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John Kelly receives 2002 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Search and Rescue

The Lead Minister for Search and Rescue, the Honourable John McCallum, is pleased to announce that John Kelly of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) has been awarded the 2002 Outstanding Search and Rescue Achievement Award. Mr. Kelly will receive the award on September 14th in Halifax at SARSCENE 2002, the annual search and rescue workshop sponsored by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS).

In a career that spans over 30 years, John Kelly has saved numerous lives and has provided SAR training to thousands of military and civilian search and rescue (SAR) workers.

Mr. Kelly has educated thousands of people on outdoor survival, safety and prevention, covering such varied subjects as military rescue techniques, survival in the wilderness, Arctic survival, survival at sea and medical aid in an emergency. He has developed training programs for CASARA, the RCMP and SARTECHs, SAR specialists within the Canadian Forces. He is also an award-winning parachutist and is credited with helping the development of a new parachute for SARTECHs to penetrate crash sites more efficiently and administer lifesaving medical treatment.

Minister McCallum noted that "The volunteer work of all those involved in air search and rescue is not an easy task, but it is invaluable to Canadians and continues to save lives every day. John Kelly's diverse and committed search and rescue career is a exceptional example of dedication to Canadian SAR."

Since John Kelly's retirement from the Canadian Forces, which included work as the deputy SARTECH leader for 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron and SARTECH leader for 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, he has been instrumental in fundraising and volunteering for CASARA National. Mr. Kelly has also worked with the Canadian Coast Guard, Canadian Forces and numerous ground SAR teams, mastering the often-treacherous air, marine and ground environments.

Certificates of Achievement

Certificates of Achievement in search and rescue will also be given out at SARSCENE in recognition of the dedication and professionalism of five other SAR providers across the country. The recipients are Corporal Jim Galloway of the RCMP, Sherwood Park, Alberta; Eric Langley of Cape Breton SAR, Sydney, Nova Scotia; Tim Jones North Shore Rescue Team, North Vancouver, British Columbia; Denis Maurice from Georgian Bay SAR, Lafontaine, Ontario; and Robert Petitpas from the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Sorel, Quebec.

The NSS is an independent agency of the federal government, created in 1986, which works with all levels of government, police and emergency services, and volunteers to manage and improve search and rescue activities throughout Canada.