At Gordon Food Service (GFS), the safety of our employees, visitors, and the communities surrounding our facilities is our highest priority.

In compliance with Canada’s Environmental Emergency Regulations, 2019, we are providing this information to our neighbors regarding the use of ammonia gas in our Canadian distribution centres. Ammonia is a highly efficient and natural refrigerant commonly used in large-scale cold storage facilities.

Our Canadian Distribution Centres in Delta, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ajax, Milton, Montreal, and Amherst utilize ammonia gas to operate our large-scale freezers and coolers.

Our Commitment to Safety and Compliance

Under Schedule 1 of the Environmental Emergency Regulations, all Canadian companies that own, manage, or control specified quantities of regulated substances are required to have a comprehensive Environmental Emergency Plan (E2 Plan) in place.

GFS has a robust, fully implemented E2 Plan for our facilities. This plan ensures that we:

• Maintain state-of-the-art monitoring and containment systems.
• Conduct regular training, maintenance, and emergency simulation drills.
• Work closely with local first responders and emergency services to ensure a coordinated response capability.

What This Means for Our Neighbors

While an off-site incident is highly unlikely due to our rigorous safety protocols, the law requires us to ensure our community is informed. In the improbable event of an ammonia release that extends beyond the boundary of our facility, GFS will immediately activate its emergency response network alongside local authorities to notify and protect the public.

Looking for More Information? If you have any questions about our safety protocols, our E2 Plan, or the measures we take to protect our local environments, please contact our Compliance and Safety Team at:

Bonnie Hinks, Senior Manager, Health and Safety
Bonnie.hink@gfs.com | 416-906-0373