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Security planning for the Games took more than a year continued from p.20 Leon said he couldn't speak to threats at the operational level, as it would contravene security protocol. Cook added, there's an intelligence team that assesses situations based on information received. This intelligence determines threat levels at the operational level. The tunnel that was found near the Rexall Centre on the western edge of the York University campus, which will serve as the official tennis venue for the Games, was the most serious threat to date, said Cook. "It really had nothing to do with the Pan Am games, but at the time, people drew inference from it," he said. He said the cycling centre in Milton is "like an island out there," surrounded by vast open fields. "From a security standpoint it's good for us," he said, adding his biggest concern in Milton is cyclist safety on the roads. The ISU is working with other partners, including a private security firm, Contemporary Security Canada (CSC), to keep participants and spectators safe. These groups have been at work for the past year planning for the games. CSC started recruiting more than 5,000 candidates to fill various security roles last summer. Recruitment was followed by a sixstage interview process, then a three-step training process, which included obtaining an Ontario Security Guard Licence and successfully completing both job-specific and venue-specific training. "We plan to deliver a safe, secure and efficient experience for participants and spectators," said Derek Gagne, SCS's senior project manager for Games security. Traffic enhancements are also part of the mandate of the Pan Am security team. These will allow athletes and games officials to travel safely to and from the event via the Games Route Network (GRN), a 760 km system of roads connecting the Pan Am/ Parapan Am competition, non-competition and training venues. Paul Davies, a member of the HRPS, is the traffic planner for Halton's GRN. This area includes the Queen Elizabeth Way, up Bronte Road to Dundas Street; westbound Dundas to Appleby Line; northon Appleby to Derry Road; then east, from Derry to Tremaine Road; and, south on Tremaine Road to the cycling centre in Milton. He also has a small area around the soccer practice venue in Burlington. "Planning has really ramped up in the last few weeks," he said. Officers will be responsible for ensuring ambulance and emergency vehicles have easy access to the routes. A small group will be mobile and enforcing all Highway Traffic Act laws, rules and regulations. Others will help pilot buses around the area and get them safely to and from the venues. "We're the eyes and ears on the ground," said Davies in an interview. Officers are working the Games in addition to their regular duties with the Games organization covering the cost of salaries, including some overtime pay. The budget for these security measures is $239 million -- a figure which has more than doubled since the preliminary estimates of $102.8. Leon said venues have been added since the original bid, requiring more security detail. Costs have not yet been finalized and may still jump if more venues are added or the threat level changes. Cook said he reviews Halton's security budget every few months with the Province. "Everything is under a microscope. The oversight on this is tremendous." The Games are being funded by a tripartite agreement between the federal, provincial and municipal governments. The Pan Am Games run from July 10 to 26, followed by the Parapan Games, which run from Aug 7 to 15. 21 | Thursday, July 9, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com nbhtech.ca ComputeR RepaiR from $ 99 iphone RepaiR from 39 $ 1 houR SeRViCe! 3999 Dundas St. e., unit D10, oakville 905.257.1647 380 (@ Trafalgar rd., Canadian Tire Plaza) IVE CLUS H EX CES T I W ALS- XPERIEN T ME RME LOCAL E U O G G LIVIN WEEKL YH CHANG OUSEKEEPIN ING AN G D LAUN , LINEN DERIN G INDIVIDUA L WELLNES S PLANNING AND SUPP ORT SECURE YOUR SUITE BEFORE JULY 31ST, 2015 S & RECEIVE 1 MONTH RENT FREE! EMERGENCY PE NDENT-24/7 ON SITE HEALTH TEAM ASSISTANC E HURRY SUITES GOING FAST! UTINGS AND EXCITING O DAR TIES CALEN FULL ACTIVI BOOK YOUR VISIT TODAY: 905-582-0395 3136 DUNDAS STREET WEST, OAKVILLE, ON (WEST OF BRONTE ROAD) www.palermovillageretirement.ca DLY ND FRIEN CARING A ERVE YOU S STAFF TO