Project Lifesaver coming to Kawartha Lakes this summer

Kawartha Lakes – A collaborative partnership between local emergency services and community organizations is bringing Project Lifesaver to Kawartha Lakes this summer. Project Lifesaver is a proven search-and-rescue program that supports individuals at risk of wandering due to cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other related impairments.

The initiative is being introduced locally through the City of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), supported by the Kawartha Lakes Police Service, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service, and the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland & Haliburton. Designed to enhance rapid response capabilities, Project Lifesaver provides first responders with specialized tracking equipment to help quickly locate missing individuals and safely reunite them with their families. The program’s mission is simple but vital: bringing loved ones home.

Project Lifesaver uses wearable transmitters assigned to registered participants. When a participant is reported missing, trained police services deploy the associated tracking equipment, dramatically reducing search times and the risk of injury.

“Project Lifesaver strengthens our ability to respond quickly when vulnerable individuals go missing,” said Sergeant Ryan Weir of the OPP Emergency Response Team. “This program gives families peace of mind and provides first responders with an effective tool to save time and save lives.”

Program roles and partnerships

• Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service, through its Community Paramedic Program, has sponsored the program’s introduction by funding start-up kits and equipment.
• The Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland & Haliburton will oversee client enrollment and distribute Project Lifesaver kits.
• City of Kawartha Lakes OPP and the Kawartha Lakes Police Service will respond to incidents involving registered participants and conduct searches using the tracking technology.

Project Lifesaver is internationally recognized and has been successfully adopted in communities across North America. Bringing the program to Kawartha Lakes reflects a strong shared commitment to supporting vulnerable residents and their caregivers.

More information about local enrollment and timelines will be shared as the program rollout continues.

For more information about Project Lifesaver, please call the Alzheimer’s Society at 705-748-5131.

Additional Quotes

“Project Lifesaver represents a profound commitment to the well‑being of our community. When someone we care about goes missing, every second feels heavy for their families and caregivers. This program brings reassurance in those moments of fear by giving first responders the tools to act quickly and effectively. Our goal is always to protect the most vulnerable among us, and Project Lifesaver strengthens that promise. It’s a meaningful step forward for Kawartha Lakes, built on partnership, compassion, and a shared dedication to keeping people safe."

• Inspector Robert Flindall, Detachment Commander, City of Kawartha Lakes Ontario Provincial Police

“We’re proud to support and partner on Project Lifesaver. It’s a natural extension of our Community Paramedic Program, with many of the same vulnerable individuals and families benefiting from both initiatives. Any program that helps keep people safe, supported, and at home is something we’re thrilled to be part of.

• Chief Sara Johnston, Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Service

“When time is critical, this technology helps first responders act quickly and save lives,” said Sgt. Ryan Boutin, Kawartha Lakes Police Service. “Working together with our emergency service and community partners strengthens our ability to keep vulnerable residents safe.”

• Sergeant Ryan Boutin, Kawartha Lakes Police Service

“When someone you care for goes missing, every minute matters for their safety and for the families who love them. Project Lifesaver adds a critical layer of protection in our community, helping first responders act quickly and bring people home safely.”

• Jen Johnstone, Executive Director, Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland & Haliburton