(Abbotsford, BC) May 14, 2025 — Women volunteers risk their lives to save others in Canada’s most dangerous environments — yet their contributions remain largely unstudied and underappreciated. Dr. Jelena Brcic, Associate Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), is setting out to change that.
Her research aims to bring visibility and recognition to the critical contributions of women in Search and Rescue (SAR), a field traditionally dominated by men. Despite their life-saving efforts, the experiences of women in these high-risk roles have been largely unexamined, resulting in gaps in understanding and support. This study seeks to bridge that gap, advocating for enhanced equity, inclusivity, and support mechanisms across Canada.

Backed by Public Safety Canada’s Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, Dr. Brcic is leading a two-year national research project that aims to uncover the unique experiences and challenges faced by women in SAR. Her study, the first of its kind in Canada, will spotlight the critical but often overlooked role of women in SAR teams and identify barriers to equity and inclusivity in these life-saving volunteer efforts.

Brcic is starting with the B.C. Search and Rescue Association and building out from there, hoping to connect with similar groups from all the provinces and territories. Through surveys and interviews, Brcic is exploring the unique successes and challenges faced by women volunteers, and identifying areas for improvement relating to equity, inclusivity, and diversity within Canadian SAR teams.

This project is different from work that Brcic has previously done, but ties into an ongoing theme of studying how teams function in extreme and unusual environments. Her doctoral research in psychology examined how individuals and teams function in stressful environments, including the International Space Station, the Arctic, and Antarctic. Like the astronauts and isolated research scientists she has studied in the past, SAR volunteers work in rugged, often hostile environments. They are called out at a moment’s notice and placed into high-stress scenarios.

“Part of this research relates strongly to what I’ve previously done, gathering data on how these women cope with the stresses they experience, how they work with their teams, and whether they experience growth and resilience after a season with SAR,” Brcic says. “The women aspect of this is intriguing to me because I believe we still have a ways to go in terms of equality and equity in lots of professions.”

Brcic hopes that the research not only sheds light on the vital contributions of women in SAR but also drives meaningful changes to support and empower all volunteers.  UFV students involved in the project will play a key role in analyzing findings and creating public-facing materials, sharing their research with SAR volunteers across Canada—a part of the project Brcic finds particularly rewarding.

“I love that we’ll be able to present our findings with the people who go into these unforgiving environments,” Brcic muses. “We learn something from their experiences, and it’s nice sharing what we’ve learned with them and hearing them say, ‘Huh! That is really interesting.’

Brcic describes the project as the perfect blend of her passions—advocating for women and researching extreme environments. “That’s what draws me into the work, and that’s what drives me,” she said. “I think we’re going to learn a lot, and it’s going to open the door to even more research opportunities.”

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About UFV 
Located in the beautiful Fraser Valley just east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) is a fully accredited, public university that enrolls approximately 15,000 students per year. UFV has campuses and locations in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, and Hope, and a growing presence in Chandigarh, India.
We offer more than 100 programs, including three master’s degrees, 21 bachelor’s degrees with majors, minors, and extended minors in more than 35 subject areas, four graduate certificates, and more than a dozen trades and technology programs.
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For media inquiries:  
Jeboah M. Godron, UFV Director, Communications  
jeboah.godron@ufv.ca