As we approach the end of 2023, I’m pleased to say that this has been another successful year for ERAC, as we strive to ensure our Plan members receive the best quality emergency preparedness and response support services in the country. This year’s accomplishments include completing 27 Regional Training and Assessment events, responding to 74 Tier 1 and Tier 2 dangerous goods incidents (so far), providing liquefied petroleum gas firefighting training to over a half-dozen municipal fire departments, adding two new emergency response teams, and achieving a 98% score on our recent Certificate of Recognition audit.

Our success this year, however, has not been without its challenges, as our organization faced many of the same issues other organizations are experiencing. The departure of three members of our Operations team in the latter part of 2022 and spring of 2023 led to the hiring of a new Operations Director and three full-time Technical Advisors. I’m pleased to say that our new staff members have settled in well and are bringing value and new perspectives to our organization, responders and Plan members.

As we look forward to 2024, our Plan members can expect to see additional steps to fortify our emergency response capabilities in strategic regions of the country, an increase in Regional Training events and full-scale environmental emergency exercises, and further expansion of our services to include new products such as compressed hydrogen. Ultimately, our goal is to provide our members with a one-stop shop for all their emergency preparedness and response services.

Thank you to all our stakeholders - Plan members, responders, industry partners and staff. It’s our unique, collaborative relationship with you that defines us and sets us apart. Your continued support and commitment to ERAC are instrumental in our success.

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Spencer Buckland
President

ERAC was saddened to learn of Wayne Marshall’s recent passing. Wayne was a valued member of our Operations Committee, who demonstrated a strong commitment to safety and strived to create a healthy, safe and respectful work environment. In 2020, Wayne and his team successfully planned and safely executed the first hot tap on a tank car in Canada. Two years later, Wayne’s commitment to safety was recognized when he was presented with the ERAC Excellence in Safety award at the Dangerous Goods Emergency Management conference in Calgary. A true, quiet professional, who was always willing to help coach and mentor industry responders, Wayne will be missed.

On November 3, 2023, Transport Canada introduced new regulations for persons or organizations involved in the importation, offering for transport, handling or transportation of dangerous goods. The new regulations require persons or organizations to register within 12 months, and to provide information on their dangerous goods activities.

If you or your organization imports, offers for transport, handles, or transports dangerous goods in Canada, you may have to register.

You can learn more at: Client Identification Database (CID) (canada.ca)

Free Online Training Opportunities 

Did you know that Canadian-based first responders (firefighters, police, EMS) can take our Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Firefighting Awareness Online training and/or ICS 100 and 200 courses free of charge? These courses will be valuable to any first responder who may be involved in a response to an LPG or flammable liquids emergency.

You can find more information on our LPG Firefighting Awareness Online course here.

Information on our ICS courses is available here.

It’s not often that the entire ERAC team is together in the same place at the same time! This December the ERAC team assembled in Calgary, Alberta to participate in team meetings and staff first aid training sessions. Office staff members participated in basic emergency first aid training with CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), while the ERAC Operations team took more advanced versions of the same training. With the training now complete, ERAC has placed AEDs in all ERAC response vehicles as well as our Calgary head office.