The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jean Champagne would prefer his phone never ring. But when it does, the new Emergency Officer for Northern Manitoba is ready to assist communities with any kind of catastrophe they may face. From natural disasters ? forest fires, blizzards or any other force in Mother Nature's arsenal ? to those of a technological origin, such as industrial accidents, Champagne is on call to aid northern communities in times of dire need. "It's challenging and interesting work," says Champagne, who assumed his post in May. "The military training that I have received, plus my background in engineering, was a perfect fit for addressing disaster issues." Champagne, who called Flin Flon home in the late-1970s, has worked within the province's Emergency Measures Organization for the past eight years, helping communities across the province deal with the most unfortunate of circumstances. See 'Prepared' P.# Con't from P.# He's been called to floods, including Winnipeg's Flood of the Century in 1997, forest fires, search and rescues, and a derailment of a train carrying toxic materials. In his new position based in The Pas, Champagne will not be called upon to take charge of a disaster; that's the community's responsibility. Rather, he will act as a liaison, assisting authorities in facilitating provincial resources if required. "What we do is provide assistance and advice," he says. "We're kind of the people who say, 'Have you looked at this?' or 'Have you thought of that?'" In times of non-emergency, Champagne remains a busy man, helping community authorities develop emergency plans and training them to be ready for the worst. "Just as families have plans for fire escape, education for their children, vacation and retirement, your community must similarly have contingency plans," he says. Champagne called Flin Flon home from 1977-79, during which time he worked at HBMS. He also joined the community's now-defunct military branch, 21 Field Engineer Squad.
