See below for the details of the Disaster Forum 2025 agenda.
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, dinner and fireside chats at the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.
Time
Main Plenary
Olympic Ballroom
Workshop
Dawson Room
Workshop
Palliser Room
Workshop
Sinclair Room
12:00 – 18:00
Conference Centre Foyer: Conference registration opens. Thank you Disaster Gold Sponsor DRI Canada
13:00 – 17:00
Includes coffee breaks / snacks
Workshop#1
Title: Crafting an Effective Emergency Response Plan
Speaker: Paul Riopel, Owner, ERMCAlberta
Workshop#2
Title: Building Indigenous Awareness into Emergency Management and Business Continuity
Speaker: Brad Spence, Principal, Indigenous Advisory and Inclusion, Trace Associates Inc.
Workshop#3
Title: Planning and Managing Crisis Communications in the Age of AI
Speaker: Vasie Papadopoulos, MCS, MBA, Founder & CEO, KLEO L.L.C.
17:00 – 19:30
Conference Centre Foyer: Let's Connect! Opening Networking Reception Sponsored by 11:11 Systems
20:00 – 22:00
Fire Side & Smores Outside
Meals
Keynotes
Workshops
Sessions
Break - Network
Time
Main Plenary
Olympic Ballroom
Concurrent Session
Dawson/Palliser Room
Concurrent Session
Sinclair Room
Exhibitors/Registration
Conference Centre Foyer
07:30 – 09:00
Conference Centre Foyer: Breakfast Buffet & Check-In Exhibitors Open. Thank you Disaster Gold Sponsor DRI Canada
08:30 – 08:50
Conference Opening & Welcome on Main Stage Sponsored by Colliers Project Leaders
Exhibitors open
08:50 – 09:50
Opening Keynote Sponsored by AltaLink
Title: The Illusion of Readiness: Trust Shows Up; Your Plan Might Not
Speaker: Josh Bowen, CD, MBA, MADEM, Vice President, Organizational Excellence, Team Rubicon Canada
09:50 – 10:00
Coffee and Nutrition Break. Connections Lounge Sponsored by Planet
10:00 – 11:00
Panel 1
Title: Local Lessons Learned: The Bow Valley Region's Participation in the 2025 G7 Leaders Summit
Speaker: Caitlin Miller, MPS, Town of Canmore & Bow Valley Interagency Wildfire Committee and Katherine Severson, Town of Banff
CS 1
Title: Building Resilience Before the Storm: Strengthening Indigenous Preparedness and Recovery
Speaker: Michael Higgins, Colliers Project Leaders
CS 2
Title: When the Emergency is Digital
Speaker: Ryan Bernier and Karthik Tamarapalli, H&R Block Canada
Exhibitors open
11:00 – 11:10
Coffee and Nutrition Break
11:10 – 12:10
CS 3
Title: Tools for Public Safety Resilience and Leadership
Speaker: Dave Brand, P.Eng. CPC ELI-MP, Apex Approach Professional Coaching and Red Deer County
CS 4
Title: When Every Hour Counts: How Manitoba Stood Up MB Ready Overnight
Speaker: Brenda Dhillon, Genvis
CS 5
Title: The Resilience Continuum: Enterprise Risk Management at the Core: Shaping Continuity and IT Disaster Recovery Through Strategic Governance
Speaker: Sheri Raines, ROMA Solutions
Exhibitors open
12:10 – 13:15
Lunch Buffet & Networking Sponsored by Insurance Bureau of Canada
13:15 – 14:15
Panel 2
Title: Local Innovation in Action: A Conversation on Community-Centered Emergency Management
Speaker: Scott Cameron, EML and Clint Sime, Stettler REMA and Mark Pickford, City of St. Albert EMA
CS 6
Title: Expect the Unexpected: Why A Tested Technology Recovery Plan is Non-Negotiable
Speaker: Jack Bailey and Thomas Culbertson, 11:11 Systems with Barry Moore, Trace Associates Inc.
