PTSC-Online is a Canada wide virtual on line community which networks emergency management personnel and emergency services for the purpose of continuously improving the safety and resiliency of our communties. The dots on the map illustrate that PTSC-Online has been accessed by over 16000 unique viewers from nearly 300 Canadian communities. 

PTSC-Online helps emergency management, business continuity and critical infrastructure professionals, emergency services, volunteer and professional emergency management related groups and associations network, share best practices and challenges with the belief that our collective efforts can be greater than the sum of our individual efforts.

Background

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) sponsored the formation of PTSC-Online with financial support from Public Safety Canada. PTSC-Online was viewed by CAFC as a service which can help CAFC members fulfill their emergency management related responsibilities by helping them network more effectively with other emergency manageent stakeholders.   Although sponsored by CAFC, PTSC-Online exists to facilitate networking and collaboration among all emergency services, emergency management personnel and with the Canadian public. These features make PTSC-Online a one of a kind unique service which can help break down silos and facilitate colaboration which supports the theme of the recent Tri-Service (Police, Fire EMS) sponsored Montreal conference.

How it Works

PTSC-Online provides it members with information sharing and collaboration tools to help them fulfill their responsibilities more effectively and efficiently. These tools include a member directory, blogs on key emergency management topics, discussion forums, knowledge base wikis, links to professional and social media and an activity highlights section to make it easier for members to follow recent activity in PTSC-Online. See the How PTSC-Online Works menu on the navigation bar for additional details. 

PTSC-Online provides the tools, which by themselves can do nothing. Members are the key to PTSC-Online working effectively,  members who are willing to share their expertise and concerns and work collectively to continuously improve their emergency management programs. 

Leadership

The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs (CAFC) sponsors Partnerships Toward Safer Communities - Online.  CAFC has contracted with MacKay Emergency Management Consulting Inc. to manage PTSC-Online. A steering committee assists with the management. See the leadership tab in the navigation bar for additional details. 

Membership

Members are key to the success of PTSC-Online and are the ones who will benefit most from participating.  PTSC-Online is a virtual web based community within which members can meet, learn, share concerns and best practices and work collectively on projects of mutual interest. Because it is web based it can be accessed by anyone who has an internet connection.  See the member categories section for additional information on this subject. .

Future Direction

PTSC-Online's future direction is to be self sustainable and financially sound so it may continue to provide value for its members and contribute to Canadian public safety and community resiliancy. Our members will ultimately be the ones who set the future direction as they provide input and support to the steering committee and in discussion groups. 

Technology

PTSC-Online uses leading edge technology developed by Igloo Software, a Kitchener Ontario based company specializing in development of on line communities. This technology can be available to PTSC-Online members and supporters for emergency management related projects.  See the technology section for additional details.