Residents of Pickering should not be alarmed if their televisions, radios and cellphones suddenly display an emergency message next week — it will be a scheduled test of the country's national alerting system.
The test of the Alert Ready emergency alerting system is set for Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at 12:55 pm, according to the City of Pickering. The test message will be distributed over TV, radio and wireless devices at that time.
Alert Ready is Canada's emergency alerting system, which delivers critical and potentially life-saving alerts to Canadians, the City explained on its website. The upcoming exercise is a routine one, and no emergency is expected to accompany it.
The City said testing the system serves two purposes: it raises public awareness about how emergency alerts work, and it validates that the system functions as intended in case a real emergency ever requires its use.
Regular tests of Alert Ready are conducted across the country to make sure the infrastructure that pushes alerts to broadcasters and mobile networks is working. The system is typically used for events such as severe weather, Amber Alerts and other situations where an immediate warning could protect the public.
Anyone wanting more information about how the alerts are delivered, or what kinds of emergencies trigger them, can visit alertready.ca, the website for the national system, the City noted.
Pickering residents who receive the November 18 test message on their wireless devices do not need to take any action beyond being aware the test is happening, and the City encourages residents to be prepared for such notifications year-round.
The City of Pickering regularly shares news, public notices and emergency information through its website, where residents can subscribe to receive municipal updates directly.
