Twelve rangers participated in the joint exercise. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

By Derek Cornet

being prepared

Rangers hold weekend exercise in conjunction with CASARA

Aug 12, 2019 | 7:06 PM

La Ronge Members from the La Ronge Canadian Ranger Patrol finished an intense exercise this weekend with the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).

The exercise began Aug. 9 in the Wapawekka area and included 12 rangers mostly from the local patrol. Patrol Commander Jim Searson participated in the training session and he explained it was focused on a number of aspects such as communications, team building and working with CASARA. The first phase of the exercise involved a mock injury scenario where the rangers had to spend the night outdoors using only what they had in their go-bags.

“We’re trying to make sure our rangers have their go-bags ready for 48 hours to be in the bush and be prepared,” Searson said. “If they get the call there’s a missing person, they grab their go-bag and they have to have everything prepared to stay on the land with what’s in their pack.”

In conjunction with CASARA, a search and rescue scenario was also held in regards to a downed plane. It included air support from CASARA to find the emergency locator transmitter, which then sent the coordinates of the crash site to the rangers to move in for the rescue. Master Corporal Lindsay Blair noted the signal from the transmitter is picked up by satellites, then the plane uses radios and a tracking device to pinpoint the location.

“Once they see the simulated target on the ground, they then locate those coordinates, contact the rangers and give them the coordinates, so the rangers can then respond with their ATVs to the rescue site,” he said.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

6h ago

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

Highway 165 was briefly closed so this CASARA plane could land. (submitted photo/Jim Searson)

Another exercise involved the plane having to find four targets in the area, as well as having to land on Highway 165. The rangers were on hand to close down the road to allow for that safe landing.

Searson mentioned many of the aspects of the exercises involved being ready to search for missing persons. So far this year, he said there has already been two incidents of mushroom pickers going missing.

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno