February 14, 2019 Ontario Amber Alert

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With regards to the Amber Alert issued on February 14, 2019 at 11:36 pm EST, by the Ontario Provincial Police on behalf of Peel Regional Police through the Alert Ready system for the province of Ontario, we can confirm the alert was distributed on TV, radio and LTE-connected and compatible wireless devices.

We have received reports that some wireless users in Manitoba received the Ontario Amber Alert. 

At this time we are unable to determine why alerts outside of the province of Ontario were received by some wireless users. Alert Ready partners are working to determine the cause of this, and updates will be provided as new information is received. 

November 28, 2018 Public Awareness Test

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The following provincial tests of the Alert ready system have been completed.

  • Newfoundland and Labrador 1:55 pm NST
  • Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island at 1:55 pm AST.
  • Ontario and Nunavut at 1:55 pm EST
  • Quebec at 2:55 pm EST
  • Manitoba and Saskatchewan at 1:55 pm CST
  • Alberta and Northwest Territories at 1:55 pm MST
  • British Columbia and Yukon at 1:55 pm PST

Please note, not all mobile devices will have received the test message. For general device compatibility, you can refer to the Alert Ready website here. We recommend that you contact your wireless service provider with specific inquiries regarding public alerting services and device compatibility. Your provider will be best able to answer specific compatibility questions.  

If you experienced any issues on television or radio, please contact your broadcast service provider.

Upcoming Testing of the United States Public Alerting System

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On October 3rd, 2018 beginning at 2:18 pm ET, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States will be testing their public alerting system.

Canadians visiting the US or living near the border may receive the test message on their mobile device. The message will read “Presidential Alert, THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed”.

No action is required by Canadians who receive the test message.

Alert Ready Update (May 14, 2018)

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We value the feedback that we’ve received regarding recent public safety test alerts and actual provincial emergency alerts. Please be assured that each message is being read and shared with the appropriate Alert Ready partner. Due to high volumes of emails, replies to individual messages are not possible at this time.

To check compatibility of your wireless device to receive public safety messages please check here and select your wireless provider from the drop down menu. ALL device compatibility inquiries must be directed to your wireless provider.

For general information about Alert Ready, please visit our FAQ.

Wireless Test Update (May 10, 2018)

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The test alerts scheduled for May 9th were successfully processed by the National Alert Aggregation and Dissemination System (NAAD System), part of the Alert Ready system. Managed by Pelmorex, the NAAD System delivers public alert messages issued by authorized government agencies to TV/radio/cable/satellite companies, and now, wireless service providers. It is then the responsibility of these Last Mile Distributors (LMDs) to deliver alert messages directly to Canadians.

Wireless service providers are working to identify any issues with compatible handsets. It is important to note that not all wireless devices are compatible and able to receive messages from Alert Ready. A device needs to be connected to an LTE network. Compatibility depends on many factors, including the handset and the software version on the device. You can check compatibility here, or with your carrier.

The intent of these tests is to validate all components of the Alert Ready system before an actual emergency. By running these tests, all Alert Ready partners get valuable information and feedback that will help improve the system. Canadians can feel confident the alerts will continue to be delivered via TV and radio.