CS 7
Title: The Resilience Continuum: Business Continuity as the Connector: Aligning Enterprise Risk with IT Resilience
Speaker: Tara Tobler, MBA, CBCP, PMP, CIA, Tobler Consulting and Loida Sinclair
Exhibitors open
14:15 – 14:25
Coffee and Nutrition Break
14:25 – 15:25
CS 8
Title: Eyes On Earth: Leveraging Satellite Imagery for Disaster Risk Management and Response
Speaker: Dr. Cassidy Rankine, Planet Canada
CS 9
Title: Fractured Thinking: How Stress Disrupts Decision Making in High Stakes Environments
Speaker: Jason Curry, Calgary Fire Department
CS 10
Title: The Resilience Continuum: Delivering the Recovery: Protecting the Digital Core of the Business
Speaker: Mauricio Ortiz, Westjet
Exhibitors open
15:25 – 15:35
Coffee and Nutrition Break
15:35 – 16:35
Panel 3
Title: Harnessing AI for Resilience: Practical Applications and Future Challenges
Speaker: Facilitated by Mike Hoff, TransLink, featuring Vasie Papadopoulos, KLEO L.L.C.
CS 11
Title: Minutes to Meltdown: An Interactive Ransomware Attack Scenario
Speaker: Jaymee Porter, CommVault
CS 12
Title: CPKC Emergency Communications Systems
Speaker: Jon Gardiner, CPKC and Dan Zent, Dynamis Inc.
Exhibitors open
16:45 – 18:30
FREE TIME: CPKC Response Trailer and Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief Unit outside for viewing | Free time to explore or hike | Enjoy the Nordic Spa
18:30 – 22:00
Dinner & Pub Night @ Woody's Pub Sponsored by CPKC
20:00 – 22:00
Fire Side & Smores Outside
Meals
Keynotes
Workshops
Sessions
Break - Network
Time
Main Plenary
Olympic Ballroom
Concurrent Session
Dawson/Palliser Room
Concurrent Session
Sinclair Room
Exhibitors/Registration
Conference Centre Foyer
07:30 – 09:00
Conference Centre Foyer: Breakfast Buffet & Check-In Exhibitors Open. Thank you Disaster Gold Sponsor DRI Canada
08:30 – 08:45
Opening Remarks & Welcome on Main Stage Sponsored by Colliers Project Leaders
Exhibitors open
08:45 – 09:45
Panel 4
Title: Wildfire Mitigation in the Bow Valley
Speaker: Featuring Representatives of the Bow Valley Interagency Wildfire Panel
CS 13
Title: Fortifying the Future: The Essential Role of Cyber Vaults in Data Protection
Speaker: Chris O’Connor
CS 14
Title: Closing the Barn Door - Solidifying BCP and DR After A Disaster
Speaker: Mike Hoff, TransLink
Exhibitors open
09:45 – 10:00
Coffee and Nutrition Break
10:00 – 11:00
CS 15
Title: Powering Safety: How Public Safety Power Shutoffs are Transforming Wildfire Risk Management
Speaker: Brian Kelly, AltaLink
CS 16
Title: Collaborative Intelligence for Safe Communities
Speaker: A speaker for the Government of Alberta in the Public Safety and Emergency Services Ministry
CS 17
Title: Bearspaw South Feeder Main Break: An Unprecedented Response to an Unprecedented Event
Speaker: Dan Pearson, City of Calgary
Exhibitors open
11:00 – 11:10
Coffee and Nutrition Break
11:10 – 12:10
Closing Conference Panel
Title: Leading Through Uncertainty
Speaker: Facilitated by Peter May, Trace Associates Inc. Featuring Josh Bowen, Team Rubicon Canada
12:00 – 13:30
Lunch Buffet & Networking
13:00
Closing Conference Remarks
Meals
Keynotes
Workshops
Sessions
Break - Network
Where Backcountry Beauty & Luxury Meet. Get swept away from the busyness of your everyday life as you relax, rejuvenate, and refresh in the picturesque Kananaskis Valley. A 1-hour drive from Calgary’s city limits you’ll find a completely modern getaway nestled amidst the pines where luxury and mountain living blends seamlessly.
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