For nearly a decade, CN has collaborated with First Nations, local governments, emergency responders, and regulators to conduct annual emergency preparedness and spill response exercises across British Columbia. This year, CN deepened its partnership with the Ts’îl Kaz Koh First Nation (Burns Lake Band) and the nearby Lake Babine First Nation in northern B.C., where the Bulkley and Nechako River basins converge. These watersheds are among Canada’s largest and most critical, supporting local ecosystems, communities, and the traditional territories of many Indigenous nations.
The 2025 exercise brought together CN’s environmental and emergency response teams, Ts’îl Kaz Koh leadership and Lake Babine guardians, local firefighters, first responders, and provincial and federal regulators. Participants practiced coordinated response strategies, tested specialized equipment, and worked through scenarios designed to protect drinking-water wells, lakes, and river systems. For the First Nations communities, the exercise strengthens confidence, enhances their stewardship role, and fosters knowledge-sharing with CN.
Mayor Henry Wiebe of Burns Lake said the training significantly raised awareness and education for local responders, boosting confidence and readiness. The exercise also created valuable opportunities for relationship-building, collaboration, and planning, ensuring everyone is prepared should an incident occur.
Through partnerships like this, CN continues to enhance its ability to prevent and respond to environmental risks while supporting safer rail corridors and healthier watersheds for northern B.C.’s communities and ecosystems.
