Prepare yourself and protect your family by taking the new emergency preparedness eLearning course

Are you prepared for an emergency in your home, workplace or community?

This week we launched our brand new eLearning course to empower you with the essentials of emergency preparedness. The course is part of Ready Calgary, a community preparedness program developed by the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) for the citizens of Calgary. The program is designed to inform, educate and build resiliency to the impacts of emergencies.
The eLearning course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and can be paused as needed. 

In order to participate, you will need a City of Calgary myID account. If you don’t already have an account, you can set one up in 2 simple steps:

1. Visit the myID registration page and follow the online instructions to sign up.
   NOTE: Once you have registered, a temporary password will be emailed to you. 
2. Sign in to myID with your temporary password then at the prompt, change your password.

Your account is now active and you can access the Ready Calgary course.

Once you complete the eLearning course, you will receive an official certificate of completion. You will also see a short survey requesting your feedback.


Certain emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. You can help to reduce the impacts of disasters and emergencies by taking simple actions to prepare and knowing how to respond when an emergency occurs. To learn more about emergency preparedness in your home and community, check out calgary.ca/getready.

City of Calgary preparedness tips for severe weather

With the recent run of severe thunderstorms and tornado watches we’ve experienced, now is a good time for all Calgarians to ask ourselves an important question: “What should I do when severe weather hits?”

The key to staying safe during severe weather events comes down to personal preparedness and knowing what to do when the weather hits.

Prepare

• Build a 72-hour kit. In the event of an emergency, responders may be busy assisting those in immediate danger. The 72-hour kit holds supplies to support you and your family for three days in an emergency situation.
• Clear out your eaves troughs and downspouts on your home to allow for the free flow of water, and ensure downspouts are directed away from your home

When the storm hits

• Take cover or stay indoors. This should be a place without windows or glass doors. If a sturdy building is not nearby, get into a hard-topped metal vehicle and close the windows. Stay inside until 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder.
• Stay off the roads to prevent getting caught in fast moving or pooling water.
• Do not drive through flooded roadways or underpasses.
• Do not try to clear flooded catch basins yourself.
• Stay away from manhole covers, drains and flooded areas.
• Stay away from downed power lines.

Watch the video below for thunderstorm preparedness tips and advice.



For more information on how you can prepare for severe weather in Calgary, visit the Calgary Emergency Management Agency at calgary.ca/CEMA.

Small business continuity plays a part in Calgary’s resiliency

Did you know The City of Calgary, in conjunction with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, has developed a business continuity handbook to help guide small business through their planning? Small businesses (those with 50 employees or less) are encouraged to download the materials and help increase their resiliency, which helps increase the resiliency of Calgary as a whole.

Small businesses are an important part of our Calgary community. They employ twice as many people in Calgary than large businesses, and account for almost 40 per cent of Calgary’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

What is business continuity?

Business continuity is about understanding the risks your business could face, and developing strategies and plans to ensure continued operations during and after a disruption. In the past two years, almost 64 per cent of businesses have reported an interruption, which impacts business operations, employees and citizens.

Proper planning will allow you to analyze and understand which products and services are critical to your business operations and will introduce you to the risks and hazards to which your business may be vulnerable.

The handbook and additional worksheets, including templates, are available on calgary.ca/cema.

Emergency Business Contact database

Created by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, the Emergency Business Contact Database helps facilitate the communication and collaboration between the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) and the business community. During an emergency or disaster that could impact your business it is important to get timely information regarding business continuity and about the emergency or disaster as it is known.

Small businesses can register on the Emergency Business Contact database.

Business Continuity Week

Business Continuity Week runs from March 16 to 20, 2015, and is the perfect time for businesses to assess their own plans. Visit Calgary.ca/cema or calgarychamber.ca for more information.

Downtown residential buildings and businesses return to normal operations

Downtown residential buildings and businesses are returning to normal operations today, as ENMAX successfully restored power to the downtown core at 5 a.m. this morning.

The area has been dealing with power outages since Oct. 11, when an underground fire located at 8 Street and 5 Avenue SW resulted in power loss to about 1,900 metered customers in 112 residential and commercial buildings.

“What started as a fire in a manhole became a major utility upgrade, major road closures and an effort to ensure the public safety and housing for approximately 5,000 residents,” said Ken Uzeloc, CEMA Director. 

