About Opportunity Regional Search and Rescue (ORSAR)

Opportunity Regional Search and Rescue (ORSAR) is a volunteer registered charity providing search and rescue support across northern Alberta.

Our organization has served the region for more than 25 years.

Originally incorporated in Alberta in 1998 as the Calling Lake Fire Brigade Society, the organization formally transitioned in 2019 to Calling Lake Search and Rescue Society to reflect its operational focus on volunteer search and rescue response.

We are currently in the process of legally changing our name to Opportunity Regional Search and Rescue Society to better reflect our expanded regional service area and operational scope across the MD of Opportunity.

Today, ORSAR serves communities throughout the MD of Opportunity, including Calling Lake, Wabasca, Red Earth Creek, and surrounding remote northern Alberta areas.

We work in partnership with the RCMP, Search and Rescue Alberta (SAR Alberta), municipal partners, fire departments, and neighbouring emergency response agencies to support:

• Missing person searches

• Ground search and rescue operations

• Evidence searches

• Drone-based aerial search support

• Wilderness and remote incident response

• Emergency operational support

• Public safety initiatives

Northern Alberta presents unique operational challenges including remote terrain, limited road access, poor cellular coverage, severe weather, and extended emergency response times. Our volunteers help bridge that gap through local knowledge, specialized training, and rapid operational response.

Our Mission

To provide professional volunteer search and rescue support, emergency response assistance, and public safety leadership for the communities we serve.

Current Initiatives

• Expanding regional volunteer response capacity

• Ongoing volunteer training and SAR certification

• Equipment modernization through provincial SAR grant funding

• South Beach public-access AED deployment project

• Strengthening emergency response partnerships across northern Alberta

Legal Organization Information

Current Legal Name: Calling Lake Search and Rescue Society
Registered Charity Number: 893117424RR0001
Originally Incorporated: May 7, 1998
Original Legal Name: Calling Lake Fire Brigade Society
Legal Name Change to Calling Lake Search and Rescue Society Registered: August 26, 2019
Mailing Address: Box 249, Calling Lake, AB. T0G 0K0

Website Domain Verification

ORSAR.ca is the official public-facing website operated by Calling Lake Search and Rescue Society.

If you have questions, drop us a line HERE