Canadian Wings of Rescue

Canadian Wings of Rescue

Canadian Wings of Rescue / Uncategorized  / When aviation volunteers mobilize: CWoR supports emergency air exercise

When aviation volunteers mobilize: CWoR supports emergency air exercise

On a warm fall morning in Stratford, Ontario (CYSA), a small but mighty team from Canadian Wings of Rescue joined organizations, academics, first-responders and pilots at Air Bridge 2025, Ontario’s first general aviation emergency response exercise.

As a registered charity powered 100% by volunteers, CWOR was proud to have both pilots in the air and an information booth on the ground at this first-of-its-kind event organized by Alliance North.

VEAC pilots at Air Bridge 2025

The simulation was more than a drill. It was a call to action that demonstrated the critical, underused role that general aviation and Ontario volunteer private pilots can play in emergencies.

Public benefit flying in action

Air Bridge 2025 showcased many different roles, from drone reconnaissance for search-and-rescue operations, to transportation of emergency personnel, and our team’s involvement reaffirmed what we’ve always known: general aviation can be a powerful force.

Private pilots and CWoR volunteer transport coordinators Ryan and Horace

Some of our own volunteer pilots participated in the simulation, flying coordinated exercises to deploy medical teams, airlift supplies, and simulate aid delivery.

Meanwhile, on the ground, CWoR staff and volunteers welcomed visitors at our booth, sharing our mission: to fly vulnerable animals across Canada to safety and care, free of charge. The same spirit of coordination and compassion that fuels disaster response is what drives our animal rescue flights.

“For the last two years, we’ve been building training courses, response plans,” said Chirag Chopra, Alliance North co-founder and Canadian Wings of Rescue board member. “We’ve been talking with various municipal, provincial, federal level officials and getting this all together. So this event was a culmination of all of that.”

Chirag Chopra, CWoR board member and Alliance North co-founder

Same Wings, Shared Mission

While Air Bridge 2025 focused on emergency scenarios, it highlighted the shared DNA between disaster response and animal rescue: both require coordination, trust, and fast mobilization, often in time-sensitive conditions.

We’re especially proud to see the launch of the Volunteer Emergency Air Corps (VEAC), a new network of civilian pilots now ready to be activated when Ontario needs them most. It’s a natural complement to CWoR’s ongoing mission and a reminder of how adaptable and impactful our volunteer aviation network can be.

“We are showcasing to the federal, provincial, municipal governments that we’ve got a

VEAC pilots and Geri (centre) CWoR volunteer

program of training – and getting pilots.   So as much as it was testing out our own protocols and our own procedures, it was very much intended to get the message out to communities, to governments, to whoever needs to know this, that local pilots exist in the communities they want to help,” shared Chirag.

Cheryl

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Happy Air Traffic Controller Day!

Air traffic controllers are the unseen guides keeping our skies safe, coordinating aircraft movements, managing airspace, and ensuring pilots have what they need for safe flights.

Here at Canadian Wings of Rescue, we're fortunate to have ATCs on our team through our volunteers who also act as our pilots! They bring expertise that helps us navigate complex airspace and coordinate rescue flights across the country for all of our beloved animals.

To all the air traffic controllers, thank you for keeping everyone safe up there. We're happy to work with you on every important rescue.

Happy Air Traffic Controller Day!

Air traffic controllers are the unseen guides keeping our skies safe, coordinating aircraft movements, managing airspace, and ensuring pilots have what they need for safe flights.

Here at Canadian Wings of Rescue, we`re fortunate to have ATCs on our team through our volunteers who also act as our pilots! They bring expertise that helps us navigate complex airspace and coordinate rescue flights across the country for all of our beloved animals.

To all the air traffic controllers, thank you for keeping everyone safe up there. We`re happy to work with you on every important rescue.
...

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This summer has been incredible for Canadian Wings of Rescue – we've completed over 25 life-saving transports across Canada. Whether flying animals to forever homes, urgent medical care, foster families, or safe shelters, each flight represents a critical lifeline for these precious souls.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the amazing volunteers who coordinate these transports, our rescue partners who trust us with their animals, the foster families who open their hearts and homes, and especially our volunteer pilots who donate their time, skills, and aircraft to make these rescues possible.

As we head into the colder months, our commitment doesn't waver. Winter weather won't ground our compassion! If you know of any animal in need of transport to safety, medical care, or a new beginning anywhere across Canada, please reach out. 

Together, we're bridging distances and saving lives, one flight at a time.

This summer has been incredible for Canadian Wings of Rescue – we`ve completed over 25 life-saving transports across Canada. Whether flying animals to forever homes, urgent medical care, foster families, or safe shelters, each flight represents a critical lifeline for these precious souls.

Our deepest gratitude goes to the amazing volunteers who coordinate these transports, our rescue partners who trust us with their animals, the foster families who open their hearts and homes, and especially our volunteer pilots who donate their time, skills, and aircraft to make these rescues possible.

As we head into the colder months, our commitment doesn`t waver. Winter weather won`t ground our compassion! If you know of any animal in need of transport to safety, medical care, or a new beginning anywhere across Canada, please reach out.

Together, we`re bridging distances and saving lives, one flight at a time.
...

23 0
We're grateful for this wonderful community of animal and aviation lovers! 

Behind every rescue flight is a team of heroes - pilots donating their time, rescues working tirelessly to support animals,  airports and fixed-base operators (FBOs) offering support, and those volunteering behind the scenes. 

We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for helping us get animals to safety and new beginnings. ❤️

We`re grateful for this wonderful community of animal and aviation lovers!

Behind every rescue flight is a team of heroes - pilots donating their time, rescues working tirelessly to support animals, airports and fixed-base operators (FBOs) offering support, and those volunteering behind the scenes.

We couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for helping us get animals to safety and new beginnings. ❤️
...

21 0


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