Emergency Preparedness Week is an annual, national event that takes place during the first full week of May.

The main objective is to increase awareness about individual emergency preparedness so that businesses can all reduce the risks and lessen the consequences of disasters brought on by either the environment, terrorism or computer information sabotage.

The first seminars are being conducted in partnership with the City of Brampton during Emergency Preparedness Week from May 4 to10.

"Statistics show that Canadian small businesses are particularly at risk and unprepared to financially survive or mitigate property and other loss during and after a major disaster," said James Kilgour, CCEP seminar program manger. "All Canadian households and businesses need to be more prepared and have a plan now more than ever, but we've identified that while small businesses account for a significant percentage of our economy, they are unprepared and unable to survive a number of increasing risks."

The Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness (CCEP), with support from Public Safety Canada, has developed a series of free awareness seminars aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises become more resilient in challenging times.

Recognizing that owners and managers in a small business environment have limited money and time resources, these seminars will be offered free of charge.

The first seminar will take place on May 6 at Holiday Inn Select, 30 Peel Centre Dr.

For more information, visit the CCEP Web site: www.ccep.ca or call 905-331-2552.