Emergency Support Services

ESS is organized under the British Columbia Emergency Management System (BCEMS) and follows an incident command system (ICS) approach to response. Trained, often volunteer, responders deliver the core function of ESS. To deliver inclusive, culturally safe, and coordinated supports to evacuees, ESS teams are supported by several different emergency management levels.

There have been several improvements to made to Emergency Support Services in BC in the past year to modernize the system and ensure that people receive timely access to services in a disaster through updating legislation, policies, processes, training and the launch of the online Evacuee Registration and Assistance (ERA) tool.  

With the use of ERA, the online system the Emergency Support Services provincial program the vision remains the same to meet the basic needs of British Columbians impacted by disaster by providing short-term support in a compassionate manner which is delivered by First Nations and Local Authorities.

During the event of an evacuation order, the Emergency Support Services (ESS) Reception Centre may be activated. The ESS Reception Centre is managed by the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), but volunteers from the community operate it to provide supports for evacuees.

Volunteer

Looking for a great cause to volunteer? The best time to prepare for an emergency is now! Become an ESS volunteer today by completing the form below and be ready to take action when our community needs it.

Have you previously worked in an ESS?
Are you 19 years of age or older?
Are you willing to become a trained volunteer and commit to becoming a member of the ESS team, including attending bi-monthly training meetings?
Have you completed the EMRG 1635 - Introduction to Evacuee Registration and Support course?

The City of Fort St. John is committed to protecting your privacy. Any personal information you provide to us is collected pursuant to 26(c) and 26(e) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act for the purpose of administering City services.

Should you have any questions about the collection of this personal information please contact the Corporate Officer.

Volunteer Training Meetings

Regular meetings are held during the winter months for interested and established ESS volunteers to connect, train, and strengthen the delivery of Emergency Support Services in Fort St. John. These sessions are a great opportunity to build relationships with fellow volunteers and stay engaged between activations.

Upcoming Meetings

Please email our ESS team to confirm your attendance. All meetings are held at the Pomeroy Sport Centre in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room.

  • Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | 6:30 - 8 pm
  • Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 6:30 - 8 pm
  • Wednesday, January 21, 2026 | 6:30 - 8 pm

Training

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