2025 Agenda-at-a-Glance
Disaster Forum 2025 will feature pre-conference workshops, keynote speakers, panel discussions, and presentations from leaders in a variety of relevant topics - with a focus on sharing and examining real-life experiences and learnings, practical takeaways, and emerging methods and technologies. If you have an idea for the program or would like to present, moderate a panel, or assist with an exercise. please contact Peter Mav.
The 2024 Agenda is below for reference.
Over two full days, beginning at noon on Tuesday, delegates will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with leaders in Emergency Management and business continuity from industry, government and communities across Canada.
Conference sessions will focus on practical, solutions-based perspectives and aim to bring to life valuable and applicable lessons-learned. Tailor your own conference experience through the selection of concurrent workshops and presentation sessions that will complement the keynote speakers and a moderated panel discussion. Network with contacts new and old during the welcome reception and dinner and bowling at the Fairmont Banff Springs bowling alley Wednesday evening.
Time
Main Plenary
Alhambra Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Exhibitor Set Up
Mount Stephan Hall (1st Floor)
Breakout Session / Workshop
Norquay Room (1st Floor)
Breakout Session / Workshop
Oak Room (1st Floor)
12:00 – 18:00
Delegate Registration Opens
13:00 – 17:00
Includes coffee breaks / snacks
Workshop#1
Title: Planning and Managing for a Crisis: Your Communications Planning Tool Kit
Speaker: Vasie Papadopolous, Argyle PR
Workshop#2
Title: Designing and Running Powerful Exercises (Emergency Response & Business Continuity) PART 2
Speaker: Bruno Cornejo, Trace Associates
17:30 – 19:30
Opening Welcome Reception
Meals
Keynotes
Workshops
Sessions
Break - Network
Time
Main Plenary
Alhambra Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Exhibitor Set Up
Mount Stephan Hall (1st Floor)
Breakout Session / Workshop
Norquay Room (1st Floor)
Breakout Session / Workshop
Oak Room (1st Floor)
07:30 – 09:00
Hot Breakfast Buffet
08:45 – 09:15
Conference Opening Ceremony & Blessing
09:15 – 10:15
Opening Keynote
Title: Navigating Crisis: The Role of Leadership Resilience
Speaker: Rebecca Alty, Mayor, City of Yellowknife
10:15 – 10:45
Nutrition Break & Exibitors / Professional Headshot Station
10:45 – 11:45
Concurrent Session 1
Title: TBD
Speaker: John Gardner, CPKC
Concurrent Session 2
Title: TBD
Speaker: Claire Mechan, NAIT
Concurrent Session 3
Title: Building a whole of society approach to community capacity and resilience
Speaker: Jeff Donaldson, Preparedness Labs & Scott Cameron, EML Canada
11:45 – 13:00
Hot Lunch Buffet
13:00 – 14:00
Concurrent Session 4
Title: Before Operational Stress: Disasters and Mental Health
Speaker: Ryan Collyer, Wayfound Mental Health Group
Concurrent Session 5
Title: TBD
Speaker: Jenna lee Natrasony, AER
Concurrent Session 6
Title: TBD
Speaker: Shawna Bruce, MD Bruce & Associates Limited
14:00 – 14:30
Nutrition Break & Exibitors / Professional Headshot Station
14:30 – 15:30
Concurrent Session 7
Title: Demonstration Exercise
Speaker: Katherine Severson, Town of Banff
Concurrent Session 8
Title: TBD
Speaker: Trevor Leggett, SaskPower
Concurrent Session 9
Title: TBD
Speaker: TBD
15:30 – 16:30
EOC and ICP
16:30 – 18:00
FREE TIME – CPKC Equipment Demo
18:00 – 22:00
Let’s Bowl! Dinner & Evening Event at the Fairmont Banff Springs Bowling Alley (Included with registration)
Meals
Keynotes
Workshops
Sessions
Break - Network
Time
Main Plenary
Alhambra Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Exhibitor Set Up
Mount Stephan Hall (1st Floor)
Breakout Session / Workshop
Norquay Room (1st Floor)
Breakout Session / Workshop
Oak Room (1st Floor)
07:30 – 09:00
Hot Breakfast Buffet
08:45 – 09:00
Opening Remarks
09:00 – 10:00
Concurrent Session 10
Title: Unlocking the Power of Industrial Mutual Aid
Speaker: Kerri Holmes, Strathcona County Mutual Assistance Program
Concurrent Session 11
Title: Three Critical Oversights in Disaster Recovery - A Case Study
Speaker: Rebecca Innes, Rebecca Innes Consulting
Concurrent Session 12
Title: TBD
Speaker: Cailtrin Miller, Town of Canmore
10:00 – 10:30
Nutrition Break & Exibitors / Professional Headshot Station
10:30 – 11:45
Concurrent Session 13
Title: Resilience is a "Contact Sport": You Need An All-Star Team
Speaker: ATCO
Concurrent Session 14
Title: Company Community Collaboration That Works
Speaker: Scott Dionne, Western Canadian Spill Services
Concurrent Session 15
Title: Safeguarding Against Cyber Threats: Lessons from a Real-World Attack
Speaker: Vivian Bond, Bureau Veritas
11:45 – 13:00
Hot Lunch Buffet
12:30 – 13:30
Closing Keynote Speaker
Title: 100 Years of Firefighting… in 36 hours
Speaker: Jason Brolund, Fire Chief of West Kelowna
13:30
Conference Closes
Meals
Keynotes
Workshops
Sessions
Break - Network
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