Joint Task Force Central trains to help Ontarians during natural disasters

January 9, 2023 - Defence Stories

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The 4^th Canadian Division command team, Brigadier-General Josh Major and Chief Warrant Officer Jeramie Leamon discuss their response to a request for assistance from Ontario with Deputy Minister of Emergency Management, Bernie Derible.

Photo credit Corporal Justin Dreimanis, 4^th Canadian Division Imagery Technician

Caption

Members of 4^th Canadian Division discuss key considerations during a current situation report at Denison Armoury during Exercise TRILLIUM DRAGON from November 25-27, 2022.

Photo credit Corporal Justin Dreimanis, 4^th Canadian Division Imagery Technician

Caption

Photo credit Corporal Justin Dreimanis, 4^th Canadian Division Imagery Technician

4^th Canadian Division members kick off Exercise TRILLIUM DRAGON by discussing the key agendas for mission success at Denison Armoury in Toronto, Ontario, November 25-27, 2022.

Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) members participated in Exercise TRILLIUM DRAGON at Denison Armoury in Toronto, Ontario from November 25 to 27, 2022 to practice the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) ability to immediately respond to requests for assistance from the Provincial Government of Ontario during natural disasters.

“TRILLIUM DRAGON is the first of two exercises that we undertake at JTFC. It is for the initiation and training of Territorial Battalion Groups (TBGs), which represent the reserve forces domestic response capability,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Rafe MacKenzie, JTFC’s Operations Officer (J3). “It’s extremely important because it’s really the first opportunity for these territorial battalion groups to get together and sink their teeth into a tactical problem tied to a domestic crisis and work through the staff processes,” he added.

During the exercise, the TBGs were able to address variable tasks related to support for local communities in the middle of an ice storm. This support came in the form of reception and warming centers, in addition to assisting with planning and communication needs.

The realistic training scenario provided JTFC sailors, soldiers, and aviators the ability to work through a series of issues and find out where it is they’re strong and where they need improvement, as well as enhancing their overall responsiveness and readiness in the face of a real domestic crisis which could come up in the future.

A scenario such as the one presented for TRILLIUM DRAGON involves liaising with other governmental departments and partner agencies, such as the Emergency Management Ontario and the regional office of Public Safety Canada in Toronto, in order to ensure a coordinated approach is undertaken to provide the best possible support to Ontarians.

Lieutenant-Colonel MacKenzie went on to add that, “During domestic emergencies, JTFC is available and trained to address a myriad of crisis that could emerge. As a force of last resort, when all other government departments and commercial options have been exhausted, Joint Task Force Central is there to provide soldiers and equipment to get Canadians out of harm’s way.”

All in all, Exercise TRILLIUM DRAGON turned out to be a great success. Ontarians can feel confident that in a period of crisis, JTFC has the personnel who are trained, equipped and ready to help Ontarians in their time of need when requested by the provincial civil authorities.