StFX’s Dr. Peter Kikkert awarded over $1.3 million in Government of Canada funding to lead project for improvements to Arctic ground search and rescue

August 27, 2025

L-r, are Dr. Erin Morton, StFX Associate Vice President Research, Graduate and Professional Studies; Dr. Peter Kikkert; Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience; and StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin

The diversity and vastness of Canada's landscapes offer a unique challenge when it comes to search and rescue (SAR) operations, and regular improvements are key to saving people when they are in distress.

On Aug. 27th, Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, was at StFX to announce $1,361,900 in funding to the university for a three-year project entitled Closing the Gaps: Addressing Critical Challenges in Arctic Ground Search and Rescue. Public Safety Canada will fund the initiative through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF), which annually provides funding for projects that will improve Canada's search and rescue system.

The project is led by Dr. Peter Kikkert, StFX Public Policy and Governance professor and Research Fellow at the Mulroney Institute of Government at StFX.

Dr. Peter Kikkert

"Arctic SAR volunteers face harsh conditions, a changing environment, and vast search areas, often with limited assistance. This project builds on years of collaboration among researchers, Inuit responders and government partners, and will improve Arctic SAR by strengthening its governance, testing technology, and co-developing new capabilities, planning, and training tools rooted in Inuit Knowledge," Dr. Kikkert said in an impassioned address during the funding announcement held at the Joyce Family Atrium in Mulroney Hall.

Ground search and rescue (GSAR) operations on the land, ice and inland waters of the Arctic are often difficult and complex given the region's vast size and cold climate. The difficulties are compounded by systemic challenges faced by SAR responders.

With this new funding, St. Francis Xavier University, along with other researchers from Dalhousie and Memorial universities will work with government and community search and rescue responders from Nunavut and the Nunavik region to improve ground search and rescue prevention, preparedness and response by addressing some of the core challenges identified through previous research.

In his remarks, Dr. Kikkert spoke of the contributions of all project partners, in particular the Inuit responders "who are the very foundation of this project."

These responders work in some of the harshest conditions in the world, and while more tourists, visitors and companies are coming to the north, often the search efforts can be personal. "Almost every responder has found a loved one deceased," he said.

This funding will allow us to co-develop solutions and will allow us to continue this work, to have in-person meetings and co-develop planning rooted in Inuit Knowledge, and work on solutions that will help save lives "in the north, with the north, for the north.

"Thank you for this opportunity."

Anthony Housefather, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Dr. Peter Kikkert at the funding announcement.

Parliamentary Secretary Housefather said this research will ultimately address crucial and critical challenges. "With the important work you do here at StFX, you will help improve our search and rescue work in the Arctic," he said.

"Our new Canadian government works with people on the forefront of search and rescue. We invest in the communities, the professionals and the volunteers who put their lives on the line to get people home safely when they are in distress. The funding for projects like this one contributes to a broader system of safety that benefits us all," Parliamentary Secretary Housefather said.

PROJECT ALSO TO SUPPORT STUDENT RESEARCH

"I thank Parliamentary Secretary Anthony Housefather for visiting our campus for today's important announcement. This is another example of the federal government's support for research and researchers at StFX University. This funding will support exceptional research experiences for undergraduate students who will assist Dr. Kikkert in organizing and facilitating SAR roundtables in Nunavut and Nunavik," StFX President Dr. Andy Hakin said.

Dr. Hakin noted too the passion in which Dr. Kikkert spoke, a passion he said that belies Dr. Kikkert's total investment in the work, and a passion that rubs off on students, showing them that they too can become knowledge creators.

The work Dr. Kikkert will do will change the way we look at search and rescue and it will help to develop the highly skilled young people we need who will ask questions and will work to make a difference.

"I believe StFX is a place we do make a difference in this regard," he said.

"Thank you to Peter for all you do and thank to the government for investing in StFX. Together we will make a difference."

Dr. Erin Morton and Dr. Peter Kikkert

Dr. Erin Morton, StFX Associate Vice President Research, Graduate and Professional Studies, was the ceremony emcee. Dr. Morton said she is pleased to see the work of Dr. Kikkert recognized in this way and the important contributions this will enable as well as the benefit it will bring to StFX students.

QUICK FACTS

The search and rescue system draws on the resources and expertise of partners at all orders of government, Indigenous communities, volunteers, and the private sector to respond to people who are lost, missing or in distress.

Public Safety Canada manages the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund (SAR NIF) in partnership with other federal, provincial and territorial SAR organizations, who together determine its annual priorities.

SAR NIF is designed to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, economy, and innovation of SAR activities in Canada, and provides $7.6M annually in funding for projects that are selected through an objective merit-based process.

The Government of Canada is committed to advancing SAR in Canada by funding projects with eligible organizations that share a commitment to minimize the risk of injury and loss of life while maintaining timely and effective search and rescue response.