The Ontario government is enhancing its emergency response network by welcoming Labatt Breweries of Canada as its first partner from the private sector.
The company, based in London, has become part of the Ontario Corps, a provincial initiative that links volunteers and organizations to assist communities during natural disasters.
“Now more than ever, we need all hands on deck to respond to extreme weather events and other emergencies,” said Emergency Preparedness and Response Minister Jill Dunlop.
This expansion follows a year highlighted by a significant ice storm and extensive wildfires that stretched emergency resources across the province. Provincial officials state that Ontario Corps aims to supplement municipal capabilities when local resources become overwhelmed.
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Minister Jill Dunlop announces Labatt’s partnership with Ontario Corps at the company’s London brewery. Labatt vice-president Jeff Ryan stands to her left, with London Mayor Josh Morgan to her right. (Josiane N’tchoreret-Mbiamany/CBC)
The province mentions that Ontario Corps has already been deployed during several emergencies, including last year’s wildland fire response and the spring ice storm.
“This is just the beginning,” Dunlop said. “We’re engaging more private-sector partners like Labatt as we create a strategic network of capabilities to help build a future-ready and resilient province.”
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Inside Labatt’s London brewery, where the company first paused its beer production to can drinking water during disasters, a practice it now carries out across Canada. (Josiane N’tchoreret-Mbiamany/CBC)
Durng disasters, the brewery stops beer production temporarily so it can can drinking water instead; this practice started at its London facility.
Sincestarting this program, Labatt has donated over one million cans of water to communities throughout Canada.
“It’s consistent with who we are as a company,” Ryan said. “It was the obvious thing we could do and do it efficiently, quickly and with great pride.”
Both Ryan and Dunlop mentioned that their partnership goes beyond just providing water.</P
Under this agreement, if needed during wildfires or floods or other emergencies, the province may ask Labatt for facilities, transportation services, storage spaceand various logistical support.
Ryan noted that formalizing this partnership enhances their abilityto respond effectively during crises.
“Wantingto helpand not necessarily being ableto helpis ashame , so it ’s veryexciting,”he said.” It ’sanefficientopportunityfor usand willhelpuscontinuetosupport Londonand Ontarians.”
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Ontario Corps Grows After Its First Year of Operations
Ontario Corps was initially introduced in December 2024 as a statewide network of volunteers and skilled professionals ready for deployment during emergencies. Since then, over 3,000 individuals have signed up to volunteer through the program, according to the minister. Municipalities request assistance through the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response when they determine that additional help is necessary. “We work closely with our municipalities when they feel that they are at capacity and need extra resources brought in,” Dunlop said. “We can then reach out to Ontario Corps partners to help fill in the gaps where they may need additional support.”Labatt Takes On an Official Disaster Response Role
Labatt Breweries of Canada has been responding to emergencies through its Disaster Relief Program since 2012. “We have a long history of supporting communities, whether it’s water donation or hand sanitizer,” said Jeff Ryan, vice-president of corporate affairs. “We feel like it is our obligation as a local company.”Source link
