SDG COUNTIES, Ont. – Exercise Trillium Response has officially concluded, marking a resounding success in regional emergency preparedness and inter-agency coordination. The multi-day exercise brought together municipal, provincial, federal, and non-governmental partners to test and strengthen emergency response capabilities in a realistic, high-pressure training environment.
SDG Counties, in collaboration with the City of Cornwall, led local aspects of Exercise Trillium Response, which exercised the strengths of local and provincial emergency management systems and identified great value in strong partnerships across all levels. Every local municipality in SDG Counties participated in the exercise.
“This exercise showed just how effective our collective response can be when organizations work together with a shared purpose,” said Katherine Beehler, Emergency Management and Training Coordinator with SDG Counties. “Exercise Trillium Response was an overwhelmingly positive experience. Participants demonstrated professionalism, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to learning and collaboration. The lessons learned here will directly enhance our ability to respond to real-world emergencies and better protect our communities.”
The scenario at play imagined several days of deteriorating weather conditions, including blinding snow and freezing rain. This was complicated by a train derailment in South Dundas, which simulated the release of chemicals into the environment. Officials practiced the ability to evacuate residents (by snowmobile in some cases), manage the loss of critical infrastructure like highways and roads, while also maintaining operational security and effectively liaising with the public.
The exercise forced players, including local municipal staff and first-responders, to manage all of these functions while also maintaining good records of their actions, to hand-off to incoming players.
As a result of scenarios at-play, local municipal officials requested the support of senior governmental services – which ultimately led to the deployment of 150 Canadian troops to the Cornwall Armoury. Soldiers practiced alongside municipal officials throughout the event.
The exercise brought together a diverse and highly-skilled group of partners, including liaison officers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, dangerous goods experts from CN Rail and Transport Canada, and Emergency Management Ontario team leads. Critical operational support and leadership were also provided by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), municipal and volunteer fire services, EMS, and local roads departments.
Municipal and regional coordination was strengthened through the participation of City of Cornwall and SDG Counties Community Emergency Management Coordinators (CEMCs), Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) managers, and dedicated teams supporting finance, logistics, planning, operations, communications, and scribe functions. Elected officials were also engaged throughout the exercise, reinforcing governance and decision-making processes during emergency scenarios.
Health and humanitarian partners played a vital role, including local hospitals, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU), and the Canadian Red Cross, ensuring a coordinated response to public health and community support challenges. Support and collaboration from Emergency Management Ontario and the Canadian Armed Forces further strengthened inter-jurisdictional readiness and operational integration.
Local and regional media were also on hand throughout the exercise, both to participate in scenario-based activities and to report on the training, helping to increase public awareness and understanding of emergency preparedness efforts and the importance of coordinated response planning.
“The success of Exercise Trillium Response is a direct reflection of the dedication and expertise of everyone involved,” said Leighton Woods, Deputy Fire Chief and CEMC with the City of Cornwall. “We are incredibly grateful to our partners, staff, volunteers, and media representatives for their time, insight, and commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities.”
Exercise Trillium Response provided a valuable opportunity to test plans, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement. The knowledge gained through the exercise will now inform future training, planning, and response initiatives across the region.