A recent mass shooting north of the border has Canadian authorities discussing the correct way to safely and effectively implement guidelines for mass notification systems.

The discussions are covered in a May 3 story from the Calgary Sun, which notes that the mass shooting has left some criticizing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and their response to the tragedy as it unfolded.

“Mounties in Nova Scotia are under scrutiny for not issuing an emergency alert as a gunman rampaged through rural communities,” the story reads. “But there’s nothing in the national RCMP handbook to suggest that they should have.”

The story goes on to note that in Canada, standards and codes that dictate such things are usually left to the discretion of individual Provinces.

“National RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email that the force is looking at creating a Canada-wide policy,” the story notes. “But [Percival] said public alert protocols are generally set out by provincial emergency management authorities.

The Canadian mass-shooting claimed 22 lives as a gunman opened fire in residential communities in the Nova Scotia area.

“In the wake of the mass murder that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia about two weeks ago, the force is looking into developing a national operational policy for using the emergency alert system.”

The life-safety and security experts at Norris have brought you intelligence on why emergency alert and mass notification systems like the Vigilance platform are so important.

To find out more about the Vigilance Emergency Notification platform, follow this link.

Please reach out to the pros at Norris today to find out how we can help you keep your people safer and get the word out in the event of unfolding public safety concerns.

What is Norris all about?

Norris, Inc.—a Saco, Maine-based life-safety and security systems integrator with satellite offices in Bangor, Maine; Lee, New Hampshire; and Burlington, Vermont—was founded nearly 40 years ago by two brothers, Brad and Harty Norris.

On February 28, 2020 Norris Inc was acquired by Minuteman Security Technologies Inc.  Minuteman Security Technologies Inc. (Minuteman), headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts and founded in 1998, is a leading provider of enterprise security technology solutions. Minuteman security systems are used by a wide range of organizations throughout the United States. Customers include law enforcement, energy companies, mass transit, large retail chains, academic institutions, public safety agencies, and community hospitals with regional offices from Maine to Illinois.