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This week, Queen’s University is introducing QUAlerts, a new emergency notification system that will send alerts to all Queen’s community members in the event of natural disasters, severe weather, high-risk situations or major service interruptions. These alerts will be automatically sent to students, staff, and faculty in Kingston who have an active Queen’s email account. Users can also opt in to receive SMS messages.

“QUAlerts has been integrated into the alert systems already in use on campus,” says Chris Scott, Director of Campus Security and Emergency Services (CSES). “The benefit of this integration is that the university can generate one message and seamlessly share it across multiple channels and media including email, mobile devices, via SMS, the SeQure app and the website. This will significantly improve the speed and reach of campus alerts, enhancing security and safety.”  

In 2023, in response to security and safety issues on other university campuses, CSES reviewed its emergency notification systems and identified a critical need for a rapid alert system to increase campus security and safety. The same system is already in use at the University of Toronto (UTAlerts) and Niagara College.

QUAlerts is powered by a platform called Alertable. A free Alertable mobile app, which members of the university community are encouraged to download, offers extra features for QUAlerts users like the ability to override silent mode to ensure you receive alerts even if the sound on your device is turned off and the ability to receive QUAlerts in multiple languages. QUAlerts integrates with the existing SeQure system and mobile app, which provides access to campus safety information, emergency contacts and University and community resources that complement QUAlerts.

The Alertable app will also allow users to receive Canada-wide public safety alerts (from Canada’s Alert Ready emergency alert system), and severe weather alerts (from Environment and Climate Change Canada).  

The system does not store any personal data, only a distribution list that is retained in Canada and updated daily. It can also display alerts on campus classroom and public screens – a function that CSES hopes to introduce soon, in a second implementation phase.  

An initial test message will be issued on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, when the system is activated. Members of the Queen’s community should watch for an email from no-reply@alertable.ca that signals you are receiving QUAlerts messages and provides information about the system.  

Links to the app and additional information are all available on the CSES QUAlerts website. &�Բ�����;