The identification of areas searched has long been a key component of search and rescue missions, for certainty of areas covered, for planning of future operational periods, and for statistical analyses of search and subject profiles. Our presentation will highlight past mapping methods, discuss the development of SAR Alberta's Geomatics Team and corresponding lessons learned from building a provincial search mapping capability within a volunteer search and rescue organization, as well as provide an outlook into what the future may hold for geospatial information as it pertains to SAR within Alberta. Alberta's SAR structure currently consists of 33 independent volunteer teams coordinated through the main governing body of SAR Alberta. As SAR Alberta expanded its role in supporting large searches, disaster response, and inter-team cooperation, the need for a dedicated geomatics capability became increasingly apparent, leading to the development of the SAR Alberta Geomatics Team. Rather than being built through a top-down process, the program grew around a small group of volunteer subject matter experts who were willing to take on the challenge of becoming a provincial resource. With support from SAR Alberta, the team was given the flexibility to identify priorities, develop best practices, establish training requirements, and gradually define its role within the broader SAR system. This balance encouraged innovation while ensuring the team's efforts remained aligned with organizational needs. We’d like to provide a few examples from real-world operations that illustrate how geomatics support has evolved from a niche capability into an increasingly recognized and requested resource. Evolving from photocopied paper maps, we have underscored the utility of mapping software that is accessible for all of our 1400+ trained volunteer members across the province, as well as our tasking agencies, and that allows for a blend of in-person and virtual support for larger scale operations. We’d like to share some reflections on the continuing evolution of the program and the challenges associated with transitioning from a development-focused team to a mature operational capability. While Alberta's SAR system is unique in some respects, many of the lessons learned in building a volunteer-led specialist program are broadly applicable to SAR organizations around the world. Our team has been successful as we’ve recruited and supported volunteer specialists, reduced administrative burdens on technical team members, established best practices early, selected tools that can scale to major incidents, and integrated geomatics personnel into search management structures. To conclude, mapping in the context of SAR within Alberta has undergone substantial development over time. Our small but mighty team of geomatics specialists has proven that it is possible to develop an integrated resource to support the rollout of modern-day mapping technology into search operations on a wide scale, support a multitude of resources and accompanying technology, and deliver far-reaching training to support our member teams. Our future aim is to continue to develop our program, support our member teams across the province, learn from fellow teams in neighbouring provinces, and explore other software suites to support the further development and integration of digital mapping into SAR in our province.