Search and Rescue (SAR) in Central Canada
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Trenton leads and directs all SAR operations in the Trenton search and rescue region (SRR), which covers Central Canada. The Commander of Search and Rescue Region Trenton is also the Commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, which is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They are also in Command of other functions that are not directly related to SAR.
The Trenton SRR is an area of more than 10 million square kilometres and the bulk of Canada's land mass. It includes:
- from Trenton, Ontario, on the shore of Lake Ontario, east to the City of Québec, Quebec, and west to the Alberta–British Columbia border
- from the Canada–United States border to the North Pole
- Hudson's Bay
- James Bay
- the Canadian portions of the Great Lakes and the Arctic Ocean
Regional SAR response centre
JRCC Trenton is located at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton, Ontario. It includes members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). JRCC Trenton monitors the central region for SAR incidents. It also directs SAR alerts and emergency response in the region.
JRCC Trenton received an average of 3,068 calls for assistance per year between 2021 and 2025. This breaks down approximately as follows:
- 68 percent related to maritime incidents
- 24 percent are air incidents
- 8 percent are requests for humanitarian aid
CAF SAR units in Central Canada
The Trenton SRR has the following primary CAF SAR squadrons:
- 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario. The squadron flies:
- 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba. This squadron flies:
Any other CAF or CCG unit may be called upon to support the designated SAR units. JRCC Trenton can give them the task of any SAR or SAR-like mission if they are available, suitable, and capable.
CAF assets are tasked to respond to almost 500 SAR missions annually in Central Canada.