“The past five days, my colleagues at The City of Calgary and our partner agencies have worked night and day to ensure that Calgarians could get around our city and have access to support services they needed until their power was restored.”

Information for returning residents and businesses

• Re-entry checklists for returning residents, building owners/managers and commercial businesses are available on Calgary.ca.
• For information on troubleshooting your telephone, cable TV or Internet service contact Shaw.
• Citizens who require any additional social assistance support should contact 2-1-1.
• Spoiled food items that are securely bagged to prevent leaks can be discarded in your facility’s usual garbage collection bin. If that bin is full, contact your property manager for bin removal or emptying. City of Calgary collection schedules are not affected, and regular pickup will occur according to your normal schedule. Should you have questions regarding private garbage collection service, please contact your property manager.
• Citizens or business owners/operators with concerns about their building should contact their building operator.
• Now that power has been restored, the Information Centre at Mewata Armoury will be closed at 9 p.m. this evening.

The City would also like to thank citizens and businesses who offered lodging, food, supplies to those residents displaced in the outage.

As a reminder, power outages can happen at any time. The City encourages residents to develop their own 72 hour emergency kit for such instances. A list of what should be included in a 72 Hour Emergency Kit is available at Calgary.ca/cema.

Power restored to downtown Calgary

ENMAX successfully restored power to the west-end of the downtown core at 5 a.m. on Thursday, October 16. While the power is back on, ENMAX crews still have some work to do to rebuild the system and there will continue to be some lane closures in the area of 8 Street and 5 Avenue SW.

Entry to buildings will be delayed while heating, ventilation, water and other electrical systems come back on-line and are checked. To find out the status of your specific building, please contact your property manager.



Impacted Residents
Information about returning home is available at the Mewata Armoury, 801 11 Street SW (open from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. today), and on Calgary.ca. Volunteers with The Canadian Red Cross will be in the area to provide assistance as Calgarians return to their homes.

Citizens who require any additional social assistance support should contact 2-1-1.



Safety check
Once you have been given the okay to return to your residence from your property manager, please perform an immediate safety sweep. If you have natural gas appliances, heat, or fireplaces and you smell gas, leave immediately and call 9-1-1.

Check the stove and oven in particular to be sure they are off. Look for other things that may be plugged in such as irons. Carefully plug in any devices that you have unplugged, recognizing that some systems may take some time to come up and some devices may need reprogramming.

For information on troubleshooting your telephone, cable TV or Internet service contact Shaw.

Re-entry checklists for Residents, Building Owners and Managers and Commercial Businesses are available on Calgary.ca.

Water 
Tap water may be brownish in colour or contain some sediment. If this is the case, run the tap until it runs cool and clear. If the issue persists, contact your building operator.

Spoiled food
When in doubt, throw it out. If you did not clean out your fridge and freezer prior to evacuating, you should do so as a priority. Large waste bins are available at Mewata Armoury for food disposal. Spoiled food items that are securely bagged can be discarded in your regularly provided facility bin. If that bin is full or no longer accessible, residents may place their securely bagged spoiled food items on the street curb. The City of Calgary’s Waste and Recycling Services will provide special curb-side pick up service from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. today only.

Thank you
To the citizens of Calgary and those directly impacted by this outage, The City of Calgary and our partner organizations are grateful for your patience and understanding. The volunteers of Calgary continue to impress and inspire. Thank you for rallying behind your community and supporting each other.

City is prepared to accommodate displaced Calgarians

The City of Calgary is prepared to respond to any emergency situation and the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) assists in coordinating our response to large incidents where many internal and external service providers are engaged.

While our top priority during any response is public safety, we're also focused on ensuring that citizens who have been displaced from their homes during an event have safe, alternative accommodations.

Following the utility fire which affected parts of the downtown core, The Calgary Hotel Association, working with hoteliers, helped CEMA coordinate alternative accommodation for those with no other option. To date, approximately 250 rooms have been made available to those who were displaced.

As this temporary lodging is limited and affected by a variety of factors, CEMA, along with various partner agencies including The Canadian Red Cross and The Calgary Stampede, have established a group lodging facility at the Big 4 Building at Stampede Park.

Impacted residents who require more information regarding the support services available are asked to visit an Information Centre at Mewata Armoury (801 11 St. S.W.). This centre is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

ENMAX crews continue to work around the clock and remain on schedule, with a full restoration of power to the affected area expected on Thursday.

