Steinbach is currently served by its own force of eleven Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers, who share facilities with the Highways and Rural Detachment. In cooperation with the RCMP, Steinbach residents are actively involved in the Citizens on Patrol Program.
To report a crime tip to the Steinbach RCMP, use the Steinbach RCMP Online Tip Form.
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For more information on the Steinbach RCMP detachment, please click here.
The City has always prided itself on having a dedicated and efficient fire department. With well over 30 highly trained fire fighters/first responders and state-of-the-art equipment, the City can rely on its excellent fire protection. The result of these services is a city with a very high safety and security rating... a city where you can enjoy an evening stroll and where children are safe to play.
For more information on the SFD, the Fire Hall or how to become a firefighter, click here.
The City of Steinbach first adopted an "Emergency Plan" in 1989, together with the R.M. of Hanover. The Emergency Plan covers emergency situations such as hazardous product fires & spills, explosive hazards, dangerous goods, winter storm hazards, and severe summer storms.
The City is fortunate to have Denis Vassart as its Emergency Planning Coordinator. In 2006, the Coordinator developed a Citizen’s Emergency Quick Reference Guide (copies available at City Hall), and a "Weather Radio" transmitter was put into service. Since 2007, the Coordinator worked on developing a Pandemic Master Plan (together with Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization and South Eastman Health), as well as a Business Continuity Pandemic Plan for the City. The City has developed an Emergency Operations Centre as part of the Steinbach Fire Hall.
The City of Steinbach has an Emergency Operations Centre Team of 16 people. The Team is responsible for implementing the Emergency Plan to prevent or limit the loss of life, harm or damage to the safety, health or welfare of people, damage to property or the environment when an emergency grows beyond the day to day emergency situations normally handled by the Fire Department, Police, Ambulance and/or Public Works. The Team is also responsible for testing the Emergency Plan and making the necessary changes to improve it. A "Full Scale" exercise was conducted in 2009 using a tornado scenario in Steinbach. This test scenario led to some improvements being implemented in our plan.
Current members of Steinbach's Emergency Centre Team are: Kevin Wynn (RCMP); Denis Vassart (Municipal Emergency Coordinator); Ben Funk (Assistant Municipal Emergency Coordinator); Steve Fehr (Public Information Officer); Amber Reitsma (Assistant Public Information Officer); Russ Dyck (Social Services Director); Randy Reimer (Public Works Manager); Rhona Dundas (EOC Administration Officer); Mark Loewen (Fire Chief); Scott Noble (Health Services); Elsie Kathler (Volunteer Coordinator); Ray Fast (Transportation Coordinator); Patrick Cox (Resources Manager); Kerry Snead (Communications Manager); Dan Funk (EOC Member) and Eric Muise (EOC Member).
If you are interested in volunteering on the Emergency Operations Centre Team, please contact City Hall at 225 Reimer Avenue, (204) 326-9877.
In 2010, the City of Steinbach became the first community in Canada to be certified as "Storm Ready."
Click here to view a copy of Steinbach's Storm Ready Brochure.
Our Team consists of about 20 dedicated citizens, working in teams of four and covering the months of May through September as Storm Spotters. Our Storm Ready Team members are residents of, or live in a 10-kilometre radius of Steinbach and volunteer their time to watch the skies during summer months to help keep the citizens of Steinbach aware of possible severe weather that could affect the area.
We partner with the Rest Haven Nursing Home as our first alert point as they have staff on duty 24 hours per day. Our other important link is Goldenwest Radio who will broadcast weather warnings over AM1250 and Mix 96.7 FM.
We are currently looking for up to six volunteers to act as weather spotters in times of severe weather.
When needed, the Storm Spotters will be notified by weather radio, text, telephone, or cell phone and asked to watch the sky for signs of a tornado developing. They will then contact the local radio station, Emergency Operations Team, and Environment Canada with this information.
Should a tornado touch down in Steinbach, Spotters are asked to do a preliminary damage evaluation of their designated area and report this information to the Emergency Operations Team so a plan of action can be determined and the public can be informed.
Spotters are provided with training by Environment Canada as well as guidelines on how to report a sighting and action checklists.
We invite anyone interested to join our Storm Ready Team in making Steinbach a safer place to live and raise a family.
Questions and comments can be directed to the Emergency Planning Coordinator, Denis Vassart, at 392-5996 or by e-mail at dvassart@steinbach.ca.
