Please join us for the following public safety interoperability event hosted by the Capital Region Emergency Service Telecommunications (CREST) in collaboration with Emergency Management British Columbia (EMBC) and the Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG):

BC CITIG Regional Forum Series - Victoria: Open Session

Time: 8:00 a.m. to noon

Cost: Free! Area partners are covering the cost of the facility rental

Location: The Collier Theatre (Bldg. #1094), Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, Venture, Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC), located at Work Point (click on this site map for details). Ample free parking!

Invited: Any representative from public safety, responder or emergency management agencies, government, NGOs, utility, industry and academia interested in furthering public safety communications interoperability.

The objectives of the session include:

1. Increase awareness of the issue of public safety interoperability;
2. Present information on some of the various interoperability programs and projects currently taking place in Canada, the US, in BC and regionally;
3. Obtain feedback from local participants about the current interoperability situation, opportunities for information-sharing and outline next steps; and
4. Discuss next steps relevant to interoperability strategic planning in CREST's region.

Agenda topics include:

• History of CITIG, Ongoing Projects, current issues
• Industry Canada and Spectrum Management in Canada
• Public Safety Canada to discuss the Communications Interoperability Strategy for Canada and related initiatives
• 700 MHz Spectrum and what it means for your agency
• Provincial and regional initiatives
• Regional Interoperability Case Studies

The preliminary agenda will be available soon. The final agenda will be available here and e-mailed to registered participants about a week prior to the event.

Space is limited -- Register Today!

BC CITIG Regional Forum Series -- Victoria: Closed Session

Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location: The Collier Theatre, same as above.

Cost: Also free!

By invitation only: Closed for invited public safety officials, responders, emergency management agencies, government, utilities, NGOs & academia to focus on public safety interoperability planning at the provincial and regional level. The meeting will take a detailed look at interoperability in CREST's region and feature facilitated sessions on development of an action plan to address the interoperability challenges existing in the region.

RSVP:  If you have registered for the morning session and fit the criteria mentioned above,
you will be invited to return for the afternoon session.

Background:

CREST provides radio communications for emergency services in British Columbia's Capital Region. We do this through a wide-area radio system that provides emergency communications for police, fire, ambulance and other safety service providers.

EMBC is the coordinating agency for the provincial government's emergency management activities. EMBC provides executive coordination, strategic planning and multi-agency facilitation and continually develops effective working relationships in an increasingly complex emergency management environment. The overall purpose of EMBC is to increase life, safety and resiliency for individuals and communities throughout British Columbia.

CITIG was created by the Canadian Associations of Fire Chiefs, Police Chiefs and Emergency Medical Services Chiefs of Canada to help improve public safety interoperability. This meeting is one two Forums in BC (also October 21 in Vancouver), and part of an ongoing series of regional workshops across Canada. Representatives from fire, police, EMS and emergency management agencies are urged to attend!

See you in Victoria!