An initiative piloted in Gravenhurst during recent major snow storms has become official across the province.
On Friday, Premier Doug Ford announced the creation of Ontario Corps, “a group of skilled professionals and volunteers that the province can deploy to help communities respond to natural disasters and other emergencies, while promoting civic engagement and community participation,” the province said in a news release.
The province piloted Ontario Corps in Gravenhurst in early December, when heavy snow walloped the area, leading to a prolonged closure of a lengthy stretch of Highway 11 that left many people stranded.
Ontario Corps partners including the Salvation Army, GlobalMedic, Feed Ontario and the Ontario Search and Rescue Volunteer Association were deployed to help with tasks such as wellness checks on residents, providing food hampers, serving meals to the community, and assisting with a warming centre for those who lost power or were stranded on roads.
“Emergency management has evolved significantly across Ontario over the years, and Ontario Corps is an important part of the story,” Gravenhurst Mayor Heidi Lorenz said in the news release. “We’re grateful to Premier Ford and the Government of Ontario for all their support through our emergency in Gravenhurst. We called and they answered. We are certain that Ontario Corps will be a useful resource to other communities experiencing emergencies in the future.”
The province is encouraging “people of all skill levels and professional backgrounds” to volunteer for Ontario Corps. The volunteer registration portal can be found here.
“I’ve seen first-hand the incredible community spirit and dedication to volunteerism that we share throughout Ontario,” Ford said in the news release. “With the launch of Ontario Corps, we’re harnessing the Ontario spirit to help communities and neighbours in need deal with natural disasters and other emergencies, while providing additional resources to keep our communities safe. I encourage everyone across Ontario who is interested and able to consider volunteering by signing up for Ontario Corps today.”
