Day 2
8:00 - 8:30 am
Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 9:15 am
Ministry of Natural Resources - Scott Elliot
What Coordinated Response Should Include: Perspectives from a guy who’s been there
What is Coordinated Response? When is Unified Command the best way to go? How do we delineate responsibilities between the ICP and the EOC? What is inside the tape and outside the tape? How do we support 24 hour operational cycles? And how do we do it for a week? Or 2? Or more?
We can all read the reports from major WUI reviews, and we likely have. Often, discussions, agreements, plans and training sessions focussed on coordinated response during wildland urban interface scenarios focus on short-term, operational integration. However, the reality is that we also need to be prepared for long-term, fully integrated, coordinated actions involving all aspects of multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional incident management and emergency operations center operations.
With an eye to the future. this presentation will draw from first-hand experiences, some of them integrated into those reports, some of them not. Some of the responses were fully successful, others were less successful but led to the development of some best practices that have continued to be refined and utilized in several major WUI emergencies through western Canada in the last several years.
Speaker Bio
Scott Elliott has been involved in wildfire management for over 30 years in increasingly senior roles, including Type 1 Operations Section Chief and Type 1 Incident Commander. In those roles, he actioned several high-impact, multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional fires, requiring coordination of air and ground resources from many different wildfire and municipal fire department agencies. Notably, he was Operations Section Chief in the 2016 Horse River Fire in Fort McMurray AB, an Incident Commander in Unified Command on the 2017 Kenow Fire in Waterton National Park, and Incident Commander for 2 tours on the 2019 Chuckegg Creek Fire around High Level AB that impacted multiple municipalities and Indigenous Communities.
He was also part of the multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team in Alberta that developed the initial Alberta Wildland Urban Interface Guidelines in 2017/18, along with several municipal Fire Chiefs, staff, Alberta Emergency Management Agency and Alberta Wildfire. He is currently the Provincial Fire Operations and Response Coordinator with Ministry of Natural Resources, Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he is responsible for various response programs, including the Ministry Emergency Operations Center, Incident Management Teams, operational functions standards and operational strategic planning coordination. In February 2024 he was part of a small Canadian team of operational subject matter experts sent to Chile to provide an operational assessment and recommendations report after a devastating wildland urban interface fires impacted over 14000 homes and killed 131 people.
9:15 -10:15 am
Air Ontario Flight 1363 - Alec Simpson
Lessons Learned - Dryden Air Crash
This presentation will be a reflection on the importance of established plans and procedures, the requirement to test those procedures, and to ensure that there is continual improvement. The response to the Air Ontario Aircraft Crash on March 10, 1989, by the community of Dryden, is an excellent example on how both a community and responsible mutual aid agencies came together in a time of crisis. Lessons learned from a night exercise on November 1, 1988 to test the revised Dryden Airport Emergency Plan, those of associated mutual aid agencies, and the implementation of required updates, assisted in the overall response to the accident. This included the emphasis on command, control, coordination and communication. The presentation will also provide some of the findings from the investigation into the accident, the Moshansky Commision of Inquiry, and the safety changes to the aviation industry, which were a result of the lessons learned from this tragedy.
Speaker Bio
Alec was born in Thunder Bay, has lived across Northern Ontario, and is very proud of his Northern roots. In 1985 Alec joined Transport Canada in Ottawa with varying positions in airport planning, safety, security, and emergency planning. As Senior Emergency Planner, he was responsible for overseeing the national airport emergency planning program. These included the development of plans and procedures for responses to air crashes, terroism, and other emergencies affecting the safe operations at airports. He monitored 12 exercises annually across Canada, including the air crash exercise at Dryden Airport in 1988. He would later return 4 months later as a representative at the fatal air crash at Dryden Airport on March 10, 1989. He completed his career as the Senior Director Environmental Management for the department, which included the development of aircraft de-icing procedures, and environmental management plans at airport facilities. During his career, Alec worked domestically and internationally, and mentored many employees in management excellence, leadership and career development. As a consultant, he has worked in airport operations and environment with the International Civil Aviation Organization over the past 6 years.