Please visit Calgary.ca for the latest information on the downtown power outages.

Many Calgarians work hard this Thanksgiving to keep the city operational and safe

An underground fire in the downtown core resulted in a power outage for approximately 5,000 Calgarians on Thanksgiving weekend.

While City crews work to restore power, Calgarians have come together, once again, offering couches to sleep on, washer and dryers to clean clothes, and washrooms to get clean and freshen up.

Below are just a few examples of ways that the community has come together. Follow the hashtag #yycthanks on Twitter to see more stories of what Calgarians are thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Staying safe during ongoing power outages in the downtown core

The Enmax power outage involving areas of downtown is expected to continue for a number of days.

Safety of citizens remains the number one concern. Residents without power, telephone or water should consider the following:

• If you do not have access to a phone in the event of an emergency, you should consider evacuating.
• If you are planning to evacuate, it is safest to do so during daylight hours. But if you feel unsafe, do not wait.
• If you feel unsafe in any way as a result of the power outage, you should consider evacuation. Look to family and friends for assistance and accommodation or contact your insurance.company or building manager for alternate arrangements. If you need additional assistance, our Information centre at Mewata Armouries (801 11 St. S.W.) is open 24 hours.
• Please check on the welfare of your neighbours.
• Do not under any circumstances use alternative heating or cooking devices. This includes candles, propane lights, camping lights and stoves or barbeques. For alternative lighting, use battery-powered lights or flashlights.
• Never use a portable generator indoors.
• Do not allow vehicles to idle in underground parkades, as ventilation systems will likely be inoperable, putting you at risk.

Underground fire in downtown core

Saturday evening there was an underground fire in the downtown core which resulted in a power outage. The Emergency Operation Centre has been opened and The Calgary Emergency Management Agency is working with ENMAX and partners to assess the impact to affected residents and businesses.

Power currently remains out for 1,900 ENMAX customers and 12 intersections. Affected ENMAX customers are expected to experience outages for approximately four to seven days.

Damage to fiberoptic cables running through the affected area could lead to internet, phone and cable disruptions. If your landline is out of service and you require emergency assistance, use a mobile phone, or visit a nearby business or trusted neighbour.

Information for citizens affected by power outages
If you or someone you know is experiencing a power outage, please consider some of the following:

• For emergency or life threatening situations - call 911
• For non urgent health advice call Health Link Alberta at 1 866 408 5465.
• Turn off or disconnect any appliances or electronic equipment you were using at the time of the outage - especially your stove or other cooking appliances.
• Keep one light switched on so you know when the power comes back on.
• Think safety! Do not use any gas or charcoal BBQs or devices as they can cause an increase of Carbon Monoxide gas which can result in serious and life threatening illness.
• The indoor use of candles should be avoided. Battery operated lights provide a better and safer light source.
• Generators should not be used indoors. Converse heat by keeping windows and doors closed, and paying special attention to young children, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions.
• Use of a battery-powered or hand-crank radio can keep you informed of important updates.
• Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to keep food cold for many hours. Most food will keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Dairy products should be discarded after six hours. Items in the freezer will last 12 to 48 hours, depending on how full the freezer is and what kinds of food are stored inside.

Infographic: 2014 September Snow Storm & Tree Debris Clean Up

High-resolution version here.

For more information visit calgary.ca

Emergency Operations Centre closure and update on tree debris clean-up

Below is raw video from the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC). Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Acting Director of Calgary Emergency Management Agency, Tom Sampson announce the closure of the EOC. Director of Parks, Anne Charlton then discusses how The City will lead tree debris clean-up moving forward.

Managing tree debris: parks, homes and collection

Calgarians continue to Pick Up, Pitch In and Pull Together since the tree cleanup began last week. We’re seeing amazing community spirit as Calgarians help out their neighbours to clear away the debris from the storm while City crews respond to over 3,000 tree emergencies.



Avoid parks and pathways
We realize the weather is nice and people want to get outdoors. However, our staff have not had time to complete safety assessments of many areas. As a result, we are asking Calgarians to please avoid using parks and pathways with mature trees.

Please respect signage in parks informing Calgarians of closures, look for hazards around trees, and stay away from trees that could pose a threat to your safety.

For more information, check our list of open parks and pathways and connect with facility bookings for status on event bookings in parks.

