Approximately 100 Canadian Armed Forces members will conduct a training exercise in and around Nanaimo and a few other Island communities next week.
This year, Vancouver Island has been selected for Exercise Ready Renaissance, the annual training of the Disaster Assistance Response Team, a Department of National Defence press release says. This team is composed of Canadian Armed Forces members and can be deployed when natural disasters and emergencies happen outside Canada. Participants will conduct liaison and reconnaissance tasks in the area to exercise support to Global Affairs Canada in a fictitious disaster scenario taking place abroad.
The exercise is scheduled for Feb. 17-March 1 in Comox, Campbell River, Quadra Island and Nanaimo. Canadian Armed Forces members may be dressed in civilian clothing or uniform and will carry identification at all times. The scenario does not include exercises with weapons or ammunition. Civilian rental vehicles will be used to transport members. The Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel HMCS Nanaimo will also participate in a portion of the exercise and might be seen from shore.
This type of training is necessary to prepare Canadian Armed Forces and Government of Canada to response to a disaster that may occur in the world, notes the press release.