Calgary Search and Rescue Association (CALSARA) is a registered charitable organization dedicated to providing fully-trained volunteers to assist local agencies such as City of Calgary Police Service, RCMP, MD of Rockyview, Municipal Police Services, in ground search and rescue operations. We were founded in 1993.

1. Physical Health- Our primary reason to operate is to prevent people in getting lost and to work with appropriate authorities in search and rescue operations in Calgary and the surrounding area. When called upon by the authorities to help in a search, our members are ready and able to be deployed into the field within hours. Upon setting up a base camp and command post near the point last seen or last known position, searchers are briefed by our experienced search managers about the subject and circumstances, broken into groups of three or more and spread out around the search area. When located, the individual(s) is stabilized, secured and evacuated from the area.

2. Education-CALSARA provides a range of education opportunities including Preventative-SAR instruction to school, youth and workplace groups.
Lost Child & Civil Response services at community events such as Canada Day and the Calgary Stampede Parade. Adventure Smart opportunities to groups throughout the community.
AdventureSmart is a national program dedicated to encouraging Canadians and visitors to Canada to “Get informed and go outdoors”. AdventureSmart combines online and on-site awareness with targeted outreach to try and reduce the number and severity of Search and Rescue Incidents.

3. Transportation- As we are often activated outside of Calgary and into variable terrain our transportation needs include the safe deployment and transportation of searchers, volunteers, and subjects into and out of wilderness areas. This includes using mobile command posts, 4 x 4 trucks, and off -road vehicles.
We also have transportation and staging needs in Calgary. Our command posts are purpose built vehicles that allow us to deploy anywhere and give us command, communications and staging abilities to help ensure searches are as effective as possible.