Waterloo Region municipalities meet to coordinate security plans

Waterloo Region – The Regional Emergency Planning Advisory Committee (REPAC) met this morning regarding the recent attacks in Ottawa and St. Jean Sur Richelieu, Quebec. REPAC is comprised of the Regional and area municipal CAOs, Waterloo Regional Police Chief, Regional fire and hydro coordinators and senior Regional staff.

Police Chief Bryan Larkin briefed REPAC on the current threat level for Waterloo Region, emphasizing that there is no imminent threat to this community and that organizations should remain calm and vigilant.

“I would like to reassure our community that, although we are not aware of any immediate local threats to safety, we are committed to working in conjunction with our policing partners across the country to help ensure the safety of all citizens," said Chief Bryan Larkin. "We remain particularly confident in our strong local partnerships and the citizens of Waterloo Region and will continue working together in reducing potential risks to public safety. Good information is key to preventing crime and we ask every member of the public to be alert and vigilant, and to report anything unusual to police."

Local municipalities are working together to enhance vigilance at their facilities and to ensure their respective security plans are up to date. All municipalities routinely review their security plans and will update with information learned from this week’s events.

The members of REPAC expressed their sincere condolences to the family and friends of the Canadian soldiers whose lives were so tragically taken by the events of the past week. Flags at all municipal facilities have been lowered to half-mast in remembrance.

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For more information contact:

Bryan Stortz, Director of Corporate Communications, Region of Waterloo 519-575-4408.

Olaf Heinzel, Public Affairs Coordinator Waterloo Regional Police Service 519-650-8500 ext. 8773.

Mike Murray, CAO, Region of Waterloo, mmurray@regionofwaterloo.ca

Gary Dyke, CAO, City of Cambridge, dykeg@cambridge.ca

Jeff Willmer, CAO, City of Kitchener, jeff.willmer@kitchener.ca

Tim Anderson, CAO, City of Waterloo, tim.anderson@waterloo.ca

Grant Whittington, CAO, Township of Wilmot, grant.whittington@wilmot.ca

Roger Mordue, CAO, Township of North Dumfries, rmordue@northdumfries.ca

Willis McLaughlin, CAO, Township of Wellesley, wmclaughlin@wellesley.ca

David Brenneman, CAO, Township of Woolwich, dbrenneman@woolwich.ca