How Drones Are Revolutionizing Canadian SAR (And How to Navigate the Red Tape)
- krdroneworks
- Dec 14, 2025
- 7 min read
By [Colonel Bernie Derbach, KR Droneworks: 14 December 2025]
The vast, rugged wilderness of Canada is a point of national pride. It is also one of the most challenging environments on earth for first responders. From the dense, towering coastal forests of British Columbia to the freezing, snow-filled ravines of Northern Ontario, traditional ground searches can take days—time that missing persons often don’t have.
Much like our neighbors to the south, Canadian agencies are turning to a game-changing tool: the remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS), commonly known as the drone. As detailed in a recent feature by The Droning Company, the integration of thermal imaging and rapid deployment is saving lives globally.
Above: A SAR drone provides critical aerial support to a ground team in the Canadian Rockies. The integration of drones into SAR operations is changing the game for first responders across the country.
But in Canada, where the weather can turn deadly in an instant and "No Drone Zones" blanket our most popular parks, utilizing this technology requires more than just pilot skill—it requires significant regulatory savvy.
Eyes in the Sky: Canadian Success Stories
The impact of drone technology is already being felt across the country, proving that thermal sensors are the ultimate force multiplier for ground teams.
In Toronto, where urban environments meet steep, wooded ravines, police recently credited a drone with saving the life of a senior with Alzheimer’s. In December 2024, officers used a thermal-equipped drone to locate the missing woman in a ravine in the middle of the night. She was lying in heavy brush, invisible to naked-eye searchers, and hypothermia was setting in. The drone pilot found her heat signature in minutes, guiding medics directly to her location.
Similarly, in New Brunswick, the Richibucto RCMP successfully located a 66-year-old man who had been lost in the woods for nearly 24 hours in May 2025. Within minutes of deployment, the drone detected a heat signature, allowing officers to rescue the disoriented man.
Canada actually holds a special place in drone history: the first widely recorded life saved by a search and rescue drone occurred in Saskatchewan in 2013, when the RCMP used a Draganflyer X4-ES to find an injured rollover victim freezing in sub-zero temperatures.
The Challenge: Red Tape in the Red Zone
While the technology is proven, the terrain poses a complex legal challenge. A significant number of SAR missions occur in National and Provincial Parks—areas that are generally strict "No Drone Zones" to protect wildlife and visitor privacy.
For a hobbyist, flying here is a fineable offense. For a SAR unit, it is a solvable hurdle, but you need the right key to open the gate, and you need it fast.
Above: Operating a drone in a National Park like Banff is strictly prohibited for the public. SAR units must navigate a specific authorization process to fly in these restricted areas legally.
The Jurisdiction Split: Air vs. Land
It is crucial for SAR leaders to understand that two different bodies govern your flight:
Transport Canada owns the air. They regulate how you fly (under Canadian Aviation Regulations, Part IX).
Parks Canada / Provincial Parks own the land. They regulate where you take off and land.
Even if you hold an Advanced Operations Pilot Certificate from Transport Canada, strictly speaking, you still need permission from the land owner (the Park Superintendent) to launch your drone within their boundaries.
Navigating National Parks (Parks Canada)
Parks Canada is notoriously strict, but they have established protocols for emergencies. You do not have time to fill out a standard research permit application when a subject is hypothermic.
Who to Contact: The primary point of contact is the Park Warden Service or the Park Dispatch/Duty Officer.
The Protocol: Most established SAR units (like Parks Canada’s own Visitor Safety specialists) have standing authority. If you are an external Ground SAR (GSAR) unit assisting, your Incident Commander must request immediate verbal authorization from the Park Warden on scene or the Park Superintendent via dispatch. State clearly that this is a "Backcountry Emergency."
Navigating Provincial Parks
Rules vary by province, but the theme is similar: "No" for public, "Yes with permission" for pros.
British Columbia: SAR in BC is heavily coordinated by Emergency Management BC (EMBC). If an official Task Number has been issued, it greases the wheels. Your SAR Manager should contact the BC Parks Area Supervisor through the EMBC Coordination Centre. If life is in imminent danger and a supervisor cannot be reached, units often operate under the authority of the Police of Jurisdiction on scene.
Ontario: Drones are banned in Provincial Parks without authorization from the Park Superintendent. However, during an active search, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) usually hold jurisdiction. If you are a volunteer unit (like OSARVA teams), ensure your deployment is sanctioned by the OPP Incident Commander. They have emergency powers that can override standard park rules, but looping in park staff is vital for coordination.
The SAR Unit "Flight Plan for Success"
If your unit wants to be ready for the next call in a restricted area, do not wait for the emergency to figure out the paperwork.
1. Get Advanced Ensure your primary SAR pilots hold a Transport Canada Advanced Operations Certificate. Basic license holders generally cannot fly near people or in controlled airspace, severely limiting their utility in a real mission.
2. Pre-Authorize (The MOU) Don't wait for 2 a.m. to call a Park Superintendent. Reach out proactively to your local National Field Unit or Provincial Park Supervisor. Ask to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Standing Authority for emergency operations. (See template below).
3. Know the Number Have the direct 24/7 Dispatch numbers for the Parks Canada Warden Service or provincial emergency services in your operational region programmed into your phone—not just the general public information line. (See the tear sheet below).
4. Integration is Key Ensure your drone ops are part of the official agency Tasking. If you self-deploy as a drone pilot without a task number, you are just a civilian breaking park rules. If you are tasked by Police or EMBC, you have significantly more legal protection and authority.
