Obituary

LUTES, Neil Lawrence
September 12, 1944 – February 6, 2013

On February 6, 2013, Neil Lutes passed away suddenly at home at the age of 68 years.

Lovingly remembered by his wife Carol of 42 years; brother Eric (Peggy); sister Evelyn (David), as well as many friends and relatives.

A gathering to celebrate Neil’s life will be held on Wednesday February 13, 2013, between 7 – 9 pm at The Christian Life Centre, 10123 Princess Elizabeth Avenue, Edmonton, AB.

No flowers please. Memorial donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Published in The Edmonton Journal on February 11, 2013

Alberta’s Emergency Public Warning System

The government of Alberta developed a public warning system as a result of the 1987 tornado that struck Edmonton and the surrounding area. This system, called Alberta’s Emergency Public Warning System (EPWS) was created in 1992. This system warned the public of imminent danger. The EPWS was the first rapid warning system of its kind to use media outlets to broadcast critical life-saving information directly to the public.

(above is from a Program History written by Government of Alberta)

Neil was an Engineer at CKUA in Edmonton when he originally designed and implemented EPWS. The system automatically interrupted a large number of Alberta radio stations’ regular broadcasts with emergency information, without assistance from station staff.

Neil returned to CKUA in April 2000 as the station’s Technical Manager, a position he held until his retirement in 2009.