Paul Olmstead

Constable Paul Olmstead of the Edmonton Police Service has been chosen the recipient of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat's "2003 Award for Outstanding Search and Rescue Achievement." Constable Olmstead will be honoured at this year's four-day international search and rescue workshop, SARSCENE 2003, underway until October 18, 2003, in Kingston, Ontario. Seven other individuals will receive the 2003 Certificates of Achievement.

In announcing the award on behalf of the Honourable John McCallum, Lead Minister for Search and Rescue, Jean Murray, Executive Director of the National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS), applauded Constable Olmstead for his "tireless efforts as an advocate of community-based search and rescue. Constable Olmstead personifies not only the dedication and skill required for excellence in search and rescue but also the extremely high level of cooperation found between law enforcement and the volunteer community. "

Jean Murray also noted that all of this year's honourees exemplify the SARSCENE 2003 theme, Working Together to Save Lives. "Search and rescue demands skill, courage and teamwork," said Ms. Murray. "It's about working to beat the clock to save lives.

"Paul Olmstead is one among many whose inclusive approach and courage of conviction have built bridges between search and rescue volunteers, law enforcement and emergency response personnel. It is their dedication and record of achievement that we honour with these awards."

A 24-year veteran of the Edmonton Police Service, Const. Paul Olmstead is a leading advocate of community-based search and rescue. Since 1979, he has worked with law enforcement and volunteer organizations to develop and deliver search and rescue training. He has also succeeded in broadening the scope of training to include specialized disaster and other emergency response instruction for community volunteers. He was instrumental in the creation of the position of Search Manager for the Edmonton Police Service and, as a valued consultant and founder of the Alberta Search and Rescue Association, has assisted the Alberta Government and the RCMP with the establishment of a province-wide network of search and rescue volunteers. He has also developed and delivered training for communities in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, including the development of a first-of-its-kind, two-day urban search and rescue exercise involving the entire emergency response department of the City of Yellowknife.

2003 Certificates of Achievement