Herculean effort on display at Jack Garland Airport on Friday morning

There will be plenty of military activity going on in the region this weekend especially in Mattawa on Saturday, Friday it was in North Bay

Greg Estabrooks

Published May 03, 2024 • Last updated May 06, 2024 • 2 minute read

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A Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-130J Hercules aircraft from 436 Squadron delivered critical supplies to 33 Territorial Battalion Group during Exercise TRILLIUM VENTURE at the Jack Garland Airport Photo by MCpl Jim Saunders, 22 Wing, RCAF

There was and will be a major buzz of military activity this weekend across the region.

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Mattawa will be the major centre of operations for a huge military exercise. Things got started at Jack Garland Airport with the iconic Hercules aircraft being loaded with supplies.

The supply flight was conducted to demonstrate and test the capacity of 22 Wing North Bay and RCAF assets to support Canadian Army Reserve elements tasked with responding to emergencies in Canadian communities like natural disasters, including flooding and wildfires. The flight delivered components of a field kitchen and fresh water, which could be used to provide relief to residents in an emergency.

Exercise TRILLIUM VENTURE is a major emergency response exercise led by Joint Task Force Central and is happening across Ontario this weekend. It includes the participation of partners from Other Government Departments and First Responders, the Canadian Army, RCAF and Royal Canadian Navy.

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(MCpl Jim Saunders, 22 Wing, RCAF -Courtesy)

Lt(Navy) Andrew McLaughlin is the Public Affairs Officer for 33 Canadian Brigade Group from Ottawa. McLaughlin defined the parameters and goals for this type of exercise.

“When there is a request for assistance from the local government, provincial government and federal government asking for Canadian Forces personnel for support that triggers our response through what is called ‘Operation LENTUS.’ What we are doing is responding to an emergency in Mattawa where there is a flooding emergency.

The people in that town are experiencing a threat to (their) safety. There is a threat to infrastructure and a threat to property. We want to respond as quickly as possible with the supplies those people need,” says McLaughlin who adds the Canadian Armed Forces isn’t the lead agency for these type of responses.

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“We work first with Emergency Management Ontario, then with our local first responders such as OPP, local fire and police departments.”

Brigadier General Josh Major is the Commander of 4th Division and the Joint Task Force Central. Major was asked if he was an overseer or participant in this mock emergency exercise?

“A little bit of both,” says Major who’s parents reside in the city and where he lived for many years. “My role is to make sure this exercise is executed well and to see if the troops need any direction.”

On Saturday the action revs up in Mattawa will many different exercises on the ground and in the air.

The public and media are also invited to attend a “Meet-a-Soldier” event with their partners based at the Museum at Explorer’s Point Park, 285 First Street, Saturday from 1-4 p.m.

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