Armed Forces touch down in North Bay for emergency training this weekend
This weekend, the Canadian Armed Forces will be conducting an emergency response training exercise with local government and partner agencies in Mattawa and North Bay.
‘Trillium Venture’ is being held across Ontario. It’s led by Joint Task Force Central, headquartered in Toronto, and includes members of the armed forces from the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Canadian Navy.
Friday morning, a Hercules CC-130 jet landed at the North Bay Jack Garland Airport. Crew members scrambled into action, unloading critical supplies from the Canadian Force Base in Kingston and putting the cargo into trucks for delivery. (Photo from video)
Friday morning, a Hercules CC-130 jet landed at the North Bay Jack Garland Airport. Crew members scrambled into action, unloading critical supplies from the Canadian Force Base in Kingston and putting the cargo into trucks for delivery.
“The aircraft landed on time and then we saw the green trucks rolling up,” said 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base Lieutenant Col. Ken Bedley.
“So it's a true indication of that -- that joint coordinated planning effort between the army and the air force.”
Around 200 soldiers from the Canadian Army’s 33 Canadian Brigade Group will form 33 Territorial Battalion Group, including soldiers from the region deploying to the North Bay and Mattawa areas in a realistic emergency response scenario.
Military members and assets will respond to a simulated flooding emergency that devastated the town’s infrastructure and citizens.
The crew will prepare a unified response with local, regional and other partners in the community.
Brig.-Gen. Joshua Major, commander of 4th Division and Joint Task Force, is overseeing the operation. He actually grew up in Mattawa.
“When the call comes for us to participate in a situation, we have to be ready to step up immediately,” Major told reporters.
“The leadership was keen on having us present. So we chose that community because of some of those factors. We're doing this exercise approximately about across seven or eight communities across Ontario.”
The exercise will include various RCAF aircraft landing, including CH-147 Chinook helicopters that will deliver cargo in the heart of Mattawa on Saturday afternoon, and then conduct troop transports around the area.
Waterborne assets, including those from the Naval Reserve, will also participate in the joint exercise.
Activities will also include the participation of other government departments and first responders including police and fire services, Emergency Management Ontario, local governments and others.
The arena complex will serve as a headquarters and will house nearly 150 soldiers during the exercise. The Mike Rodden Arena, located at 450 Hurdman St. in Mattawa, will be inaccessible during the exercise.
Mattawa Mayor Raymond Belanger recalled the 2019 floods in the community and said the town and its citizens can use this opportunity as a chance to learn.
“We suffered a lot of infrastructure damage. We are trying to get better in case, you know, that we have to meet another flood of that of that size,” Belanger said.
Mattawa will host a Meet-a-Soldier event on Saturday from 1-4 p.m. Military, police, fire and other first responders will attend with vehicles and displays for all ages. The event will take place at the Mattawa Museum parking lot, 285 First St.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
Ottawa driver who appeared to be racing another vehicle on Highway 416 facing charges
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says an Ottawa driver is facing charges after being caught going 187 km/h on Highway 416.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Canadian immigration asks medical worker fleeing Gaza if he treated Hamas fighters
Lawyers are questioning Canada’s approach to screening visa applications for people in Gaza with extended family in Canada after one applicant, a medical worker, was asked whether he had treated members of Hamas.
Diddy admits beating ex-girlfriend Cassie, says he's sorry, calls his actions 'inexcusable'
Sean 'Diddy' Combs admitted Sunday that he beat his ex-girlfriend in a hotel hallway in 2016 after CNN released video of the attack, saying in a video apology he was 'truly sorry' and his actions were 'inexcusable.'