OTTAWA — The Canadian federal government has announced the establishment of a new ‘Operational Centre’ to coordinate disaster response activities across the country. This major facility is designed after the model of NASA’s famed Mission Control Room, aiming to significantly enhance Canada’s capacity to manage simultaneous emergencies.
The new central command post is equipped to handle multiple crises at once and features large, two-story tall screens connected to over 500 different information sources. The control room will have seating capacity for 80 people.
Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olshewski stated that the center will bring together officials from various agencies to easily control operations nationwide during crises such as wildfires, floods, and terrorist attacks.
“The center aims to coordinate and provide resources to provinces when they require assistance,” Olshewski explained. She added that the facility will accommodate approximately 150 employees. This new Operations Centre is viewed as a crucial step forward in improving the nation’s resilience and response capability to major disasters.
