ERAC Update – August 22, 2024
President's Corner
As summer vacations wind down and regular business activities resume, I hope all of you had a safe and enjoyable summer with family and friends.
This July marked my 11-year anniversary as President of ERAC and over this time it’s been a real privilege to be a part of this unique and noble organization that continues to grow and develop as leaders in preparedness and response to class 2 and 3 dangerous goods.
Our success over the past decade has been due in no small part to our dedicated staff and their commitment to customer service and continuous improvement.
Many of our staff members have been with ERAC for almost as long as I have, including:
- Patrick Knight, Safety & Emergency Management Director (10 years),
- Cheryl Dahlager, Process Services Director (10 years),
- Linus Lau, Finance Director (9 years),
- Carley Milhausen, Human Resources Manager & Executive Associate (9 years),
- Joanna Bossert, Process Specialist (7 years), and
- Chris Whitman, Regional Manager/Technical Advisor - AB (7 years).
Having such experienced, competent, longstanding employees has been a blessing for me and ensures we consistently deliver quality emergency
preparedness and response services to our Plan members and responders.
Whenever and wherever an incident takes place, our Plan members can count on receiving the highest quality response services possible from our
cross-country network of highly skilled and dedicated ERAC emergency responders.
Spencer Buckland
President
Remembering Sarah Healey
On July 15th, Sarah Healey, a valued member of the ERAC team, passed away after a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Sarah always had a smile on her face, a positive, outgoing attitude, and brought joy and laughter to our office each day. Her presence around the office will be greatly missed.
We send our deepest condolences to Sarah’s husband, children, and extended family during this time of healing.
Changes at ERAC
The Board of Directors for ERAC and the Canadian Propane Association recently approved changes to the ERAC Board. Congratulations to Kevin DuPuis (Kelly’s Fuel) for taking on the role of Chair and to Kevin Johnson (Superior Propane), who is now our Vice Chair. ERAC’s Board also welcomes the addition of Darlene Nagy (CPKC) and extends its gratitude to Glen Wilson (CPKC) for his commitment and contributions over his nine-year tenure.
ERAC’s 2024 Plan Member Survey Begins October 1
The beginning of October marks the opening of our bi-annual Plan Member Survey.
If you are an ERAC Plan member, you will receive an email invitation to participate in our 2024 Plan Member Survey on October 1.
Please take the time to complete the survey by October 31.
We are committed to continuous improvement and your participation is important to us as your feedback helps us meet your expectations and needs.
Upcoming Regionals
Every year, ERAC conducts a Regional Training and Assessment (Regional) of each ERAC liquefied petroleum gas and flammable liquids response team. These annual assessments provide an opportunity for all ERAC responders to hone their skills and get updates on any new industry trends and developments, while they are assessed and approved to respond to incidents on behalf of ERAC’s Plan members.
The following Regionals have now been scheduled* for the next quarter:
Flammable Liquids
September 11 & 12 – GFL Thunder Bay – Thunder Bay, ON
October 15 & 16 – GFL Saskatoon – Saskatoon, SK
October 16 & 17 – Accuworx – Mississauga, ON
Liquefied Petroleum Gas
September 10 & 11 – Superior Propane – Levis, QC
September 18 & 19 – GFL Prince George – Prince George, BC
* Dates are subject to change