Transcript
Science has always fascinated me, partly because there is a degree of predictability behind all sciences.
Ultimately, what intrigues me most is the logical side of science that can be applied to emergency response in ultra-chaotic environments. That’s what fascinates me the most.
My name is Valérie Lepage. I am a manager at the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre, also known as CANUTEC.
CANUTEC is a national advisory centre staffed by scientists trained in emergency response.
Our role, first and foremost, is to assist first responders, at their request, in any situation involving the transportation of dangerous goods.
Once that work is done, we participate in and partly coordinate the internal communication at Transport Canada.
We do this because we need to make sure that people who can play an active role in emergency response are aware of what’s going on.
And of course, another one of CANUTEC’s roles is to produce new editions of the Emergency Response Guidebook every four years.
Most of the scientists at CANUTEC are specialized in chemistry. In my case, it’s a little different. I have a background in medical biology, with several courses in chemistry.
That’s what’s important at CANUTEC: having passionate scientists who can break down the science so that it can be understood by those in the field.
In university labs, we talk about small volumes and controlled environments.
In the case of train derailments, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of volumes of products that can mix with direct impacts on the population.
The relationship that CANUTEC has with Canadian first responders is really important. That’s why we often join them in incident simulations, tabletop exercises, practical field exercises and, when possible, hotwashes. We want our advice to reflect the reality on the field.
I’ve been working for CANUTEC for twelve years, and now I feel like every day I go to work, I go home to my little family, my little family of people who share the same values as me.
We’ve always had the support of the various directors we’ve had.
For most people, the world of emergency services can sometimes seem intimidating. It’s a calling, that’s true. You really have to love the work if you want to join this field. But if any of you feel this calling, I strongly recommend that you follow your intuition.
The level of satisfaction you get from working at CANUTEC is like nothing else I’ve had the chance to experience in the federal government.