As part of a large-scale exercise, Northumberland residents will see a heavy military presence – including about 800 troops in uniform – along with military vehicles and support staff stretching across Northumberland come April.
Northumberland County is gearing up to welcome the 31st Canadian Brigade Group of the Canadian Army Reserve from London, Ont., the county has announced.
The brigade will be in Northumberland for a domestic training exercise, which is set for April 26 to 27. However, troop movements are anticipated beforehand as crews work on setup to accommodate the exercise.
“This training exercise is an excellent opportunity for Northumberland County and our local municipalities to collaborate with the Canadian Armed Forces, reinforcing our collective preparedness for emergency situations,” said Colleen McCabe, the county’s health, safety and emergency risk manager. “We want to reassure our residents that this is strictly a training event, not a real emergency.
“While you may see increased military activity across the county, there is no cause for concern.”
As the Canadian Armed Forces are increasingly called on to help with domestic disaster response, they are expanding their training efforts to ensure operational readiness, reads a recent release from the county.
This is reportedly a “large-scale exercise,” with planning underway for nearly a year (since spring 2024) – it’s supposed to provide “vital hands-on experience for military personnel, while also fostering collaboration with local municipalities and emergency management partners.”
Officials have said that roughly 800 troops are anticipated to participate, in addition to military vehicles and support staff, with activities stretching across the Township of Hamilton, Cobourg, Township of Cramahe, and Alderville First Nation areas.
“Some activity, including driver personnel training, may extend beyond these areas,” added officials.
The advance team is expected to arrive mid-April. All personnel are scheduled to depart by April 30 after clean-up operations.
Planning has reportedly involved close work with area municipalities to determine the best approach to activities and limit impacts to residents.
“The exercise is designed to have minimal impact on the community and the environment,” reads the county’s release.
Officials have stressed that soldiers won’t be armed.
The CAF will manage its own security and first-aid response, although Northumberland emergency services have been briefed and will provide help if needed through normal response channels, explained the county.
For safety reasons, officials have also noted that public observation of training activities won’t be permitted. However, residents are encouraged to welcome personnel if they encounter them in the community – and those interested in learning more about military careers can also visit forces.ca or speak to personnel during their visit.
The Northumberland County contact for the training is accessible via emergencymanagement@northumberland.ca.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)