Saving lives in the Arctic is about to get more support from Nova Scotia.
The federal government has announced $1.36 million in funding for St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish to lead a major research project focused on improving ground search and rescue in the North.
The three-year initiative, called Closing the Gaps: Addressing Critical Challenges in Arctic Ground Search and Rescue, will involve researchers from StFX, Dalhousie, and Memorial universities. They will work closely with government and community responders in Nunavut and Nunavik to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and response.
Ground search and rescue in the Arctic is among the most complex operations in Canada, with vast distances, harsh weather, and limited resources.
The project will test new technologies, improve governance, and co-develop training tools rooted in Inuit knowledge.
Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, made the funding announcement in Antigonish. He said the investment supports the communities, professionals, and volunteers “who put their lives on the line to get people home safely when they are in distress.”
StFX President Andy Hakin noted the initiative will also provide valuable opportunities for undergraduate students, while Associate Professor Peter Kikkert said the work builds on years of collaboration between researchers and Inuit responders.
