As families across the country continue to search for missing loved ones, a group of dedicated volunteers is quietly filling a gap most don’t even realize exists — stepping in when official investigations go cold and hope begins to fade.
They are the Ontario Search and Recovery Canines, known as OSARC, a highly specialized volunteer organization made up of certified human remains detection dog handlers and their canine partners. Based in Minden but operating across Canada and the United States, OSARC teams are often called into cases long after police have suspended active efforts.
“Typically, when a person is reported missing, the police put everything they have into the search for maybe two or three weeks,” explained John William Grima, OSARC’s search manager. “But after that, unless new information surfaces, the case becomes a cold case, and when that happens, those families are often left with nowhere to turn. That’s where we come in.”
OSARC is currently in Severn Township, hosting a human remains detection training seminar at ODAS Park from Friday to Sunday. The event is drawing in canine teams and aspiring handlers from as away far as Alberta and Florida, with drills, simulations, and certification opportunities running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
It’s the first time the group has hosted the event in Severn, and Grima says the choice was deliberate.
“We needed a centralized location that was accessible for people coming from all over Ontario — and the fairgrounds staff have been amazing,” he said. “They’ve gone above and beyond to accommodate us.”
The seminar isn’t just about keeping current members sharp; it also serves as a recruitment and awareness opportunity. Attendees include experienced, certified teams as well as newcomers getting their first glimpse into the demanding world of human remains detection. For beginners, it’s a chance to see whether they — and their dogs — have the focus, drive, and emotional resilience needed for the role.
“We’re always looking for exceptional people and dogs,” said Grima. “Not everyone has to be a dog handler. We also train volunteers as flankers — the people who accompany handlers on searches and track GPS, make observations, take notes. It’s an essential role. The dog handler needs to focus completely on the dog’s behaviour.”
OSARC teams undergo rigorous training to become certified. Dogs must be able to locate at least three human remains “hides” in different settings — buried in the ground, hidden in vehicles, tucked within rubble, or concealed in forested terrain. The work is precise, challenging, and emotionally intense.
“These dogs are trained to detect what we call human remains scent — not just whole bodies,” Grima noted. “We used to use the term ‘cadaver dogs,’ but that implies a full body. Often, we’re looking for partial remains, or bones, or tissue — especially in older or historical cases.”
OSARC’s scope goes far beyond missing person searches. In recent years, the team has become involved in historic gravesite recovery, including work with Indigenous communities in northern Ontario. Its dogs were instrumental in confirming clandestine burial sites at former residential school locations and helping map the boundaries of ancestral burial grounds ahead of new development.
“We were called in when a First Nation was preparing to build a home for elders but wanted to ensure they weren’t disturbing sacred land,” said Grima. “We were able to help define where their ancestors were buried. It validated what the elders had been saying for years, and brought a lot of peace.”
That blend of science, sensitivity and trust is what sets OSARC apart. Though the work is emotionally heavy, Grima said the team prides itself on professionalism.
“We refer to ourselves as unpaid professionals,” he said. “We’re volunteers, yes, but the work demands discipline, emotional control, and commitment. You have to compartmentalize — stay focused on the mission. But when we’re able to give a family some peace, even just by showing up and saying, ‘We’re here to help,’ that’s powerful.”
That impact was never clearer than in one recent case in Florida, where an OSARC handler was called in by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to assist in a cold case. A man had been missing for three years. His cellphone was found at the side of the road, prompting a narrowed search area. The dog located the skeleton of the missing man.
“That was our first major find,” said Grima. “The FBI was thrilled, but for us, it wasn’t about recognition — it was about finally giving a family an answer.”
That type of success is rare but deeply meaningful. More often, OSARC’s work is about ruling out areas and narrowing the search for others, but even that can bring closure to families who have spent years begging for renewed attention to their loved ones’ case.
“There are so many families in Ontario and across Canada who are still searching,” said Grima. “They haven’t had answers. Some of them haven’t even had anyone come look for years. When we show up, even if we don’t find something, it shows them they haven’t been forgotten.”
One of the biggest misconceptions, he added, is that OSARC teams simply show up uninvited or operate independently from official investigations. In reality, every search is carefully co-ordinated.
“We always liaise with the police,” he said. “We get a case number, report everything to the investigating agency, and immediately notify them if anything is found. We’re not vigilantes; we’re part of the larger effort.”
Despite the serious nature of the work, the seminar in Orillia has a community feel. Dogs sprint across grassy fields, handlers huddle to compare notes, and curious onlookers — some considering joining OSARC — get a first-hand look at what it takes to enter the field.
“There’s an energy here,” Grima said. “It’s a chance for our team to reconnect, to train, to grow, and to bring in new people who care.”
OSARC is always looking for support, whether financial, logistical, or through volunteers willing to learn. The group operates entirely on donations and volunteer time.
“At the end of the day, we’re just people trying to help people,” Grima said. “We don’t charge. We’re not in it for glory. We’re in it because there are still so many people out there who deserve to come home, and families who deserve to know.”
More information about OSARC can be found here.