Reservists in the flood fight

Photo: CAF Operations

Three-hundred Canadian military personnel are mobilizing and establishing themselves in Vernon, preparing to deploy to communities in the Southern Interior hardest hit by flooding.

While the bulk of the force is coming from the 3rd Canadian Division in Edmonton, they will be supported by reserve members from the Okanagan’s own BC Dragoons.

Reservists based in Kelowna and Vernon are in the process of talking to employers and making arrangements with school so they can ship out to assist with flood mitigation across the region, providing valuable local insight to the force coming from out-of-town.

“Everybody that joins the reserve… they want to come and serve Canada,” BC Dragoons Commander Lt.-Col. Mike McGinty said. “But I think for most people when they want to serve Canada, the Canada they think of is their home.”

“When you have the opportunity to go and make a difference very locally in your own communities, I think people are proud to get that chance, to be able to support our own home communities, in our home,” he added.

Ralph Goodale, the federal minister of public safety and emergency preparedness, said in a news release that members of the Armed Forces will help with evacuations, sandbagging and property protection.

McGinty wasn't able to say when or exactly where they be deployed in the coming days, but the province has said troops will go to the areas of greatest need.

“What military organizations are really good at, we are good at going places that are austere or difficult, and we are good at getting on with it,” he said, explaining members may be providing support as simple as much-needed muscle relief. 

“The British Columbia Dragoons has been in this Valley since 1912. We are the Okanagan’s regiment,” he said, reiterating the proud opportunity local members have been given.

Currently, there are 4,500 people on evacuation order and another 7,100 on evacuation alert across B.C.