CAF exercises to take place in Northumberland

Military Training. Image courtesy of the 4th Canadian Division.

By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Northumberland County

If you see military vehicles and personnel in Northumberland County April 25 to 27, that's part of a domestic emergency-preparedness exercise undertaken with local partners.

Unusual activity and sightings of military vehicles and personnel will be a possibility April 25 to 27, as Exercise Trillium Venture comes to Northumberland County,

This is an annual emergency-response exercise of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve units, led by Toronto-based Joint Task Force Central and involving some 1,500 CAF members from the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Canadian Navy.

Of that number, some 600 soldiers from London-based 31 Canadian Brigade Group will deploy to Northumberland County to work alongside local law enforcement, fire departments and other community partners.

Personnel will undergo training centred on responding to a provincial Request For Assistance (RFA) that will include water search-and-rescue and aircraft-wreckage recovery.

Units deployed on Exercise Trillium Venture will not be issued any weapons or ammunition.

These training activities enhance preparedness for emergencies within Canadian communities, including such natural disasters as floods and wildfires as well as any other public crises that may result in a RFA. These domestic operations exercises ensure that personnel maintain the necessary skills and readiness to support potential future deployments assisting civil authorities in disaster-response efforts.

All measures are being taken to ensure minimum inconvenience to those in the area, and areas around the training will be accessible. Members of the public are asked to take extra caution when approaching military vehicles and personnel, and are thanked in advance for their understanding and co-operation.