Government of Ontario launching Ontario Corps

Dec. 17, 2024, Ontario — The government of Ontario has created the Ontario Corps, a group of skilled professionals and volunteers the province can deploy to help communities respond to natural disasters and other emergencies.

Inspired by successful models like AmeriCorps, Ontario Corps will work with non-governmental organizations and First Nations partners to help coordinate specialized personnel and volunteers to respond to emergencies, the province reported in a press release.

The group can mobilize to provide on-the-ground assistance such as emergency shelter, debris management, food services and flood protection, and will partner with organizations including Feed Ontario, Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association, Salvation Army, GlobalMedic and Team Rubicon Canada.

The government is encouraging people of all skill levels and professional backgrounds to volunteer, and training will be provided before volunteers are matched with partner organizations based on their skill levels, interests and availability.

In addition, the province has procured flood mitigation barriers, drones, water pumps, chain saws, air purifiers and other supplies to support communities impacted by emergencies.

All equipment and volunteers can be deployed anywhere across Ontario within 24 to 72 hours to help support community response efforts.

As part of the plan to modernize emergency management across Ontario, the province is also establishing an Ontario Emergency Preparedness and Response Headquarters that will support a quicker and more coordinated response.

Located near Toronto Pearson International Airport, the complex will be a multifaceted centre for coordinated and enhanced responses to emergencies.

The facility will be equipped with dedicated training rooms, storage, warehousing and aviation infrastructure, and will be built to withstand all types of disasters.

In addition, the government is partnering with Northern College on a regional emergency hub in Timmins to bolster local on-the-ground response and enhance emergency readiness in northern Ontario.

The hub, located at the college, could be set up to serve as an emergency operations centre, a meeting point for emergency partners to coordinate responses or a training centre for partners in the north, the government reported in a media statement.