Shawnigan Lake School Wildfire Preparedness
Ally partnered with Shawnigan Lake School to enhance their wildfire preparedness through a focused tabletop exercise.
Shawnigan Lake School maintains a robust emergency program and sought to further strengthen its capabilities in responding to the specific threat of regional wildfires. The school’s unique operational environment – including boarding students, day students, and seasonal events – presented a complex scenario for testing coordination and decision-making. A key challenge was evaluating options under time pressure during a peak activity period.
Ally designed and facilitated a tabletop exercise simulating a wildfire event unfolding during a busy June school day coinciding with a regional rugby tournament. The scenario prompted participants to address critical considerations such as evacuation versus shelter-in-place protocols, clarify roles and responsibilities, and refine internal and external communication strategies. This approach built upon the School’s existing emergency management framework.
The exercise strengthened leadership readiness at Shawnigan Lake School and reinforced a proactive emergency management culture. Participants gained confidence in their ability to coordinate effectively under pressure and validated key decision-making processes. The engagement enhanced the school's overall resilience to wildfire events, contributing to the safety of students, staff, and visitors.