On June 20, Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology successfully participated in a simulated emergency reception centre exercise as part of the ongoing Durham Region’s emergency management program.

More than 300 community members and five canine participants took part in the exercise that the Durham Region co-ordinates in an effort to reinforce the practices that are in place to protect the safety of Durham residents.

The Oshawa campus has been set up as a reception centre along with other facilities throughout the region to be used during the extremely unlikely nuclear emergency, allowing Ontario Power Generation (OPG), City of Oshawa and Durham Region Emergency Social Services to provide emergency services to those in need.

During the exercise coordinated by the college’s Office of Campus Safety, participants practiced opening and operating an emergency reception centre.

Partner organizations for this regular exercise included OPG, City of Oshawa, Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army, St. John Ambulance, Durham Regional Police Service, Victim Services of Durham Region, the Ontario Volunteer Emergency Response Team and Oshawa Animal Services.

Learn more about emergency preparedness at durham.ca/demo