Project Lifesaver Simcoe in Collingwood

Project Lifesaver is an international program that combines the use of radio technology with a coordinated police response to efficiently locate individuals who may be lost or wandering, and there is a concern for their safety.

Project Lifesaver Simcoe specifically was launched on May 7, 2018, in Barrie through a volunteer organization operated by Kris Hughston of Hughston Insurance Solutions and Darren Buck from Cober Evolving Solutions/Georgian Bay Volunteer Search and Rescue. The idea originated in the Barrie Advance’s newsroom in hopes of preventing another loss of life by a vulnerable member of our community following the tragic death of Mandy Thompson, who had wandered from her Barrie home.

Since launching in Barrie in 2018, Project Lifesaver Simcoe expanded to be able to support individuals through partnership with the South Simcoe Police, and now will be reaching broader across Simcoe County to include our partnership with the OPP and the Collingwood and the Blue Mountains Detachment.

“Expanding the Project Lifesaver program into Collingwood and the Blue Mountains is wonderful news and we are so appreciative of this partnership with the OPP.  It is important to our Society to be a strong partner in supporting community safety and well-being and it is our hope that this program will continue to expand across the County in partnership with police services.” Says Karie Warnar, Alzheimer Society Board Chair.

“The Alzheimer Society is excited to support the expansion of Project Lifesaver Simcoe and we look forward to working with our OPP partners to begin to provide this critical resource to vulnerable residents of any age that are at a high risk for wandering and getting lost,” says Ann-Marie Kungl, Alzheimer Society CEO. “It is a great complement to the range of resources we currently offer like the Finding Your Way program, which helps people living with dementia, their families, care partners and communities recognize the risk of going missing, how to be prepared for incidents, and overall help people living with dementia live safely in their community.

Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP detachment Commander Loris Licharson advised that “Project Lifesaver is a great new resource, which will supplement and augment our efforts to support vulnerable citizens and their families in our communities.  In partnership with the Alzheimer Society of Simcoe County, we are proud to have it available in this area and ready for deployment.”

To read about Project Lifesaver's history in Barrie, read this story by Simcoe.com: TIMELINE: Here's the story behind Project Lifesaver and its history in Barrie.

For more information about Project Lifesaver Simcoe, visit projectlifesaversimcoe.ca.