About
O.V.E.R.T

Serving the Community

Always Ready To Help

At OVERT, we believe in the power of community and the strength that emerges when individuals come together to make a difference during times of crisis. We are The Ontario Volunteer Emergency Response Team, a dedicated group of volunteers committed to serving our fellow Ontarians in their hour of need.

Who We Are

OVERT is a non-profit organization comprised of passionate and trained volunteers who are ready to respond to various emergency situations in our local communities and across the province of Ontario. From Search and Rescue operations to natural disasters ,community emergencies and public events, our team stands prepared to provide essential support, assistance, and relief.

Our Mision

Our mission is simple yet profound: to enhance the resilience and safety of our communities by offering rapid, effective, and compassionate emergency response services. We work in collaboration with local authorities, first responders, and community organizations to ensure that Ontarians receive the care and assistance they need when it matters most.

What We Do

  • Emergency Response: When disaster strikes, OVERT is there. Our volunteers are trained to handle a wide range of emergency scenarios, from flood relief to search and rescue operations.
  • Community Outreach: We believe in proactive preparedness. OVERT conducts educational outreach programs and collaborates with communities to develop emergency plans, ensuring everyone knows how to stay safe.
  • Training and Development: Our volunteers receive rigorous training to equip them with the skills and knowledge needed to respond effectively to emergencies. We invest in continuous learning to stay at the forefront of emergency response techniques.
Integrated Response

Traditionally, community organizations are used for “outside the tape” roles during a disaster, this referring to the fact that many organizations provide “low risk” assistance.

OVERT is not traditional.  Our vission is to provide an integrated, professional, reliable and experienced community response to front line emergency services.

This new concept is referred to as “second tier response.”  OVERT is the first program of its type in Ontario that provides the emergency services with a community based “inside the tape” surge capacity.

During a major incident whether it be; a search operation, disaster or community emergency it will draw on the resources of the first responders and emergency management agencies.  OVERT´s intent is to provide volunteers that work with these agencies during these events to help the community affected.

Our team members are all volunteers who dedicate a significant amount of time to their training and operations.  These “unpaid professionals” come from all walks of life giving of themselves for their community.  All team members undergo significant ongoing training to ensure that we provide the highest level of service.

OVERT has also expanded on our role within our own community by responding internationally.  Our international unit Canadian International Search and Rescue (CANISAR) is able to provide technical SAR personnel, medical personnel, Canine SAR teams and water purification specialists to respond to a wide variety of disasters and humanitarian crisis across the globe.