The Ontario government opened the doors to the new Provincial Emergency Operations Centre, designed to coordinate its response to major disasters including floods and forest fires, on May 4. The centre is staffed with emergency management experts 24 hours a day, all-year-round, and will also provide assistance to First Nations and municipalities when needed.

“The new Provincial Emergency Operations Centre is an important resource to help coordinate the province’s role in reducing the impact of a disaster and speed up recovery by communities,” said Tadeusz (Ted) Wieclawek, Ontario Fire Marshal and Chief, Emergency Management.

Outfitted with a 21-metre-wide wall display — Canada’s largest of its kind — the centre’s 82-seat operations room offers a real-time view of unfolding emergencies. The wall display’s 30 LED rear-projection screens can accommodate up to 20 feeds from a variety of sources ranging from traffic cameras to social media.

The Provincial Emergency Operations Centre is located in Toronto’s Downsview neighbourhood and housed within the Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex.