JVCKENWOOD Canada Inc. is proud to announce Saskatoon Search and Rescue (SSAR), based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, as the inaugural recipient of the KENWOOD Cares Past Recipients Program. SSAR previously received a KENWOOD Cares communications equipment grant in 2020, valued at $10,000. Today, the grant has grown to $15,000 in communications equipment.
Saskatoon Search and Rescue is a volunteer-based organization providing ground search and rescue services throughout Saskatoon and surrounding regions, while also supporting provincial and inter-provincial operations when requested.
“We are incredibly grateful to KENWOOD for this generous support,” said Carla Eager, President of Saskatoon Search and Rescue. “As our call volume and the complexity of our operations continue to grow, reliable and modern communications are critical to keeping our volunteers safe and ensuring successful outcomes for the people we serve. This grant will allow us to continue upgrading aging equipment, improve coverage in challenging environments, and enhance real-time coordination during searches and disaster responses. Since 2015, KENWOOD has been a trusted partner in building our communications system from the ground up, and this investment helps ensure we can continue to serve our community effectively, now and into the future.”
In 2025, JVCKENWOOD Canada Inc. introduced the KENWOOD Cares Past Recipients Program, an annual communications equipment grant created specifically for organizations that have previously received support through KENWOOD Cares. The program recognizes that as organizations grow and evolve, their communications requirements change as well. Equipment may require replacement or expansion, and additional accessories may be needed to maintain operational readiness.
The program provides $15,000 in KENWOOD communications equipment to an eligible past recipient each year. Organizations that received a KENWOOD Cares grant more than four years ago are eligible to apply. For the 2026 grant cycle, organizations that received grants between 2015 and 2022 are eligible for consideration.
“The KENWOOD Cares program was created to support organizations that dedicate themselves to serving and protecting their communities,” said Wilf Mulder, Vice President, Safety & Security Division, JVCKENWOOD Canada Inc. “With the introduction of the Past Recipients Program, we are extending that commitment beyond the initial grant to help ensure these organizations continue to have access to the reliable communications tools they need as their operations grow. We are pleased to once again support Saskatoon Search and Rescue and the important work they do every day.”
The KENWOOD communications equipment will be configured by Prairie Mobile Communications in Saskatoon, the same KENWOOD authorized dealer that supported SSAR’s original grant in 2020.
“We are thrilled that Saskatoon Search and Rescue has been selected as the first-ever recipient of the KENWOOD Cares Past Recipients Program,” said Kimberley Bishop, President of the Prairie Mobile Group of Companies. “It is an honour to once again support their communications needs and help ensure their volunteers have access to the reliable equipment they depend on when serving their community.”
Since launching KENWOOD Cares in 2014, JVCKENWOOD Canada Inc. has awarded more than $220,000 in communications equipment to 19 organizations across eight provinces.