RENFREW COUNTY CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Renfrew County Emergency Management, Paramedics, and Bishop Smith Catholic High School Successfully Launch Youth Emergency Preparedness Pilot Program

On Monday, June 2nd, two Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) classes at Bishop Smith Catholic High School (BSCHS) received specialized emergency response training, including flood mitigation techniques, as part of a new partnership with the County of Renfrew Emergency Management department and Renfrew County Paramedics.

The successful event served as the launch of a pilot program for the new Delta Team, a community resilience initiative designed to bolster the County of Renfrew's emergency response capabilities. The program's dual goals are to enhance community resilience and to pre-train a standardized team of volunteers. The broader Delta Team initiative is slated for a public launch for volunteer intake in the coming months, with formal training sessions scheduled to begin in the fall.

A primary objective of this initiative is to foster a culture of emergency preparedness and volunteerism among local youth. This pilot program at Bishop Smith was designed to engage students and gather their feedback to refine the training materials for future expansion to all high schools in the county.

"The Delta team that we are creating in the County is a community resilience team," stated Commander Steve Osipenko, representative from the County of Renfrew Paramedic Service. "The goal of the team is to increase the response capability of Municipalities by strengthening relationships and standardizing training across the County. We endeavour to recruit, train and engage with volunteers so we have a core group that will respond and lead in the case of an emergency. This website and Delta Team as a concept will be introduced to the Public in the next couple months with training starting in the fall so we have increased capacity by spring. This pilot program at Bishop Smith aims to plant the seed with our youth at an age where they are mature, trainable and very adaptable which is key in civil defense. We aim to raise the bar, engage our community and make The County of Renfrew a better, safer place to live by helping each other. Bishop Smith is helping us to fine tune the program targeting this younger demographic so they can be a part of the solution moving forward."

The collaboration marks a significant step towards building a more resilient community by empowering its youngest members with the skills and knowledge to respond effectively in emergencies. The event was a success, and organizers are optimistic that this pilot will pave the way for a strong and lasting partnership with both local school boards and all high schools throughout the County of Renfrew.