimes flying over their homes.
Hand said Nielsen was one of the most enthusiastic pilots doing the program.
</P>
<P>Nielsen, 67, loved flying so much that he had a hangar and landing strip at
his farm in Spruce View, where he lived with his wife of more than 30 years
Alice Nielsen. The couple’s children Kevin and Kristine and their significant
others gathered in Spruce View Sunday with other friends. </P>
<P>Nielsen had retired from farming barley, canola and a little wheat, but he
continued to take part in other ways in the community. He was an active member
of the Bethany Lutheran Church in Dickson. </P>
<P>"He was very involved and got a lot of people in the community flying as
well," said Nielsen’s daughter-in-law Nicole Nielsen. "He was a very safe pilot,
so it was very surprising for this to happen." </P>
<P>She said he had owned his Cessna 182 for at least 30 years and her husband
Kevin (Nielsen’s son) had his first ride in it as a baby. Nicole and Kevin
joined Nielsen and Alice on a trip from Whitehorse to Dawson City this summer.
</P>
<P>"Given what has happened it is something that is nice to look back on,"
Nicole said. She said Nielsen’s wife Alice was the navigator and they were quite
a pair. </P>
<P>Nicole said her father-in-law was a very humble man and known for being calm.
"You would never hear him raise his voice," she said. </P>
<P>Nielsen’s parents had immigrated to Canada from Denmark and he spoke some
Danish. "He loved his coffee, like any good Dane," she said. </P><B>
<P>Besides the flying club he also volunteered with Civil Air Search and Rescue
Association (CASARA). </P>
<P>Nielsen had been taking part in CASARA exercises earlier Saturday evening
before his plane went down. The CASARA volunteers regularly practise doing
search patterns so they are ready when they do have to search for a downed
aircraft. </P></B><STRONG>
<P>"We finished our exercise around 10 p.m. (Saturday) night. We were finishing
up and he was on his way home," </STRONG><B>said Jim Thoreson, zone commander
with CASARA. Nielsen left the airport around 10:30 p.m. and shortly thereafter
was reported overdue at the Innisfail Airport. </P>
<P>Thoreson said around 14 CASARA volunteers, along with Red Deer Search and
Rescue started looking for him. Their search was hampered by heavy fog.
</P></B><STRONG>
<P>"We were covering all the land around the airport as much as we could,"
</STRONG><B>Thoreson said. It took until 5 a.m. Sunday morning to find the
wreckage near the Innisfail Airport. </P></B>
<P>Jon Lee, Western regional manger of the Transportation Safety Board, said two
investigators from the board were dispatched Sunday and will be at the site of
the crash during the next couple days. He said they’ll be photographing and
documenting the crash site, as well as trying to find eye witnesses to speak
with. </P>
<P>As part of the investigation they look at the pilot’s background, his
work/rest cycle and his experience. They will also be examining the aircraft’s
maintenance records, refuelling history and anything they can collect at the
site. They will also take the weather conditions into consideration at the time
of the accident. Innisfail RCMP have reported there was heavy fog at the time of
the crash. </P>
<P>Lee said they don’t yet know what caused the accident. "We’ll be gathering a
lot of information over the next couple of weeks and as we analyze it we’ll rule
out factors that wouldn’t have contributed and that will help narrow the
investigation down to where we end up with a cause," he said. </P>
<P>Contact Stacy O’Brien at </FONT><A
href="mailto:sobrien@reddeeradvocate.com"><U><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG><FONT
face="Times New Roman">sobrien@reddeeradvocate.com</FONT></U></FONT></STRONG></A></P><FONT
face=Arial>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<HR>
</FONT></P>
<H1><FONT size=3>SEARCH ON FOR MISSING HUNTER NEAR SUNDRE</FONT></H1>
<P>Published: October 01, 2008 7:56 AM <BR>Updated: October 01, 2008 8:52 AM
</P>
<P>A search is underway for a hunter who went missing Monday in the Sundre area.
