10/09/2026
✈️🚨 ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Today, Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC) put our emergency response plans to the test with a full-scale emergency exercise!
Every three years, we bring our emergency response partners together to put our protocols, procedures and teamwork through their paces. Because when it comes to a potentially catastrophic incident, preparation isn’t just important — it’s everything.
⏰ At 1300 hours, the call came in… EMERGENCY 🚨
Led by YXC Manager Tristen Chernove, our simulated emergency was underway. We headed straight to the Incident Command Post, where our community’s first responders assembled and got to work.
After 90 minutes of sweat, the exercise was complete, followed by another 30 minutes of valuable debriefing, discussion and lessons learned.
🚒🚓🚑 A huge thank you to Cranbrook Fire & Emergency Services, the RCMP and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and Flight Services for their professionalism, seamless coordination and shared commitment to keeping our community safe. Watching these teams come together with a common purpose is pretty incredible.
🎭 And let’s hear it for our volunteer passengers!
A special shout-out to the Mount Baker Secondary School Outdoor Education students, led by instructor Leigh Cormier, who stepped into the roles of passengers and casualties. Their participation brought an important element of realism to the exercise and gave our responders an opportunity to put their skills to work in a simulated emergency. We couldn’t have done it without you!
👏 And last, but certainly FIRST in the planning department…
Our tireless Operations Manager, Jamie!
Jamie coordinated this entire undertaking, just as he has done many times before. The planning, logistics, coordination and countless moving pieces behind an exercise of this scale are no small feat. Jamie, your experience, leadership and commitment to airport safety do not go unnoticed. Thank you!
💡 So, what was the takeaway?
Well, there were probably too many to count! Depending on your role, experience and knowledge of airport operations, everyone walks away having learned something different.
But the real magic happens when we’re coordinated, cooperative, collaborative and united in a common goal:
The safety of our passengers, our people and our community.
To everyone who showed up, stepped up and participated today — THANK YOU!
We hope we never have to put these skills to the test in a real emergency. But knowing we have such capable, committed professionals ready to respond? That’s something worth celebrating.
Practice makes prepared! ✈️
City of Cranbrook Cranbrook RCMP Cranbrook Professional Fire Fighters Local 1253
