By Lasia Kretzel

Evacuation procedures in place; City of Saskatoon

Oct 26, 2014 | 3:48 PM

Following Wednesday’s shootings in Ottawa and subsequent lockdown of Parliament Hill, Saskatoon officials said there are measures in place to get city hall workers to safety, should the need ever arise.
 
Ottawa politicians, reporters and visitors were forced into lock down for around 11 hours after a gunman fatally shot a soldier at the National War Memorial and then made his way to Parliament Hill. 
 
City T.V’s Parliamentary bureau chief Corman McSweeny was one of many trapped inside. In an interview with News Talk, McSweeny said there was confusion and fear when shots began to ring through the halls.
 
He said security guards didn’t know where to send people and the large echoes of the parliament halls also meant they didn’t know which direction the shots were coming from, further adding to the confusion.

In Saskatoon, facilities director Tim Halstad said there are procedures in place for both evacuations and lock down scenarios.

“Every department does have a little bit different protocol or operating practice but overall for city hall yes there is a lockdown procedure,” he said. 

Halstad said the facilities department holds regular meetings with all departments to give out emergency procedures as part of workers’ occupational health and safety. The information is tracked to ensure every department is informed. 

For security reasons, Halstad could not elaborate on the specifics of such procedures.

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There is also an internal intercom system and walkie-talkies for security staff to communicate with everyone in the building.

Ward four councillor Troy Davies said he sees signs in every room to guide people out of the building in the event of an emergency. 

“Your initial reaction is going to be scared and not really thinking clearly right off the top but at the end of the day we have been told where to go and what to do,” Davies said.

However, Davies said in his two years on council, he has never had a practice drill of any emergency procedures. 

“We haven’t had any active practice scenarios,” Halstad said but added he would like to see such scenarios run through regularly like fire drills. 

Halstad said Public Safety Canada performed an audit on city hall, going through the building to look for risk areas and procedure improvements.

A report is forthcoming, the details of which will be shared within city hall.

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