The town of Gibbons has some surprise visitors for the next few weeks; The Canadian Military.
The military will be doing a practice exercise around the town between Sept. 29 and Oct. 05.
Residents can expect to see soldiers in gas masks and hazmat suits around the trails south of Echo Glen Park. The military won't be conducting exercises inside the town, but instead in a development area southwest of Gibbons.
Captain Ryan Bartlette, Public Affairs Officer with the 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, says that some exercises are to simulate a possible Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear (CBRN) attack.
"Now not everyone has worn a gas mask, but everyone has just been through a pandemic." Bartlette said. "It makes everything tougher, but it keeps you safe."
For this training they're just using water from a fire truck supplies by CFB Edmonton, a local army base. These exercises have no risk to the public.
The military also visited Gibbons in 2019 as part of their national repair and recovery competition.