A little bit about me

In case you were wondering who I am, here's a few words on what I am and where I've been.

I am one of two Emergency Management Coordinators for the City of Hamilton, Canada and Hamilton's designated Community Emergency Management Coordinator (CEMC).  Hamilton is located in Ontario, at the Southeast corner of Lake Ontario about an hour's drive from Toronto (3 hrs. during the rush).  The CEMC designation denotes that I am the first one that Emergency Management Ontario calls in a disaster.  The CEMC is a legislated position for each of the 450+ municipalities in Ontario under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and its regulations.  I have been with Hamilton since October, 2004.

I am also the President of the Ontario Association of Emergency Managers previously serving as Vice President as well as Secretary to the Board and several other functions.  The OAEM has approximately 500 members comprising of emergency managers from both the public and private sectors. 

I sit as the OAEM Representative to the Continuity of Government Sector Working Group of the Ontario Critical Infrastructure Assurance Program.  The OCIAP has 9 working groups representing the obvious critical sectors of society (public safety, gas, hydro, public health, water, food, etc.). Our group has recently published a 'toolkit' for ensuring the continuity of decision making during a crisis.  I have uploaded the document for your use.

I like to be involved in the profession.  Among some of my recent and current activities: at various times over the past six years -  member of the Program Selection Committee, Professional Recognition Award Committee and Volunteer Coordinator for the World Conference on Disaster Management, undertaking projects with the Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness and as an instructor for the Emergency Management Certificate Program at Centennial College in Toronto, teaching risk assessment and hazard analysis.

My actual schooling is in Environmental Studies, with a degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Waterloo and I have also attained the Associate Business Continuity Professional designation from the Disaster Recovery Institute.

Hamilton has had its share of crises including: a tornado touchdown in November, 2005; an ambulance shortage in May, 2006 and excessive storm water surge in December, 2006.  I have helped to maintain 4 different Emergency Operations Centres and undertaking a study for a fifth.

That's a synopsis - I've done other things (spent 10 years in software development, worked for a while in a meat packing plant, cooked in restaurants, clubs and golf clubs) - but we don't have to go into that...

You can reach me at richard.kinchlea@hamilton.ca.