Become an ESS Volunteer

Note: The City of St. Albert is not currently accepting ESS volunteer applications. Volunteer recruitment will resume in the Spring of 2025.

In the event of a disaster, the City is responsible for setting up an Emergency Reception Centre to provide Emergency Social Services. An Emergency Reception Centre provides a temporary, safe location for people who have been displaced from their homes to re-establish themselves as quickly as possible after an emergency or disaster.

Volunteers are needed to support various functions and services offered in the Reception Centre: Meet & Greet, Registration Services, Pet Services, Hospitality, Security, Lodging, Food and Transportation.

St. Albert is fortunate to have many trained ESS volunteers. But we can always use more! Training and support to volunteers will be provided.

Possible Assigned Duties:

• Assist with setting up of the Reception Centre
• Meet and greet evacuees
• Help evacuees register
• Assist with pets
• Assist with registering volunteers and staff
• Provide support to the Reception Centre Manager or a branch lead
• Help with directing traffic/parking at the site
• Help to provide evacuees with coffee/water/food

Volunteers Requirements:

• Commit to taking all the training, including modules provided by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and our St. Albert ESS Learning Series.
• Commit to attending an annual training exercise.
• Have the ability to remain calm and provide a calming influence during an emergency situation.
• Have a Criminal Record Check completed. There is no charge to St. Albert volunteers to have this done.
• Volunteers must be prepared to come to the Emergency Reception Centre anytime - day or night, weekday or weekend. This means ensuring that you and your family are prepared before you show up to volunteer.

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Related Pages

Emergency Management Branch ›

Evacuee Registration ›

Emergency Social Services ›