Emergency Management Training Program

Training is one of the key factors for a successful emergency response. Emergency Management British Columbia (EMBC) oversees a provincial training program that exists to build the knowledge and skill-set of those who work in operational roles during emergencies.

The training program also teaches an understanding of roles and responsibilities of government and non-government agencies in an emergency situation.

Regional Emergency Management Courses

EMBC sponsored emergency management training courses are offered province-wide to support the training requirements of local government. Course delivery is provided through the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC).

The primary target audience for this training is local government staff who fill operational roles during emergencies. If additional seats are available, priority is extended to:

  • Public Safety Lifeline Volunteers (PSLV)
  • Temporary Emergency Assignment Management System (TEAMS) personnel 
  • Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centres (PREOC) staff
  • Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC) staff

 Course descriptions and calendar

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Prerequisites

JIBC is an accredited post-secondary education institute and any prerequisites for the courses can only be waived at JIBC’S discretion. We recommend that any participant ensure they take the prerequisites for courses to ensure learning is optimized for themselves and others in the room.

 

Attending a Course

Local governments are encouraged to open their courses to the neighboring community’s staff and volunteers to attend. This supports networking and ensuring courses are filled. The maximum for each course is 24 seats. Courses may be cancelled if minimum seats (15) are not filled, however in some circumstances exceptions can be made.

To register for a course, visit the Course Description and Calendar page.

 

Travel Expenses

Travel costs for students attending the course are the responsibility of either the Local Authority/First Nation they work for or the student.

 

Canceling/Changes to Courses

Due to low attendance numbers, activation for a response or many other reasons courses can be changed or canceled. JIBC will try and accommodate changes however if the change cannot be accommodated then the course may be canceled.

Canceled courses may not be rescheduled within the same community if there is a wait list of other communities within the region.

Please contact your Regional Office to discuss your options if you are considering changing or cancelling a course.

 

Host Community Responsibilities

The expectation of the host community is that they provide the following at their own cost:

  • Suitable training room with groups of tables for 4-6
  • LCD projector, screen and extension cord
  • TV and VCR/DVD player
  • Flipchart stands (2-4 ideal) with paper
  • Chairs and tables set up in pods of 4-5 students
  • Front table for the instructor and projector
  • Access to the training room 30 minutes before delivery.

 

Local Government Training Requests

Every fall, local governments are asked to submit their training requests for the next fiscal year (April to April). EMBC Regional Offices do their best to ensure the allocation of courses is fair and equitable. 

Approval of Courses

Once applications are received, applications are reviewed, consolidated and submitted for scheduling. Regional Mangers will review and approve applications. Applications are reviewed based on: 

  • previous year’s application status (approved or denied) 
  • regional training cooperation within the region
  • meeting community’s needs

Once an application has been approved, it is submitted for scheduling to JIBC. Notices of approved applications are sent out to the local governments. 

Local governments who do not have their submissions approved are encouraged to apply again the following year.

Emergency Management Webinar Series

The webinar series provides participants with up-to-date information on emergency management best practices, approaches, strategies and technologies. The sessions are designed for emergency management practitioners though applicable to anyone with an interest in enhancing their emergency management knowledge. The webinars are presented in partnership with the Justice Institute of BC.