Media Release - April 29, 2024 - Trillium Venture

KINCARDINE, ON – Starting May 3^rd and running through to May 5^th, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be in Bruce and Huron Counties performing emergency response exercises. Part of a larger series of exercises running province-wide, interference to day-to-day business from “Trillum Venture” is to be minimal.

Community emergency response teams across the two counties are embracing the opportunity to gain experience and work alongside the CAF as they enact a realistic scenario that would require municipalities to request assistance should it occur in real life.

“The timing for this exercise couldn’t be better as we’re heading into Emergency Preparedness week,” said Shane Watson, the Municipality of Kincardine community emergency management coordinator. “We will also be running our own annual training exercise on May 2^nd, tying into the narrative in the days ahead of Trillium Venture.”

The Municipality of Kincardine is not alone in using the scenario to actively work with the CAF to evaluate their emergency preparedness skills. In Bruce County, the Township of Huron-Kinloss along with the municipalities of Brockton, North Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce Peninsula, South Bruce, and Arran-Elderslie are all using the opportunity to implement a variety of simulated responses like setting up cooling centres, tree/debris removal, fire training, and shoreline searches.

The hypothetical scenario features a 13-day heatwave where temperatures are over 40 degrees Celsius. The exercise story simulates severe storms causing power outages, damage to infrastructure, and homes. In addition, fictitious water shortages for communities and “wildland fires” will escalate the severity requiring response.

During the response scenario, the CAF will have a noticeable presence in the community. Expect to see military vehicles on the roads and the possibility of soldiers at your home as they perform door-to-door wellness checks just as they would in the case of an authentic emergency.

The wellness checks will see soldiers visiting door-to-door as they would in the event of an extreme emergency. They do this to ensure you have both the information and tools you need to get through the situation. They do not need to enter your home to perform these checks. These checks are strictly so soldiers can practice the kind of additional support they provide communities during situations like the Quebec Ice Storm in 1998 or the Fort McMurray wildfires.

“This exercise isn’t to frighten anyone,” emphasized Watson. “It’s about focusing on a situation where, if we needed the assistance of additional resources, the CAF would respond to help our communities. We are identifying our strengths and where there’s areas for improvement. When many organizations and communities can do something like this together, we’re all enhancing our emergency management programs through prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery tactics.”

If you have any questions about Trillium Venture contact Lieutenant Paul Verheye of the 31 Canadian Bridge Group Public Affairs Office by e-mail or reach out to your local community emergency management team.

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Media Inquiries:
Shane Watson, Community Emergency Management Coordinator
Municipality of Kincardine
519-396-3468