‘Heart rate definitely goes up’: Rescue teams scale building with canines for training

K9 teams from three provinces took part in search and rescue disaster response training in Brandon. CTV’s Jon Hendricks has more.

People and dogs could be seen rappelling off a five-storey building in Brandon, Man., on Thursday as part a training exercise for disaster response teams.

Members from three of Canada’s Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces (CAN-TFs) gathered at the Brandon Airport on Thursday to train with their canine partners.

“I wasn’t nervous walking up, but as soon as you step over the ledge and the dogs on you, your heart rate definitely goes up,” said Canon Wong with CAN-TF1 from Vancouver, B.C. Personnel from Alberta and Manitoba also joined in on the training.

“I truly believe that 98 per cent of people in Canada don’t even know we have the capabilities which we have,” said Jay Palmer, canine lead with CAN-TF4 from Manitoba.

Those capabilities include being able to be dropped into any disaster, such as from a collapsed building, and search and rescue the victims. Members of CAN-TF1 experienced that exact situation in 2022.

“We had a … rooftop parkade collapse in Vancouver, and it’s where the rooftop parkade collapsed onto a bakery that was underneath,” said CAN-TF1 Sgt. Bob Sandher. “And my canine was the one that found that person.”

Crawling over the rubble of a collapsed building isn’t easy for the dog or the handler, and that’s why the teams train relentlessly and validate their skills annually.

“These guys work really hard and train really hard to be ready for any kind of disaster,” Palmer said.

“Our guys are prepared to go and to assist anybody that needs it.”