TORONTO — The Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response and the Regional Municipality of Peel are celebrating the successful completion of a first-of-its-kind digital emergency management training program that will help protect Ontario communities by strengthening local preparedness. Having demonstrated clear results, this proven model is ready to be rolled out across Ontario to help more municipalities that are looking to build local capacity and deliver strong, coordinated emergency response for residents.
“Our partnership with the Regional Municipality of Peel shows what is possible when we modernize practices and embrace digital learning tools,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “The success of this project proves that digital delivery works, and we encourage municipalities across Ontario to take part and build stronger, more resilient communities.”
Peel was the first municipality in Ontario to host and deliver the ministry’s new online Incident Management System (IMS) 101 course, demonstrating how digital learning can expand access to critical training while reducing administrative burden and costs for municipalities.
Through this innovative partnership, 3,384 Peel staff have completed the IMS 101 course in just four months, equipping frontline personnel and support staff with the tools they need to respond quickly and effectively when emergencies happen. The course provides foundational knowledge of Ontario’s incident management system for staff who play a role in responding to emergencies. It helps personnel from different organizations and jurisdictions work together to create a structured and coordinated response during an emergency.
Other municipalities interested in accessing training are encouraged to reach out to the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Ontario will continue to expand its training offerings with additional digital learning products and resources for municipalities and other emergency management partners.