</P>
<P>Sundre RCMP were notified at noon Tuesday about the missing hunter, who has
not been identified. </P>
<P>Police say he is an avid hunter who was dressed for the weather. He was
hunting in the Bergen area, about 15 km southeast of Sundre. </P>
<P>About 10 police officers and 20 local search and rescue workers are involved
in a ground search. The hunter’s vehicle was located along Hwy 22. </P>
<P>RCMP search dogs and a civilian search and rescue fixed-wing aircraft are
also active in the search.</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P>
<H1><FONT size=3>HUNTER WAS MAULED BY BEAR</FONT></H1>
<P><BR>By Jack Wilson - Red Deer Advocate<BR><BR>Published: October 03, 2008
6:49 AM <BR>Updated: October 03, 2008 7:08 AM <BR></FONT></P>
<P><A
href="http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Hunter_was_mauled.html"><U><FONT
face=Arial color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><STRONG><A
href="http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Hunter_was_mauled.html">http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/local/Hunter_was_mauled.html</U></FONT></FONT></STRONG></A><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></A></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial>Fear of bears prompted RCMP sharpshooters to accompany
searchers who were combing bush for a missing hunter this week, a search
official said. </P><B>
<P>Monica Ahlstrom, president of Search and Rescue Alberta, said on Thursday
that police sent in their emergency response team (ERT) to protect searchers on
Tuesday and Wednesday because bears were spotted in the area. </P></B><STRONG>
<P>"The police knew bears were in the area, so they sent in their ERT team"
</STRONG><B>to watch over the search teams, Ahlstrom said. </P></B>
<P>The hunter’s remains were found on Tuesday near Sundre. An autopsy could
determine if the hunter was killed by a bear, an RCMP officer said. </P>
<P>Sgt. Patrick Webb of Calgary said the body of the hunter showed injuries
consistent with a bear mauling but police aren’t sure if the attack occurred
before or after death. </P>
<P>Webb said the speed of the autopsy depends on how busy the Medical Examiner’s
Office is. </P>
<P>"Usually they try to get it done the same day, but it depends on staffing,"
Webb said. </P>
<P>The victim, in his late 40s and from the Didsbury area, didn’t return from a
trip to the Sundre area on Monday and was reported missing on Tuesday. </P>
<P>Wildlife officers were immediately dispatched to the area about 15 km
southeast of Sundre to hunt for what is believed to be a grizzly bear. </P>
<P>Sustainable Resource Development spokesman Dave Ealey said the wildlife
officers were setting up traps. </P>
<P>Sundre RCMP said the man’s name isn’t being released. They described him as
an experienced hunter who was well dressed for the weather. </P>
<P>His body was found about 1,200 metres off of Hwy 22, where his vehicle was
parked. </P>
<P>Webb said the decision to either hunt and kill the bear or trap it is left up
to the Fish and Wildlife Department officers. </P>
<P>"If the examination comes back and says it was a bear that killed him, then
we turn around and tell the Fish and Wildlife people it’s your call," Webb said.
</P>
<P>If it’s confirmed the hunter was killed by a bear, this will be the second
fatal attack in less than a year in the region. </P>
<P>Another hunter was mauled last November in an area about 60 km west of the
area of the current fatality. </P>
<P>Ealey said that anyone hunting in the area is urged to use extreme caution.
</P>
<P>Jim Pissot, a Canmore director of Defenders of Wildlife Canada, said it’s
been a difficult year for bears because of a lack of buffalo berries. </P>
<P>He said although hikers tend to make noise when walking and exploring,
hunters do the opposite. </P><B>
<P>The police officers accompanied various teams of searchers from organizations
in Sundre, Olds, Red Deer, Didsbury and Rocky Mountain House, Ahlstrom said.
</P>
<P>The Civil Air Search Association Central Alberta branch also contributed a
search plane, Ahlstrom said. </P>
<P>She said the search area was just off Hwy 22 and consisted of farmland and
trees. </P></B><STRONG>
<P>"</STRONG><B>It was a huge inter-agency effort. </P></B><STRONG>
<P>"I wasn’t down there but from talking to our people there, it went very well.
The co-operation between all the agencies went really well.</STRONG><B>"
</P></B><I>
<P>Contact Jack Wilson at </I></FONT><A
href="mailto:jwilson@reddeeradvocate.com"><U><FONT color=#0000ff><STRONG><FONT
face="Times New Roman">jwilson@reddeeradvocate.com</FONT></U></FONT></STRONG></A></P><FONT
face=Arial><B>
<P><FONT face="Times New Roman">
<HR>
</FONT></P>
<P>SARA HAPPENINGS SUBMISSIONS </P></B>
<P>Our regular publication date for mailings of SARA Happenings is the middle of
each month. Please note that the deadline for material is the 14<SUP>th</SUP> of
each month. </P>
<P align=center></P>
<P>Does your group have an event posting for the SARA Happenings mailing? If so,
please send information 1-1/2 months prior to the dates you wish advertised. It
will then give ample time for those reading it to respond. </P>
<P>Please send all material to the editor; Chris Hoare at </FONT><A
href="<u"><U><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff><FONT face=Arial
color=#0000ff><STRONG>choare@shaw.ca</U></FONT></FONT></STRONG></A><FONT
face=Arial> PLEASE DO include contact information for members to gain further
information.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>To subscribe or unsubscribe visit
http://castrov.dyndns.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/sara-happenings enter your
e-mail address and click on "Edit Options". Automatic subscribers will need to
click on "EMail My Password to Me". You can subscribe and unsubscribe on the
same page. </P></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>