IKPIARJUK/ARCTIC BAY
The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) will begin training residents of Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay search-and-rescue skills next month.
The Winnipeg-based national organization, which is almost entirely volunteer-run, is bringing training programs to new communities to increase the range its volunteers can cover in the event of an emergency, said association co-ordinator Gerard Nadrowski
The community response has been positive so far in the two Baffin hamlets, he said.
"It's important that Pond Inlet and Arctic Bay do well so that it justifies expanding," said Nadrowski, explaining that the Royal Canadian Air Force mandates that everyone in CASARA be trained once a year.
"Everybody needs to be retrained, which of course is a big issue in Nunavut because there are a lot of people with no training - they already know it all," he said. "The question is not whether you know it or you're the best, that's not what we're asking. We hate to lose the very best people when they don't train, but there's a requirement for training."
Training has previously been offered in Iqaluit, Resolute, Rankin Inlet and Cambridge Bay.
Nadrowski said training will be offered in three more communities later this year, although he would not specify which regions will be involved.
Training consists in two parts: a classroom component and spotter training from aircraft, which hasn't changed much since the time of the Korean war, explained Nadrowski. However, time spent in the air is money and Nadrowski said there are minor changes from year to year and people need refreshers.
"Our mandate is also to reduce the number of Hercules (aircraft) that have to take off from far away or even our own aircraft and fly around to locate somebody," he said.
Training in Arctic Bay and Pond Inlet will begin in April and trained volunteers will be asked to participate in actual searches as they arise. While there is pressure to train, Nadrowski said there is no pressure to perform searches.
"For us it's very important that your head's in the game and if there's any doubt in your mind that you shouldn't be there, then you shouldn't be there. That's the professionalism we're at," he said.
He said most searches are carried out on ground only and, in the air, a Twin Otter is typically the aircraft available, but the association occasionally carries out searches in the RCAF's Hercules or Cormorant helicopter.
"When we do interface with the military, they recognize the level of commitment that we have."
Abraham Kunnuk was a member of Iqaluit's CASARA group for 10 years before moving to Pond Inlet.
"I just wanted to join with CASARA in Pond Inlet," he said about signing up for training next month. "You have to be prepared all the time. You have to have a pack-sack on the side. That's your stuff and nobody touches it. You have to be prepared because you're flying all day. It has to be handy to grab it."
CASARA requires no previous experience for its volunteers, just that they be at least 19 years old.
