Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) has commissioned Hour Zero to provide safety protocols in the event of emergencies or critical incidents.

The Alberta-based Hour Zero will provide tools and training to staff and students at all 17 WRSD locations to prepare for everything from severe weather to an active-shooter incident.

Describing it as a predictable, consistent response to critical incidents, Superintendent Jodie Mattia says K-12 students in every WRSD facility will be familiarized with the program.

The call for increased safety protocols came following discussions with WRSD stakeholders in spring 2026 — just weeks after the tragic school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

Mattia says she does not want to shy away from the tragic reality of all-too-common school shootings.

“We want to be prepared for that in light of Tumbler Ridge and previous events that have taken place.”

In the wake of Tumbler Ridge, Mattia says WRSD has also received additional funding from Alberta Education for not only programs such as Hour Zero, but also building upgrades to increase student safety.

While preparing students and staff for outside threats, Mattia says Hour Zero also has protocols for in-school incidents. Those could include, for example, a student suffering a seizure or a staff member suffering a medical episode.

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Other events that could prompt a lockdown or hold-in-place include wildlife in the playground, a tornado, or RCMP tracking a suspect near a school building.

Hour Zero will also provide real-time communication to parents, informing them if a school has gone into lockdown, as well as giving an “all clear” notification when an incident has passed.

Prior to her appointment as WRSD superintendent, Mattia says she saw Hour Zero in action in a previous role. She has witnessed first-hand staff and students coming to the aid of a fellow student in distress using training from Hour Zero.

The program will be rolled out in stages, says Mattia, with the Alert system for parents being introduced in the near term. She anticipates Hour Zero protocols to be fully integrated throughout the 2026-27 school year.