The Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit (ISU) has been carrying out exercises in district's airspace since Monday, Oct. 19 in preparation for the upcoming Winter Games.
Military exercises, called Pegasus Guardian 3 and Spartan Rings, were carried out over a few days last week to test security plans, communications and to finalize procedures before 7,000 security personnel are deployed to this corner of the province for the Olympics.
And further military presence will be felt during final pre-Olympic exercise, called Exercise Gold, next week (Nov. 2 to 6).
The exercises are designed to test the security unit and ensure personnel are prepared for any potential threats that may arise during the Games, according to Vancouver 2010 ISU Const. Mandy Edwards.
Several police and Canadian Forces vessels were deployed as well as several aircrafts and RCMP personnel. Increased activity was scheduled in the Burrard Inlet, in False Creek and throughout the airspace of the Sea to Sky Corridor.
Edwards said Squamish played a minor role in last week's full-scale exercises.
"Canadian Forces Griffin helicopters were flying out of the Squamish airport and they were just using this area as an air hub between Whistler and Vancouver."
Mayor Greg Gardner said Squamish is taking part in a region-wide security testing effort.
"This is an exercise to make sure that the Department of National Defence is ready for the Olympic timeframe. So it is not just a Squamish-based exercise, it's a regional exercise."
He said residents should expect a larger security personnel presence during the Games, which should have a positive impact on the local economy.
"I believe there will be a positive economic impact during the Olympic timeframe due to the military presence."
In a mid-October media briefing, Rear Admiral Tyrone Pile said the exercise also introduces security forces to the communities.
"It [the exercise] will also offer our personnel the chance to become more familiar with those areas of the Lower Mainland and the Sea to Sky Corridor in which they will be operating in 2010."
