Quite a few teams had been deployed earlier this month to assist residents, individuals stranded on roads
An initiative piloted in Gravenhurst throughout current main snow storms has turn into official throughout the province.
On Friday, Premier Doug Ford introduced the creation of Ontario Corps, “a group of skilled professionals and volunteers that the province can deploy to help communities respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, while promoting civic engagement and community participation,” the province mentioned in a information launch.
The province piloted Ontario Corps in Gravenhurst in early December, when heavy snow walloped the world, resulting in a chronic closure of a prolonged stretch of Freeway 11 that left many individuals stranded.
Ontario Corps companions together with the Salvation Military, GlobalMedic, Feed Ontario and the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Affiliation had been deployed to assist with duties akin to wellness checks on residents, offering meals hampers, serving meals to the neighborhood, and aiding with a warming centre for individuals who misplaced energy or had been stranded on roads.
“Emergency management has evolved significantly across Ontario over the years, and Ontario Corps is an important part of the story,” Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz mentioned within the information launch. “We’re grateful to Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario for all their support through our emergency in Gravenhurst. We called and they answered. We are certain that Ontario Corps will be a useful resource to other communities experiencing emergencies in the future.”
The province is encouraging “people of all skill levels and professional backgrounds” to volunteer for Ontario Corps. The volunteer registration portal could be discovered right here.
“I’ve seen first-hand the incredible community spirit and dedication to volunteerism that we share throughout Ontario,” Ford mentioned within the information launch. “With the launch of Ontario Corps, we’re harnessing the Ontario spirit to help communities and neighbours in need deal with natural disasters and other emergencies, while providing additional resources to keep our communities safe. I encourage everyone across Ontario who is interested and able to consider volunteering by signing up for Ontario Corps today.”
