Emergency Response Planning

Emergency Response at Mount Royal University

Emergency Response Planning

MRU is committed to creating a safe and healthy living and learning environment. The health and safety of the MRU community (staff, students, and visitors) are the highest priority for emergency management. Our emergency response planning ensures an active, efficient, and appropriate response for emergency management and helps to facilitate recovery. If there is an emergency on campus, the community could be notified through:

  • Fire alarm
  • Security Personnel
  • Email
  • Twitter
  • Public Address
  • Omnivex screens
  • Website (http://www.mtroyal.ca)

In the event of an emergency, ensure your safety and contact:

  • Calgary Emergency Services at 9-1-1 (9-9-1-1 if using MRU phones)
  • Campus Security at 5900 (403-440-5900)

During an Emergency

In the event of an Emergency on Campus, there are three typical responses for members of the community on campus:

  • evacuation and gathering at predetermined Muster Points, if it is safe to do so
    • current campus Muster Points can be found here
  • lockdown
  • shelter in place

The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC)

Mount Royal uses the principals of Incident Command Systems (ICS) to manage Campus emergencies and threats. In the event of a level 2 or 3 emergency, the EOC will be activated to support the incident command (the "scene"). The EOC is responsible for operational management of a response and the associated recovery while dealing with external groups such as emergency management agencies, the media, and the general public.

Emergency Response Levels

Level 1: A situation exists that represents a danger to the University, however, it can be handled by the University or with involvement from fire, police or EMS. The expected duration of the emergency response phase is less than 12 hours.

Level 2: A serious emergency exists that represents a danger to the University that poses an immediate threat to the university community that cannot be satisfied by evacuating the building. The expected duration of the Level 2 emergency response phase is 12 - 24 hours and requires additional assistance from outside agencies. This level may require activation of the EOC or require specific members of the EOC to respond.

Level 3: A crisis situation exists that seriously affects the MRU community's safety, the environment, or operations and may be a direct and immediate threat to the community. It requires a significant response from emergency response agencies and government and is expected to be longer than 24 hours in duration. This level requires full activation of the EOC.

After an emergency
After an emergency that impacts members of our community, MRU engages Wellness Services to provide critical incident stress debriefing. They can be contacted at 403-440-6362.

Emergency Response ManualMembers of the MRU community can now find emergency response Emergency Manual at visible locations such as offices, classrooms and common areas on campus. The grab-and-go manuals were installed in early 2015, based upon continuous emergency response planning at MRU.

Emergency response manual

The emergency response manual is designed to be a quick and easy-to-use reference guide on how to properly respond during specific emergency scenarios on campus. It provides basic information for faculty, staff, students and visitors to MRU in the event of incidences such as fire, natural gas leak, medical emergency, power failure, extreme weather and more.

The manual serves as a "how-to guide" for responding to an emergency scenario. In the event of an emergency or stressful situation, we want our campus community to be ready to follow the best course of action.

It is important for everyone to know where theses manuals are located around campus so that they can be readily accessed in the incidence of an emergency. Staff and faculty should have a basic understanding of the material that is contained in the booklet. Human Resources provides the same information to all employees upon hiring to assist everyone in being knowledgeable and helping to manage a situation if it occurs.

Emergency response planning is an ongoing process. Each year Mount Royal University reviews its emergency response plan in an attempt to continuously improve and strengthen its contents. This information is, in fact, not new but is being provided in a more visible and user-friendly manner

MRU prides itself on maintaining a safe and positive environment while responding to unplanned events on campus. If you have any concerns about safety, please feel free to talk with Security Services at any time. Many of the emergencies outlined in the manual are non-violent events that are important for the MRU community to have the tools to manage effectively and efficiently. Some of the other events have a very low frequency, but have occurred at other institutions in North America. The emergency response manual allows for preparation in the event the unthinkable happens.

Security Services is on-call 24/7, and is staffed with personnel who are highly trained professionals and all trained in First Aid. Recreation staff members are also trained to respond to medical and institutional emergencies, and can provide guidance in a difficult situation.
As well, several MRU community officers have been trained and are available to provide assistance and take a leadership role in the event of an emergency. MRU regularly practices emergency response tactics and notification techniques. We regularly test our mass communication system, fire alarms and red emergency phones. In addition to routine inspections, our EOC team also holds a three-day exercise annually to test our resiliency and ability to respond to a full-scale emergency.

MRU is a strong promoter of the SAFEWALK program on campus. SAFEWALK is a 24-hour program that provides an escort on campus for anyone who doesn't feel comfortable walking alone.


MRU is also a member of the Campus Alberta Risk and Assurance committee (CARA). The committee, which is made up of post-secondary institutions province wide, shares best practices and works to develop resources to promote safety on Campuses. CARA recently developed a nine-minute active shooter video that has been endorsed by all the Alberta Police Chiefs.

In the event of a serious emergency, call 9-1-1, then call Campus Security at 403-440-5900 or use one of the red emergency phones located around campus. Even if you are in doubt about the seriousness of an event, call security regardless. Call 9-1-1 first, because time is of the essence in a major emergency and that phone call starts the process. When you call security then they will follow up with emergency services and arrange a meeting point.

A PDF version of the manual is available here, or email Risk Services at riskmanagement@mtroyal.ca to request a hard copy for your office or classroom.