In the Wake of Emergency Response
As we try and make sense of the tragic and meaningless slaying of Army Reservist Corporal Nathan Cirillo by the unstable extremist Michael Zehal-Bibeau as he stood guard on the stairs of the National War Memorial in Ottawa. It is a picture that is now becoming a formidable reality. It would appear that Universities and Colleges in our major cities are prime targets for maniacal gunmen. In 2006 Dawson Creek College in Montreal was attacked by a heavy armed individual by the name of Kim veer Gill, opened fire on 19 people killing one and seriously hospitalizing several others, more alarming though was he was able to move from the atrium to cafeteria un- harassed until final subdued by police. August, 1992 saw Concordia University suffer a brutal homicide when a full time a faculty member, Dr. Valery Fabrikant brought a loaded weapon to work and killed 4 of his colleague after an altercation that had denied him tenure based on the ground that he had aggressive tendencies. Yet more disturbing was the massacre at the Ecole Polytechnic in Montreal, December 1989, were a deranged Marc Lepine shot 28 people. He entered a classroom, segregated the men from the women and the open fire on the women killing all 9 of them. He moved through the corridors, cafeteria and classrooms un- challenged until eventually shot by police.
In the wake of much of the controversy surrounding the SAIT Emergency Response Plan / SAIT Alert. We need to ask the critical question; could these tragedies that shocked Montreal happen within the hallowed walls of the SAIT Institution? Could this Campus be another unprepared college? If it were, how would a volatile situation such as rogue gun man be handled within the SAIT community. Moreover, what is the role of the management and faculty? As a community we are all more than familiar with the fire drills, the exiting by the stairwells and the gathering and ‘supposedly’ attendance taking at the Munster posts. However, when it comes to an Emergency Response i.e. Bomb Threat or potential Gun threat on Campus, it appears that the vast majority of management /staff and faculty are unclear on the process and procedures for lock downs, safe shelters and emergence contacts.
Ann Wyganowski, vice-president at HZX Business Continuity Planning and director of the Disaster Recovery Information Exchange in Toronto, states, there are a variety of situations where it’s safer to have employees remain in a building rather than evacuate. However, “You can’t force somebody to shelter in a place but you can certainly make recommendations for their personal safety”. Nonetheless, most employers are not prepared. “a lot of employers don’t teach their employees what to do in those types of situations, they don’t pre-identify where is a safe room to go, with no windows, a door that locks, perhaps somewhere where you can remain out of sight and not make yourself a target”. Schools in the K-12 system are well versed when it comes to shutdowns or lock downs- but employers aren’t according to Paul Guindon, CEO of security services provider Commissionaires Ottawa. Wyganowski added, “Until the events in Ottawa, people had become complacent about the risks”. “The density of the population and the number of public venues really increases your risk, but people don’t pay a lot of attention to whether or not the consulate from the country where the terrorists are coming from is in the floor above them, for example”. Training is also important to ensure employees are ready when an emergency actually happens. “You need to do drills. If you don’t do those kinds of exercises regularly, then it’s hard; it’s like a fire drill – if you never practice a lockdown on a regular basis people won’t know what to do”, said Guindon.
On November 27 th, the SAFA Office circulated a six line questioner over the e-mail asking the faculty what they knew about the Emergency Response Plan and what procedures do they need to follow. Some of the responses are as follows: Contact with CPS (Calgary Police Service) Saw police with guns – Police imposed lockdown in classroom – told to leave building by police. No contact with CPS: Decided to send students home – self-imposed lock-down in classroom –found out about the issue on media – were informed by students – saw the police vehicles. Leaving Campus: Moved freely – didn’t know when to leave classroom – told building in lockdown so no entry. On SAIT Alert: Under 10 clear on the SAIT Alert procedure – over 15 responses unclear on the SAIT Alert procedure. All Clear Information: Announcement in the building – Calgary Police Twitter – Called 911(called back with an all-clear) People had no idea where the threat was, where they could go on Campus, and often, when the situation was clear. Also, there was no crowd control.
Although we have averted a potential crisis for the moment, it would appear inevitable that we could be an easy target for a possible gun threat in the future. I believe that proper Emergency Awareness training and the procedures that need to be followed, should be implemented as soon as possible. I cannot in vision any faculty member being opposed to training that safeguards themselves, their colleagues and students. One of the suggestion that was brought forward was the use of a Card Key, this Key would be used to access all doors on Campus. Once a faculty member enters a door with their card the door automatically closes and locks behind them. It is certainly not SAFA’s intention to lay blame on any groups or individuals that are involved with the implementation of the SAIT Alert /Emergency Response Plan. The most important element in in all of these discussion is the fact that Faculty Want To Be Informed—Immediately— ON WHAT IS HAPPENING.
Please have a Safe and relaxing Christmas break, enjoy your time with friends and family, and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
James McWilliams
SAFA President