Valley Search and Rescue

03/23/2026

Well Winters not quite over yet and neither is our Rafflebox 50/50 supporting Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association across the Province

www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/nssar

Annapolis County Ground Search & Rescue
Digby Ground Search and Rescue
Clare Ground Search and Rescue
Yarmouth County Ground Search and Rescue
Barrington Ground Search and Rescue
Lunenburg Ground Search and Rescue
Queens Ground Search & Rescue
North Queens Ground Search & Rescue
Eastern Shore Ground Search and Rescue
Musquodoboit Valley Search and Rescue
Pictou County Volunteer Ground Search and Rescue
Strait Area Ground Search and Rescue
Pugwash Ground Search & Rescue
Springhill Ground Search and Rescue
Cape Breton Search & Rescue
Recherche et Sauvetage Cheticamp Search and Rescue
Colchester Ground Search and Rescue Association
East Hants Ground Search and Rescue
West Hants Ground Search and Rescue
Valley Search and Rescue

03/22/2026

Currently our team has NOT been activated Mutual Aid for this incident .. please give search teams time to search and respect the operations.

Update: … A multi-agency search in Colchester County near the Harmony Rd. area is underway related to Jason Lorette, the 47-year-old man reported missing on March 20.

Ground Search and Rescue Teams from Colchester County, Pictou County and East Hants as well as the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), have been engaged with the RCMP including RCMP Air Services and RCMP Police Dog Services.

Residents are asked to avoid the immediate area.

File #: 2026-363329

Update 2 :55 p.m. : A vulnerable person alert has been issued for all of Pictou and Colchester counties as well as East Hants area for Jason Lorette.

03/21/2026

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jason Lorette is asked to contact Colchester County District RCMP at 902-893-6820, or the local police of jurisdiction.

File #: 2026-363329

Colchester County District RCMP is asking for public assistance in locating 47-year-old Jason Lorette who was reported missing on March 20.

Lorette was last seen on March 19 in Salmon River. He may be wearing a blue flannel jacket.

Jason Lorette is described as approximately 5-foot-11 and 140 pounds. He has brown hair, a white goatee. Jason walks with a noticeable gait.

When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word respectfully.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Jason Lorette is asked to contact Colchester County District RCMP at 902-893-6820, or the local police of jurisdiction. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.

File #: 2026-363329

Update March 22 11:25: A multi-agency search in the Harmony Rd., Colchester County area is expected this afternoon. Partners including RCMP Police Dog Services, RCMP Air Services, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) and Colchester, Pictou and East Hants Ground Search and Rescue (GSAR) Teams are in search of Jason Lorette the 47-year-old man reported missing on March 20. Residents are asked to avoid the area.

Update 2 :55 p.m. : A vulnerable person alert has been issued for all of Pictou and Colchester counties as well as East Hants area for Jason Lorette.

03/17/2026

☘️ Happy St Patrick’s Day from our Team ! ☘️

We thought we’d share a Irish Proverb

"If there is a way into the woods, then there is also a way out."

Sometimes you just need the help of our GSAR Team to get out and we’re always ready to Help !

Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association

03/16/2026

Middle of the Month Monday and VSAR Member Ron Lloyd sent over his Beard to Baby Face ( ok Goatee ) photo to raise awareness of our Rafflebox 50/50 supporting Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association .. think we have a few more for our FUN- Razor 🪒

www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/nssar

03/11/2026

A multi-agency search is underway related to missing ice fishers in Belleisle. One of the two people has been located deceased.

On March 10 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Annapolis District RCMP and fire services responded to a report of two men, ages 73 and 77, who had not returned from ice fishing near Little Brook Lane.

Overnight, RCMP remotely piloted aircraft system operators and the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre conducted air searches while fire services conducted searches in the water.

Annapolis County Ground Search and Rescue, Digby Ground Search and Rescue, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), and Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources have been engaged.

During the afternoon of March 11, one of the missing men was located deceased. The search is ongoing for the second man.

Residents are asked to avoid the immediate area and please stay off the ice.

File #: 2026-318014

03/11/2026

So you may have seen we were planning on doing a Fun- Razor🪒 with a few members growing out the Winter Growth 🧔‍♂️ .. and there were some Doozies but the Sun 🌞 got the better of them and we shed the fuzz !

So we’ll just share our Rafflebox 50/50 page, www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/nssar

More photos to come.. Orginal shave date was First Day of Spring 🌼 🪒 March 21st

03/10/2026

Monday Nights Weekly Training Report

Night Navigation

Most people are heading inside for the night, our team was out in the thick of it this week for our navigation and pacing night. Why? Because the subjects we look for don't always pick daylight hours to get lost. In fact, most of our calls come after the sun goes down and probality of self rescue decreases.

Why Navigation & Pacing Matter:
When the visibility drops to zero, pacing and compass work are your lifelines.

Reliability: Electronics can fail,A VSAR member with a compass and a pacing count is a "fail-safe" for the team.

Safety: We can't rescue anyone if we can’t find our own way back. Mastery of these basics ensures every volunteer comes home safe.

Our team trains weekly on different skills based needs associated with the skills needed on a search .. all 100% Volunteer

03/09/2026

Our team is lucky to have two members attend this important training through Search and Rescue Volunteer Association of Canada

Congrats to Ella and Bob for completing the training and representing our team and province

03/08/2026

Hi Everyone, My name is Christina, and I’m writing this from the ICU surrounde… Christina Martin needs your support for Support Ali Miyoko Frye’s Recovery

03/08/2026

Today we celebrate the incredible women who serve our communities with strength, dedication, and compassion.

On International Women’s Day, we recognize the women of Valley Search and Rescue and Nova Scotia Ground Search and Rescue Association who volunteer their time, skills, and courage to help others when they need it most. Whether searching the woods, supporting operations, or helping bring people home safely, their commitment makes a difference every day.

Thank you for everything you do for our community. 🧡

03/06/2026

Info share, let’s keep our Province safe from Forest/ Grass Fires this Season

During wildfire risk season(March 15 to October 14)

NO domestic brush burning or campfires are allowed between 7:00 am and 2:00pm

Burn restrictions are updated at 2:00 pm daily

https://novascotia.ca/burnsafe

Burning is allowed daily now that wildfire risk season has ended for the 2024 season. Starting 15 March 2025, burn restrictions will be updated daily.