City Links

To assist Calgary’s vulnerable population, we expanded the City Links program, which helps low income seniors with home maintenance. The program now also offers assistance with cleaning up tree debris. Since Friday we have received 392 calls for assistance, 100 of which have been received just today.

If you have a senior family member, a friend, or a neighbour with a disability, who requires additional support in the clean up process, please access this program.

Where to put tree debris
There are many options available to Calgarians for tree collection and disposal. It is recommended that citizens visit a City landfill as landfill operations are best equipped to deal with all sizes of tree debris. Citizens can also access all 33 of The City’s leaf & pumpkin drop-off locations to dispose of tree debris. As well, citizens can stack tree debris as close to the edge of their property without impeding roads, pathways or sidewalks.

• Stack branches neatly where you normally place your black and blue carts (front roadways or in back alleys/laneways). Please note that tree debris will not be picked up at the same time as your residential garbage/recycling pick up as pick up of tree debris needs to remain ‘clean’ and will require specialized equipment.
• Stack branches neatly and placing on your front yard or driveway, near the sidewalk but not impeding access is acceptable.
• Stack branches neatly on a residential boulevard or median - not impeding access to adjacent roadways or sidewalks is acceptable. Please be mindful of risks associated with adjacent traffic activity if using this option. 
• Stack branches neatly in back lanes or alleyways - not impeding access to roads or walkways is acceptable.

Ideally, stacked tree branches are no more than 4ft in length. However, the City appreciates the efforts and cooperation of citizens and the collection and stacking of branches in any of the above mentioned scenarios is appreciated. Please be patient as City crews will take some time to get around to all areas of the city. Ideally and if citizens are able, preference is for collected branches to be brought directly to the City landfills and secondly, to one of the 33 leaf & pumpkin drop-off locations.

Please do NOT bring garbage or plastic bags to the leaf and pumpkin drop-off locations. Paper bags can be composted or mulched along with the tree material.

Regular collection of blue, black and green carts will resume tomorrow. We couldn’t reach all streets and lanes last week as some were blocked by downed branches. Tree debris will not be collected as part of residential collection. Please do not put branches or other tree debris in your blue or black carts.

There is a lot of work left to be done and many City parks still pose potential hazards for the public. The incredible job of cleaning up will continue for City crews, partner agencies, and many Calgarians for some time.

Thanks to everyone for pitching in to clean up our city.

Restoring your home’s electricity

Has power been restored to your neighbourhood after this week’s storm, but you still don’t have electricity?

Your ‘service masthead’ may have been damaged. This is the part of the electrical connection on your house that connects to the main overhead power lines.

If your home’s service masthead is damaged, you will need to hire a qualified electrician to make electrical repairs to your home before ENMAX can restore power.

You can use the local listings or get a referral to find an electrician and make sure they have a City of Calgary business license (contact 311 to verify), who will obtain electrical permits on your behalf.

The City works closely with ENMAX to restore power to residential communities as quickly as possible. A qualified electrician can pull permits without delaying repairs to your property by applying online before work begins or the following business day.

Visit Calgary.ca for more information on restoring your home’s electricity.

Update on City response to September snow event

With power now restored to the majority of Calgarians and tree cleanup well underway, The City continues to work on the aftermath of an early snowfall.

Remaining Power Outages
Crews have worked quickly to restore service to as many as possible and are pleased to report that currently the power only remains off for approximately 1,800 customers. ENMAX is working directly with impacted households to restore service. Safety remains the priority concern and houses cannot be re-energized unless it is safe to do so. Additional crews from Edmonton service areas and contractors arrived Thursday to provide extra support to Calgary operations.

If power to an area has been restored but individual households still do not have service, repairs may be required to the individual connection point on the home itself.

Calgarians with a damaged connector (also called a “service masthead”) on their home need to hire a qualified tradesperson to complete repairs. Contractors are able to quickly apply for all necessary permits to get customers connected without delay. Calgarians remain responsible for ensuring all proper permits are obtained and should ensure their contractor has applied for the proper permits. This can be verified by contacting 311 or 403-268-5311. More information is available on Calgary.ca.

Trees and debris
Since September 9, approximately 3,830 tree emergencies were reported to 311 on both private and public property. The City remains focused on clearing those trees damaged prior to assessing any longer term impacts.

