There will be a short ceremony in Innisfail this afternoon (Mar 12th), where Chinook’s Edge, Red Deer Public and Red Deer Catholic school divisions will be signing a joint protocol that sets out what to do when there’s a chance of a violent incident.

It's called the Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol, and Chinook's Edge School Division's Wanda Christensen says it includes taking actions like information gathering and communication between partners.

The protocol is about stopping crises like school shootings before they happen.

“We’re trying to mitigate risk and try to be preventative and proactive. We’re not immune to that in Alberta or Canada,” Christensen says.

She says the practices have been in place for years, informed by the work of Kevin Cameron, an expert in threat assessment and school-related violence. Today’s signing formalizes it.

Cameron, expected to attend, is executive director for the Canadian Centre for Threat Assessment and Trauma Response. He provides training for school staff on recognizing potential threats, and how to assist high-risk youth.

His expertise has been sought since the Columbine High School shooting in 1999.

A number of other partners are part of the protocol, from law enforcement and corrections to social services to municipalities.