Alert Ready Test Scheduled for May 5, 2021
Canada’s public alerting system, Alert Ready, will distribute Test Alerts on television, radio and compatible wireless devices in most provinces and territories during Emergency Preparedness Week
OAKVILLE, ON, May 4, 2021– On May 5, 2021, Alert Ready will distribute a public test message, across most provinces and territories. Each participating provincial and territorial emergency management organization will issue one test message over television, radio and compatible wireless devices at the times indicated below.
Alert Ready Test Times – May 5, 2021 by Province/Territory
| Province/Territory | Test Time |
| Alberta | No Test Scheduled |
| British Columbia | 1:55 PM PDT |
| Manitoba | 1:55 PM CDT |
| New Brunswick | 10:55 AM ADT |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 10:55 AM NDT |
| Northwest Territories | No Test Scheduled |
| Nova Scotia | No Test Scheduled |
| Nunavut | No Test Scheduled |
| Ontario | No Test Scheduled |
| Prince Edward Island | 12:55 PM ADT |
| Quebec | No Test Scheduled |
| Saskatchewan | 1:55 PM CST |
| Yukon | 1:55 PM PDT |
Alert Ready was developed in collaboration with federal, provincial, and territorial government agencies, Pelmorex, the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers. Testing of the system provides an opportunity to:
- Educate the public by demonstrating what an emergency alert will look and sound like in the event of a life-threatening situation.
- Validate the performance and reliability of the system to ensure it operates as it is intended from end to end as each stakeholder has a unique and important role to play in the Alert Ready process.
While Alert Ready may be most known in some provinces for the distribution of AMBER Alerts to the public, it is also designed to deliver other critical and potentially lifesaving, including but not limited to tornado, flooding, fire, and civil emergency warnings. A comprehensive list of alert types can be found here.
“In 2020, the Alert Ready System enabled government authorities to deliver 180 emergency alerts, with 21 emergency alerts issued so far in 2021 to Canadians,” says Martin Belanger, Director of Public Alerting at Pelmorex. “Pelmorex receives alerts from authorized alert issuers and makes those alerts available to alert distributors which include television, radio, satellite, cable and wireless service providers.”
Given the importance of warning Canadians of imminent threat to the safety of life and property, Canadians do not have the option to opt out of this essential life-saving service.