10:15 - 10:30 am
Break
10:30 - 11:15 am
Niagra Region - Patricia Martel, PhD
Vulnerable Persons Planning and Considerations
Speaker Bio
Dr. Patricia Martel has more than 17 years of experience in emergency management. This includes working with provincial and regional governments, municipalities and Indigenous communities. Patricia completed a PhD focused on operational emergency planning for vulnerable populations to learn how to better transform theory and practice into effective solutions. Patricia has developed recognized best practices for hazard identification and risk assessment, emergency planning for vulnerable groups and public education. This includes the 2012 Provincial HIRA, which was internationally acclaimed for features including pro-active assessment of changes in vulnerability and frequency risk due to factors such as climate change.
11:15 - Noon
Two Breakout Sessions:
FireSmart - Dale Smyk
FireSmart Program
FireSmart is a national program directed at lessening the threat of wildfires to communities. Ontario, along with other provinces, has had an active program for several years. Given the recent wildfire related losses that have been suffered by many communities, there is renewed and increasing interest in the program. The presentation will address the goals of the program and the steps that communities can take to make them more fire safe.
The prerequisite for a FireSmart program is the development of a FireSmart plan for the community. The Ministry of Natural Resources provides funding for a plan which can be developed by the community or an outside consultant. The presentation will focus on the planning process, using examples from plans that have been written for First Nations and towns in Northwestern Ontario.
Speaker Bio
Mr. Smyk graduated from Lakehead University in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics. In 1975, he entered the Masters in Environmental Studies program at York University in Toronto. Early in his career, he was employed in forest fire management with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Later, he worked 5 years as an environmental consultant for TransCanada PipeLines. He joined Emergency Management Ontario in 2002 and provided emergency preparedness and response services to municipalities and First Nations in the northwestern part of the province. Dale retired in January 2011.
In 2017, his company contracted to write FireSmart plans for First Nations and municipalities. To date, its team has worked on 40 First Nations and 10 municipality FireSmart plans in Northern Ontario. Dale continues to be involved in emergency management through consulting and presentations to communities and groups.
Ontario Provincial Police
Session Bio - TBD
Speaker Bios -
Detective Staff Sergeant Dan Dusto is currently a Unit Commander and Major Case Manager within the OPP’s Financial Crimes Services. D/S/Sgt. Dusto’s portfolio includes oversight of the Economic Crime and Corruption Unit, CAFC Coordination and Community Support Team, and the OPP Cyber-Enabled Fraud Team. He also manages the highly complex criminal investigations undertaken by both the OPP Anti-Rackets Branch and Ontario Serious Fraud Office.
Detective Sergeant Lynn Danis is currently the team leader for the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center’s Coordination and Community Support Team. D/Sgt. Danis’ work with the CAFC has contributed to the development of a national response to financial crime through awareness, prevention, disruption, and intelligence initiatives. Since 2023 D/Sgt. Danis has also played a critical role in leading the creation and development of the OPP’s nationally recognized Cyber-Enabled Fraud Team.
Noon - 1:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 - 2:00 pm
West Kelowna Fire Chief - Jason Brolund (Virtual)
2020 McDougall Creek Wildfire
Join West Kelowna Fire Rescue Fire Chief Jason Brolund for a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the 2023 McDougall Creek Wildfire. In August of 2023, West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation was devastated by a fast-moving wildfire, fueled by high winds and extreme drought conditions. At the height of the fire over 35,000 were evacuated and 30,000 on evacuation alert across the region. Sadly, 190 homes were lost however there was no loss of life. Emergency responders came from around the province and across the globe to help. The event attracted international media attention. Chief Brolund will share the story of the massive emergency response, the communities’ resilience and what to expect after a major emergency incident turns the world around you upside down.
