ERAC Update – March 27, 2023
Welcome
Hello and welcome to our new website!
Last year, we began implementing some significant changes in how we communicate with our various stakeholders, including the use of more promotional and educational video content and the increased use of our newly-refreshed erac.org website. We hope you enjoy the new look of our website and encourage you to check back often, as we will be providing updates on a regular basis. As always, we greatly appreciate any feedback you may have, including ideas on potential content you’d like to see in the future. Please feel free to drop us a line.
Spencer Buckland
President
ERAC’s Commitment to Safety
On Thursday, January 12, we were saddened to learn that an explosion and subsequent fire at Propane Lafortune in St-Roch-de-l’Achigan (about 55 km north of Montreal) had claimed the lives of three people. While the exact cause of the incident is still under investigation, it is a grim reminder of the risks associated with the products our response teams handle on a regular basis. As an organization that’s committed to safety, we strongly encourage our response team members to review our Health, Safety and Environment policy statement and to embrace safety in every aspect of their daily lives.
Changes at ERAC
ERAC is pleased to announce we have hired two new Regional Managers/Technical Advisors in British Columbia and Ontario, and recently recruited our new Operations Director.
Josh Watts has joined ERAC as our new Regional Manager/Technical Advisor in British Columbia and is an experienced Emergency Response Officer (ERO) with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry. Josh brings a diverse combination of skills and experience to ERAC stemming from his time as a firefighter, government ERO, and workplace safety and health trainer.
Sharlotte Stevens brings 14 years of environmental services industry experience to ERAC as our new Regional Manager/Technical Advisor in Ontario. Sharlotte has extensive emergency response experience specific to the transportation of dangerous goods and has a background and training in emergency management and firefighting.
Yves Hamel joins us as our new Operations Director and has extensive leadership and hands-on experience in fire prevention, emergency response and dealing with hazardous materials incidents. Yves began his career as a professional firefighter and took on progressively responsible roles, eventually becoming Chief of the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu fire service in Quebec. Most recently, Yves has been a Dangerous Goods Officer with Canadian National Railway, where he has been responsible for overseeing dangerous goods emergency response operations, training response teams, participating in outreach programs, and conducting compliance audits.
Welcome to the ERAC team Josh, Sharlotte and Yves!
And while we welcome our three new employees, we wish ERAC remedial measures advisor (RMA) Des Hemeon goodbye and good luck as he moves on in his professional career. Des was an ERAC RMA for over seven years and we will miss his passion, perseverance and professionalism. Thank you Des for all your hard work and dedication to our organization.
2023 Leo Sichewski Memorial Bursary Applications Now Open
A little over six years ago, Leo Sichewski, a valued 24-year veteran of ERAC passed away. In memory of Leo, we created the ERAC Leo Sichewski Memorial bursary fund that provides financial assistance to qualified recipients who are enrolled in a certificate, diploma or degree program in safety, emergency management or first responder training. The bursary is open to Plan Participant members, ERAC responders, and family members of each group. You can find more details about the bursary here.
Deadline for submissions is April 30, 2023.
