The Canadian Armed Forces will be part of an extreme heat scenario exercise in communities throughout Huron County, Ont. next week that will see soldiers and police knocking on people’s doors to perform “wellness checks.”
The exercise, called “Trillium Venture” will take place from May 3-5.
According to an OPP press release, the purpose of the exercise is to “enhance interoperability with other governmental departments, as we work together to respond to a simulated extreme heat scenario.”
Huron County Ontario Provincial Police will be working alongside members of the 31 Canadian Brigade Group.
“Members of the public will see the deployment of Domestic Response Companies (DRCs) and Territorial Battalion Group (TBG) sustainment equipment, and vehicles to validate the ability to deploy and sustain in real time,” reads the Huron OPP release.
“This is being done to create a more challenging, realistic training exercise, and will see soldiers conducting fire training, wellness checks, simulated search and rescue operations, cooling centre establishment, as well as other related activities.”
According to Maj. Paul Pickering of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, the exercise will simulate a realistic scenario that involves a 13-day heat wave with a severe storm that causes power outages, damage to infrastructure and homes, as well as water shortages in some communities.
Pickering addressed Bruce County council on April 4, to tell them that he expects around 800 military personnel, predominantly reservists, to be deployed in Huron and Bruce County next week.
“All measures are being taken to ensure minimum inconvenience to those in the area,” reads the release. “Members of the public are asked to take extra caution if approaching military vehicles and troops and are thanked in advance for their understanding and cooperation.”
According to Pickering, the goal of the exercise is to get to as many area communities as possible, with soldiers going door-to-door in towns.
