Search and Rescue
A Matter of Life and Death
Too many lives have been lost in our region due to inadequate Search and Rescue (SAR) infrastructure. Southern Labrador has no SAR bases south of Goose Bay, leaving NunatuKavut Inuit and other coastal communities without timely, life-saving support.
There are no lifeboat stations in Labrador. Currently, SAR crews must travel nearly 1,000 km from Halifax to reach us – a delay that can mean the difference between life and death. As weather events grow more unpredictable due to climate change, these gaps in service put even more lives at risk.
NunatuKavut Inuit deserve better. Our safety cannot be an afterthought.
Building Sovereign,
Local SAR Capacity
NCC is actively advocating for a more just,
equitable, and effective SAR system.
We are calling for:
Consistent funding
A one-time $1 million allocation from the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador in 2022 was a start — but it’s
not enough. Ongoing investment is critical.
Federal commitment
The Government of Canada must designate 5-Wing Goose
Bay as a primary SAR base to ensure rapid response for
Southern Labrador.
Local control and collaboration
We must build SAR capacity in our own communities — led
by NunatuKavut Inuit and informed by local knowledge and
lived experience.
The story of
Marc Russell and
Joey Jenkins
On September 17, 2021, fishermen Marc Russell and Joey Jenkins went missing off the southern coast of Labrador. Despite initial efforts, the Canadian Rangers and Coast Guard Auxiliary were never formally deployed. The search was called off after just 48 hours – far too soon – and handed over to the RCMP as a recovery operation.
Their loss is a heartbreaking reminder of what’s at stake when communities like ours are left behind.