by Lorraine Carpenter, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

The City of Montreal has issued an alert about an emergency siren test being conducted across Montreal today. The system is in place at factories across the city to warn the public about toxic leaks of hazardous materials.

The public is being advised to not be overly alarmed when the emergency siren sounds between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

“This Wednesday, May 8, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., a test of warning sirens will take place in Montreal.”

Here is the siren test schedule for participating factories across Montreal:

• From 9 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.: Lactalis Canada
• From 9:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Brasserie Labatt
• From 9:40 a.m. to 9:50 a.m.: Bœuf Mérite, Metro Richelieu
• From 10 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.: Cold storage Total
• 10 to 10:30 a.m.: Dural – Multibond
• From 1:10 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Saputo Dairy Products Canada (Saint-Laurent)
• From 1:40 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.: Suncor Energy Products – Sulfur plant
• From 2 p.m. to 2 p.m. 10: Entreprise Indorama PTA Montréal
• From 2:20 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.: Saputo Dairy Products Canada (Saint-Léonard)
• From 2:40 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.: Pêcheries Atlantiques du Québec, Metro Richelieu

To hear what the siren sounds like (a cross between an emergency vehicle siren and an extremely loud slide whistle), please click here.