We are asking for the patience of all Calgarians as we continue cleanup efforts. The City also asks citizens to help friends and neighbours with their cleanup on private property if it is safe to do so and within their physical abilities. Please be safe when assisting others. Wear appropriate safety gear and call for help if downed branches or trees are near a power line. If it’s safe to do so:

• Collect and take tree debris directly to any of The City’s three City landfill sites and it will be accepted at no charge. The City will be mulching the debris for future use.
• Debris should be cut into no more than four foot lengths and stacked as neatly as possible close to where regular cart collection would take place. Do not block lanes, roads or sidewalks.
• Do not put branches and tree debris into black and blue collection carts. This debris clearing will operate as a separate program than regular cart collection. Put branches beside your black and blue carts.

When contacting 311, use an online solution if possible to avoid long wait times. Fill out the online form for fallen trees or download the City’s 311 mobile app for iPhone and Android to report a concern.

Residents who have already contacted the City with a tree-related complaint and nothing has changed, should avoid calling back. If a situation changes and poses an immediate danger, please call 911.

Impacted City Recreation Facilities
Recreation staff worked diligently through the day and evening to address issues at eleven arenas, aquatic facilities and Wildflower Arts Centre which were closed until Wednesday. All impacted facilities have now re-opened. Debris is also being picked up at City-operated golf courses that we aim to begin re-opening this weekend. Recreation operated athletic parks remain closed due to fallen trees and wet conditions and will be re-opened as debris is removed and conditions improve. Check our recreation facility status tool for the current status of all recreation facilities.

Due to the current closure of some City parks and pathways, outdoor events planned for this weekend may need to be relocated or cancelled. The City will continue to work with event organizers to advise of any impacts to public events.

More information updates are available at www.calgary.ca.

Tips for power interruptions

The City of Calgary continues to respond to the effects of the recent heavy snowfall. Public safety is our top priority.

Some Calgarians remain without power, and ENMAX is working quickly to restore power to affected areas. Debris from broken trees is still present and City crews are working throughout the night to clean up.

If you or someone you know is still experiencing a power outage, please consider some of the following:

• For emergency or life threatening situations - call 911
• For non urgent health advice call Health Link Alberta at 1 866 408 5465.
• Turn off or disconnect any appliances or electronic equipment you were using at the time of the outage.
• Keep one light switched on so you know when the power comes back on.
• Think safety! Do not use any gas or charcoal BBQs or devices as they can cause an increase of Carbon Monoxide gas which can result in serious and life threatening illness.
• The indoor use of candles should be avoided. Battery operated lights provide a better and safer light source.
• Generators should not be used indoors. Converse heat by keeping windows and doors closed, and paying special attention to young children, the elderly, and those with chronic medical conditions.
• With temperatures expected to hover just below 0 degrees Celsius, often wearing a hat or sweater and use of a blanket can provide enough warmth to keep you comfortable.
• Use of a battery-powered or hand-crank radio can keep you informed of important updates.
• Keep your freezer and refrigerator doors closed to keep food cold for many hours. Most food will keep in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Dairy products should be discarded after six hours. Items in the freezer will last 12 to 48 hours, depending on how full the freezer is and what kinds of food are stored inside.

Updates on ENMAX outages can be found at www.enmax.com/outages. City service updates can be accessed through www.calgary.ca.

Snowfall tree debris management

Recent snowfall has caused damage to many trees throughout the city, leaving tree debris on both private property and City property.

All three City landfills – Spyhill, Shepard and East Calgary – are accepting tree debris from the snowstorm at no charge until further notice. Customers arriving at the scalehouse should identify that they are bringing tree debris and must not mix the debris with any other waste material for it to be accepted free of charge.

Beginning Saturday, September 13, citizens can also access all 33 of The City's leaf and pumpkin drop-off locations to dispose of damaged tree limbs.

Alternatively, tree debris can be cut into 4-foot pieces in length and stacked beside waste and recycling carts to be picked up with regular collection or at a later date, depending on our resources.

To help keep regular garbage and recycling pickup on schedule, and to avoid damaging City equipment, we ask that Calgarians do not put tree debris in their blue, black or green carts.

Calgarians may notice a disruption with City services such as power outages in City facilities and delayed garbage and recycling collection due to tree debris blocking back lanes. We thank Calgarians for their patience as City crews work to manage all effects of the recent snowfall.

Please be safe as many drooping tree limbs still pose a safety threat. We continue to work on a debris management plan and will communicate with Calgarians later today how we will be proceeding. At this time, we are still focused on emergency response to fallen tree debris on roads and impacts from power outages throughout the city. Safety is our current priority.

