Township Successfully Conducts Emergency Management Exercise

A training exercise, simulating a major sinkhole along the Willowbrook Connector requiring evacuations of surrounding neighbourhoods and a State of Local Emergency, was successfully conducted on November 19. The exercise aimed to validate emergency preparedness and response procedures for the Township’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) while building familiarity and confidence among EOC staff.

Led by the Township’s Fire Department and Emergency Management Program, the exercise was supported by high level Director’s and Managers who make up the EOC Management team. This exercise represents the culmination of work that began in February of this year, and traces back to October 2024, when the Township committed to a full-time Emergency Manager and prioritized public safety.

“Our mission is to serve the Township of Langley. Continuous investment in Public Safety and training like this EOC exercise are very important. This should instill confidence in the community that we are ready to support them during an emergency,” said Township Fire Chief Jason de Roy.

“The first step in building the resilience of our community is ensuring as an organization we are prepared. The overarching goal of the exercise was to build organizational capacity to manage an emergency – effectively, cohesively and confidently and I believe we achieved that,” said Township Emergency Program Manager Harpreet Jaswal.

The Township of Langley Emergency Management Program (TLEMP) undertakes planning and training to maximize the protection of life, critical infrastructure, private property, and the environment in the event of an emergency. To meet this mandate, the TLEMP works closely with first response agencies, community partners and Township departments to increase the Township’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

The new Emergency and Disaster Management Act emphasizes the need for integrating the four pillars of Emergency Management: preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. This along with an “all hazard” approach set a strong foundation for the Township’s Emergency Management program. Training and exercises are facilitated regularly, emphasizing the importance of coordination and collaboration with emergency management partners, provincial organizations, and stakeholders from private and public industry.

To learn more about the Township Emergency Management Program, visit their website here.