New emergency system being tested at schools

The Brandon School Division (BSD) has moved into the implementation stage of its updated Risk Response Plan, with a new emergency communication system — known as HZ Alert — now being piloted in six select schools.

Originally established in 2002 in partnership with an Edmonton-based firm, Hour-Zero, the plan has undergone a comprehensive review aimed at improving preparedness, communication and co-ordination during school emergencies.

Work on the revision began before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the division set out to update its procedures based on North American best practices. The effort introduced the Incident Command System (ICS) and an all-hazards approach—both recognized as standard frameworks for emergency response in education and public safety sectors.

The division has entered the implementation phase of its updated Risk Response Plan, featuring HZ Alert, Supt. Mathew Gustafson told the Sun, marking the division’s first major update since his detailed presentation to the school board in April 2024.

“We’re piloting HZ Alert this fall with six schools to ensure everything functions smoothly,” Gustafson said.

While Gustafson did not identify the schools for security reasons, he said the division is closely monitoring the rollout to address technical and operational challenges before expanding to all schools.

“We want to make sure it’s working seamlessly before the full implementation,” he said. “Once that’s done, we’ll roll it out division-wide later in the school year.”

The framework allows for a consistent and co-ordinated response to any kind of emergency, he said.

The modernization work, originally launched before the COVID-19 pandemic, was temporarily paused as the division focused on pandemic-related safety protocols.

“The 2023–24 school year marked the first full year of staff training under the new model. With that stage completed, the division has now shifted to phase two: strengthening communication,” he said. “Our focus this year is on the communication piece. We want to make sure that information flows quickly and clearly to the right people during any incident.”

Gustafson said the tool allows for instant alerts to be sent to designated staff and administrative teams when an emergency occurs at a school, adding it works through multiple channels — including email, text message, and a mobile app — and can provide proximity-based warnings to staff such as transportation workers or maintenance crews entering an affected area.

“If a school initiates a lockdown, for instance, HZ Alert sends messages not only to the school’s administrative and command teams but also to nearby schools within a one-mile radius,” Gustafson told the Sun. “It can even alert a staff member who happens to be approaching the building, giving them time to turn back or take precautionary steps.”

He added that the system is not a replacement for 911 calls or existing school response procedures, but an additional layer designed to improve redundancy and speed. “We’ll always follow established emergency protocols,” he said. “What HZ Alert does is ensure faster communication and reduce the risk of any delay.”

In addition to the mobile alerts, he said, HZ Alert also features a desktop widget that displays live emergency updates on a divisional map, allowing administrators to track active situations in real time. The system can distinguish between drills, tests, and real-world incidents by prefixing messages with clear labels such as “This is a drill” or “Real event,” helping to prevent confusion during high-stress moments.

During last week’s school board meeting, Trustee Lorraine McConnell asked whether school trustees would be included in the alert network. Gustafson said that while trustees could technically be added as a user group, the division would likely continue to communicate with them via direct phone calls or email, depending on the type of emergency.

“This is about continuous improvement,” Gustafson said. “Our emergency protocols have always been strong, but this technology adds another layer of efficiency and confidence for our staff and families.”

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