Speaker Bio -
Jason serves as the Fire Chief for the growing community of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nations. Jason led hundreds of firefighters through the devastating McDougall Creek Wildfire in the summer of 2023, evacuating over 25,000 residents and saving thousands of homes from destruction. Previously, Jason served as Deputy Fire Chief with the Kelowna Fire Department. Jason has been involved in emergency services for the past 28 years. He was directly involved in the emergency management component of major wildfires and floods in British Columbia and as a Venue Fire Commander during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Jason holds a Bachelor degree in Technology with a specialization in Emergency Management. He has been awarded the British Columbia Provincial Fire Services Long Service Medal and the Canadian Fire Services Exemplary Services Medal. In 2022, Jason was named West Kelowna Citizen of the Year. Jason is passionate about protecting communities from Wildfire and serves on the board of the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia.
2:00 - 3:00 pm
Preparedness Labs Incorporated - Jeff Donaldson, PhD
Role of Social Capital in Community Resilience
Whole of society means inclusion of all four spheres: civil (residents), public (government agencies), private (corporations) and not for profit (community groups and national organizations). Research demonstrates that communities with strong social capital, including trust and norms of reciprocity, have better post event outcomes. Social capital is fostered, maintained and lost through intentional relationships across the spheres. A key component for success and our goal is the operationalization of theoretical concepts, the process by which the practitioner translates the ideas into executable steps. Northern Ontario has both unique challenges and opportunities to leverage social networks to build capacity and capability across the four pillars of emergency management, with notable untapped potential.
Speaker Bio -
A veteran, author, and professor specializing in preparedness communications, readiness analytics and community resilience. As the Principal Researcher at Preparedness Labs Incorporated, he provides education on adopting a prepared life for individuals, families and communities through books, online courses and 1-1 mentorship. Jeff lectures in the Disaster and Emergency Management program at Royal Roads University, where he posits the foundations of preparedness are personal responsibility, attitude, relationships and strategic thinking. He serves on the Board of Directors for the International Social Capital Association and local organizations.
Jeff is an avid backcountry paddler and host of Canada’s #2 podcast on emergency preparedness, Inside My Canoehead.
3:00 - 3:15 pm
Break
3:15 - 4:00 pm
Two Breakout Sessions:
Shuniah Fire & Emergency Services Fire Chief - Blair Arthur
Technology for Emergency Operations Centres
Blair will be delivering a presentation in which he defines an emergency operations centre, the challenges that come with EOC’s, and the technology that can be adopted to overcome those challenges.
Enbridge - Evan Friesen & Bill Taylor
Emergency Preparedness & Response Planning
Speaker Bios - TBD
4:00 - 5:00 pm
Mental Health - Steve Fraser
Building Resilient Communities
Building resilient communities is complex. Building resilience in any organization is a task that all members must be dedicated to, and in achieving resiliency, we allow for healthy teams that can offer community support through integration of trauma informed care. Knowing the impacts of language, attitudes and having a knowledge of community resources are among a host of other value added services. Understanding what resilience truly means and how to achieve this, is the first step in creating a healthy community.
Speaker Bio -
Steve Fraser is a co-author of Resilient Minds, an approved instructor for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, and a certified Field Traumatologist. Steve has over 28 years of experience in the fire service and recently retired from Vancouver Fire Rescue Services. During his career, Steve was the coordinator of the VFRS CISM/Peer support team, managing a peer support team of over 45 firefighters and eventually transitioned into a full time position as Captain of Mental Health and Wellness. During his time in the fire service, Steve partnered with the CMHA to create, and deliver the Resilient Minds program. Today this is a national program being offered in every province and territory in Canada. In addition to his work with CMHA developing and delivering mental wellness education, he is actively involved with nationwide research groups. Collaborating with the University of Regina, University of PEI, Western, McMaster, Dalhousie and Firewell, a health and wellness community for firefighters. Steve is the recipient of numerous awards, both provincially and nationally for his work with first responders. Through lived experiences he brings a unique, empathetic approach to the culture and issues first responders face.
5:00 - 6:30 pm
Networking