Community Workshop: Rail Safety & Emergency Preparedness

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After the surprising August 21st collision of two trains carrying dangerous goods in the heart of the west end of Toronto, many residents reached out to us to ask for support in preparing for a rail accident or disaster. 

Do you know what to do in the event of a rail accident?  Where could you get up-to-the-second information?  Where could you go?  Should you leave your home?

In response to all of these questions and more, Safe Rail Communities and Christie Dupont Rail Safety Group (in collaboration with York University's Disaster and Emergency Management Program are pleased to invite you to a Community Workshop on Rail Safety And Emergency Preparedness on Saturday November 19th from 1 pm to 5 pm. 

This event will be held in the auditorium of Christie Gardens at 600 Melita Crescent, Toronto, ON, and will include:

  • A presentation by Interim Fire Chief Matthew Pegg of Toronto Fire Services
  • A presentation by Boris Rosolak from the City of Toronto Office of Emergency Management
  • An update from Sheila Murray of CREW (Community Resilience to Extreme Weather). 
  • An update on efforts at City Hall from Sarah Doucette, Toronto City Coucillor, Ward 13
  • A summary by rail policy consultant, Greg Gormick, of the recent Toronto derailment and what can be done to mitigate the risks of future derailments
  • An interactive workshop in which all participants will have the opportunity to discuss and identify gaps in the emergency preparedness of their local community.
  • Launch of the MySafeRailApp, to be used by residents in emergency preparedness of railway emergencies (accidents or derailments).  MySafeApp is a part of a collaborative effort between York University's Disaster and Emergency Management Program, Advanced Disaster, Emergency and Rapid Response Simulation (ADERSIM) & Safe Rail Communities. The project is called "Enhancing Community Preparedness for Rail Emergencie" and is, generously, funded by the York Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, Global and Community Engagement Collaborative Project Fund.

The primary goal of this community workshop is to create an informed and collaborative environment in which participants can create a toolkit of resources for their neighbourhoods.

This event is open to individuals and those representing resident associations or other community groups. 

Please take a moment to share your thoughts on rail safety by completing our survey.  If you live outside of the Greater Toronto Area, please indicate where you reside in the first question:

Complete Survey Here

Light refreshments will be served.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]

Thank you.

We look forward to seeing you on November 19th!

Patricia, Helen, and the Safe Rail Communities Team