File # 2009-ISU
2009-10-14 12:39 PDT

Statement - Assistant Commissioner Bud Mercer

Just as the countdown to the official start of the 2010 Winter Games continues, so do the preparations for ensuring game-time readiness. With respect to our planning, the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit remains focused and on track. We are now moving into the critical final phase of planning and implementation before becoming fully operational early next year. We also cannot forget the important milestone of the Olympic Torch Relay which starts at the end of the month.

One of the key aspects that has mirrored the planning cycle is the need to exercise and test our security plans. The ISU has an extensive exercise program that has been up and running for the past 2 years. Pegasus Guardian 3 and Spartan Rings, which will take place the week of October 19 – 23rd, are part of that overall preparatory process. This police and Canadian Forces focused exercise, allows the “security pillar” to be validated in terms of protocols and procedures.

Exercises Pegasus Guardian 3 and Spartan Rings are functional, full-scale exercises to help validate the readiness of the RCMP-led V2010 ISU and its security partners.

The scenarios have been developed from lessons learned during previous exercises, such as Exercises Pegasus Guardian 2 and Exercise Silver in February, 2009. The scenarios are designed to challenge the ability of security forces to successfully overcome a spectrum of potential threats to the Games. Key areas to be validated include tactical procedures, communications and command and control.

The venue, area and theatre commanders (also know as our Bronze, Silver and Gold Commanders) have been chosen. The Commanders selected for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic security operation are part of the security legacy and they will be part of this important exercise.

To ensure exercise realism and test interoperability, a number of "live assets," including police and Canadian Forces vessels, aircraft and personnel, will be deployed in an integrated manner. As much as possible, these activities have been scheduled to minimize the impact on routine business and community activities - but some will nevertheless be visible to the public.

These events have been strategically designed and will be tightly controlled with the guiding principles of safety and security for all exercise participants and the public.

The public should expect to see increased activities in the Burrard Inlet, False Creek, along the coast line and at times in the air above the Greater Vancouver area.

The times, dates and locations vary, but the majority of activities will be concentrated within the one week window of the exercise. It is also important to point out that in preparation for the exercises, there will be a number of vessels and aircraft arriving this week.

At the conclusion of Pegasus Guardian 3 – Spartan Rings we are confident that the V2010 ISU and its key security partners will be prepared for the final Privy Council Office led confirmation exercise – Exercise GOLD. This exercise commences in just a few short weeks - November 2nd to the 6th.

I want to thank the exercise coordinators, our security partners, and the control staff for their steadfast dedication and unwavering efforts in bringing Exercises Pegasus Guardian 3 and Spartan Rings to fruition. To the exercise participants – I wish you good luck and I trust that the experience will be one that will serve us well in finalizing and confirming our security plans.

Statement - Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile

It is pleasure to be here today to update you on the Canadian Forces’ ongoing efforts to support the RCMP in preparing for the 2010 Games.

We have made much progress over the last few months and we have more work to do. But I could not be more satisfied with what we have accomplished in terms of our security planning with the RCMP-led Integrated Security Unit. As part of the interagency security team, the Canadian Forces will provide unique military capabilities that are completely integrated into the overall security framework. Whether it’s maritime surveillance, alpine patrols, or air mobility support to the RCMP, the Canadian Forces are ready to provide those unique capabilities that will contribute to a safe and secure Games.

I am also extremely pleased with the progress we have made in training and exercising the entire team at Joint Task Force Games. In addition to the Whole-of-Government exercise program, Joint Task Force Games has embarked on a series of exercises designed to validate our own integration with our security partners and to test our operational plans. These exercises have helped to strengthen our concept of operations so as to better support the entire integrated security planning effort.

We hope to continue this process of validation and confirmation in next week’s Exercise Spartan Rings. Designed to run concurrently with the RCMP’s Exercise Pegasus Guardian 3, this exercise will provide Joint Task Force Games with the opportunity to work with its maritime, land, air, and support components in realistic exercise scenarios. It will also offer our personnel the chance to become more familiar with those areas of the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky Corridor in which they will be operating in 2010.

Some aspects of Exercise Spartan Rings will be visible to the public, both during our preparations for the exercise this week and during the exercise itself. For example, naval vessels will be seen practicing marine security in and around Vancouver Harbour and coastal waters. Canadian Forces helicopters and other aircraft may be seen overhead as their crews familiarize themselves with the unique geography of the Sea to Sky Corridor. And military personnel and vehicles may been seen coming and going to our temporary accommodation facilities and existing National Defence properties throughout this part of British Columbia.

In the end, however, I am confident that this exercise will be transparent to most residents and that we will attain our exercise objectives with minimal effect on the daily lives of local residents. What I am sure of is that we will emerge from Exercise Spartan Rings with an even stronger plan with which we can support the RCMP-led security effort for 2010.

I have no doubt that our personnel will be ready to undertake the tasks that have been requested of them by the RCMP.

Together, we are planning, preparing and practicing, and the Canadian Forces will continue to be ready to help Canadians at home.

Email: bcrcmp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca