Environmental emergencies can strike at any time, and nearly in any place. There are some very well known environmental emergency incidents in Canada's recent past. The following are some of the better-known examples:
- 1996 - F/V RDR Enterprise
- 1995 - Drugs, Ships and Beaches
- 1994 - Sydney Steel (Sysco) PCB Fire
- 1994 - Iron Ore Company of Canada Train Derailment
- 1986 - Canning Pesticide Warehouse Fire
- 1984 - Blowout of the Oil Rig "Vinland"
- 1979 - British Tanker Kurdistan
- 1970 - Irving Whale
- 1970 - Liberian Tanker Arrow