Above: The result of navigating the regulations: a SAR drone's thermal camera detects the body heat of a missing person in a dense forest. This technology drastically reduces search times and saves lives.
The "golden hour" for search and rescue is being redefined by thermal sensors and rotors. But in Canada, the most effective pilot isn't just the one who can fly the tightest pattern; it's the one who knows the regulations as well as they know their aircraft.
References & Further Reading
Original Inspiration: The Droning Company - How Drones Are Changing Search and Rescue
Toronto Police Success: Drone Used to Find Senior in Distress, Toronto Police Service (Jan 2024).
RCMP New Brunswick Rescue: RCMP use drone to safely locate man lost in woods, Country 94 (May 2025).
Historical Context: First life saved by a search and rescue drone, Guinness World Records (Saskatchewan, 2013).
Regulatory Resources: Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part IX; National Parks of Canada Aircraft Access Regulations; Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada (SARVAC) Guidelines.
ADDENDUM 1: SAR Pilot Quick Reference Card
TEAR SHEET: Keep this in your flight kit or on your phone. (Disclaimer: The following is for guidance purposes and reference. It is essential that you verify regulations and numbers routinely. Always follow Incident Commander instructions.)
1. PARKS CANADA (National Parks)
Jurisdiction: Federal Land
Primary Emergency Dispatch (National): 1-877-852-3100
(Use for Jasper, Bruce Peninsula, Cape Breton Highlands, etc.)
Mountain Parks Emergency (Banff, Yoho, Kootenay, Waterton): 403-762-4506
The Protocol:
Call Dispatch. State: "This is an active Search and Rescue Backcountry Emergency."
Request verbal clearance from the Duty Warden or Visitor Safety Specialist.
Do not launch without Warden approval.
2. BRITISH COLUMBIA (BC Parks)
Jurisdiction: Provincial Land
Authorization Route: Via EMBC (Emergency Management BC).
The Protocol:
Ensure you have an active EMBC Task Number.
Have SAR Manager request BC Parks authorization via the EMBC Emergency Coordination Centre (1-800-663-3456 - Official Use Only).
Imminent Threat Exception: If Park Staff are unreachable, operate under the on-scene authority of the Police of Jurisdiction (RCMP).
3. ALBERTA (Kananaskis & Provincial Parks)
Jurisdiction: Provincial Land
Kananaskis Emergency Services (KES) Dispatch: 403-591-7767
(Direct line for K-Country backcountry emergencies).
General Alberta Parks: Dial 911 and request Fish & Wildlife / Park Rangers.
4. ONTARIO (Provincial Parks)
Jurisdiction: Provincial Land
Emergency Authorization: Via OPP (Ontario Provincial Police).
The Protocol:
Dial 911 for OPP.
Ensure the OPP Incident Commander has authorized drone usage and has notified Park Superintendent staff.
(Algonquin Park Admin Office for non-emergency coordination: 613-637-2780).
5. PRE-FLIGHT AIRSPACE CHECK
Even with Park permission, you must clear the airspace.
[ ] NAV CANADA: Are we near an aerodrome or heliport? (Use NAV Drone app).
[ ] Class F Restricted: Are we in military airspace? (e.g., CFB Petawawa, Cold Lake).
[ ] NOTAMs: Is there an active Forest Fire NOTAM? (Flying a drone near a wildfire is a federal crime).
ADDENDUM 2: Template for Proactive Authorization
Use this email template to contact local Park Superintendents before an emergency to establish a working relationship and standing permission.
Subject: Proposed Memorandum of Understanding regarding RPAS (Drone) Usage for Emergency Search and Rescue in [Name of Park]
To: [Park Superintendent Name or 'Park Management Team'] From: [Your Name/Title, e.g., Unit Chief, AnyTown Ground SAR]
Dear [Superintendent Name],
My name is [Your Name] and I am the [Your Title] for [Name of your SAR Unit]. We are a volunteer Search and Rescue unit tasked by [Name of policing agency, e.g., the RCMP / OPP / EMBC] to respond to missing person incidents in the [Region/County] area, including calls that occur within the boundaries of [Name of Park].
I am writing to proactively address the use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS/drones) during emergency response operations within the Park.
We recognize that recreational drone use is prohibited in the Park to protect wildlife and visitor tranquility. We fully support these regulations. However, during a time-critical search for a missing or injured person, aerial thermal imaging provided by drones is a proven, life-saving tool that significantly reduces search times and reduces risk to ground searchers.
To ensure we respect Park regulations while maintaining operational readiness, we would like to propose establishing a Standing Authority or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for our unit's use of drones specifically during emergency taskings.
Our Unit's Commitments:
Advanced Certification: All our SAR drone pilots hold Advanced Operations Certificates from Transport Canada.
Emergency Use Only: Drones will only be deployed when officially tasked by police or emergency management agencies for an active SAR incident.
Wildlife Sensitivity: Our pilots are trained to minimize noise and avoid harassing wildlife, and will immediately adjust flight paths if sensitive wildlife is encountered, SAR priorities permitting.
Coordination: We will notify the on-duty Park Warden/Ranger immediately upon deployment.
We would welcome a brief meeting or phone call to discuss how we can best integrate this capability with Park protocols to ensure safety for both missing persons and the park environment.
Thank you for your time and your continued partnership in public safety.
Sincerely,
[Your Name] [Your Title] [Your Phone Number] [Your Unit Website]
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