City continues to manage fallen/damaged trees from early snowfall

Due to the recent and anticipated overnight snowfall, The City of Calgary has been working to manage concerns regarding fallen/damaged tree limbs, including damage assessment and tree removal.

Trees that pose a risk to public safety will be the main priority. Currently 311 is experiencing higher than normal call volumes and we appreciate your patience as we work to prioritize our efforts.

What to do

• If a tree has fallen and poses a life threatening emergency or if a power line is sparking or on the ground, please stay away and contact 911
• If your tree has fallen on your private property and does not pose a danger, contact a local arborist
• To report a City tree that has fallen on your property, or any other fallen tree on City property such as a pathway, road or sidewalk, please use the 311 mobile app for iPhone and Android under the category "Report concern not listed" or use the online form to report your concern without any wait time
• ENMAX is aware of power outages throughout the city. Find updated information on power outages at enmax.com/outages or via the Trouble Line at 403-514-6100
• Brush and debris may be taken to any of The City's three landfills free of charge

Additional Information

• Trees blocking highly used traffic and pedestrian areas, access routes for emergency vehicles, or those at risk of falling are also a priority.
• Trees down on back lanes are the responsibility of the adjacent homeowner to remove.
• After a storm event like this, it’s a good time to inspect your own trees for storm damage. Consider hiring a company that employs International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Arborists to perform the inspection. For more information and other tips, visit calgary.ca/trees
• All three City landfills will accept tree debris from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Garbage and recyclables will not be accepted after 5:00 p.m. Tipping fees continue to be waived for all tree debris that is not mixed with other garbage.
• Beginning Saturday, September 13, citizens can access all 33 of The City's leaf & pumpkin drop-off locations to dispose of damaged tree limbs.

Is your business prepared?

The 2013 flood was a call to action for both the business sector and The City of Calgary. Although insurance and provincial recovery funds provided some relief to business owners as they recovered, the flood highlighted the need and value of disaster preparedness planning for Calgary businesses.

Last week, The City of Calgary’s Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), in partnership with the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Calgary Economic Development, released a Business Continuity Handbook to explain the importance of emergency preparedness for the business community.

“The business sector is an important member of the Calgary community,” said Deputy Chief Tom Sampson. “Empowering them with the tools and knowledge they need to prepare, respond, and recover will positively contribute to the overall resiliency of our community.”

Along with the handbook, a template and Business Continuity Reference Guide will provide business owners with tools to develop business continuity strategies and plans. These materials can be customized by the business to meet their specific needs.

While the 2013 flood had a significant economic, physical, and social impact on Calgary, CEMA believes that this exciting new partnership with the business community is a significant step-forward in strengthening the resiliency of our community to future events.

For more information on being prepared and what you can do visit calgary.ca/CEMA.

Tribute to Chief Burrell

After almost 10 years of leading the Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), Chief Bruce Burrell retired from The City of Calgary on July 11, 2014.

Chief Burrell came to The City of Calgary from Halifax and took over as Chief of the Calgary Fire Department in 2005. Since joining The City, he has remained committed to the department's vision of being "the international fire service leader."  He led the department with passion and determination, always with citizens in mind. He has established and tirelessly worked toward achieving improved standards for performance, service delivery and safety.

Chief Burrell reached a pinnacle in his career with the world-class response to Calgary’s June 2013 flood. Under the Chief’s leadership, The City of Calgary has been held up as a shining example of municipal emergency best practices as reported by the Conference Board of Canada.

The City of Calgary wishes Chief Burrell all the best in his future plans, which include returning to his home province of Nova Scotia. We will always be grateful for his contributions to a safer Calgary.

 

Calgary’s Fire Chief to retire, praises his colleagues in the department

Fire Chief Bruce Burrell talked to media earlier today about his decision to retire from the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) and the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA). Chief Burrell has served nine years with The City of Calgary.

Chief Burrell moved to Calgary in August 2005 to lead CFD and CEMA. The City of Calgary has been recognized for leadership in municipal emergency best practices as demonstrated during the response to the 2013 flood.

A recruitment process is underway to appoint a new Calgary Fire Chief. To ensure business continuity, an interim fire chief will be named in coming days until the recruitment process is completed.

Chief Burrell’s last day is Friday, July 11, 2014.

Submitted by: Bridget Cox, Calgary Fire Department