Disaster Response and Emergency Management

The Canadian Institute (CI), part of the C5 Group of Companies, organizes the 2nd National Symposium on Disaster Response and Emergency Management as part of its Indigenous Affairs Series.

The symposium brings together emergency management practitioners, Indigenous leaders, public-sector decision-makers and industry specialists to strengthen disaster preparedness, response, recovery and climate resilience. The 2027 program focuses on British Columbia’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA), Indigenous partnerships, interagency coordination, evacuations, and practical lessons from major disasters.

The conference takes place February 9–10, 2027, at the Coast Capri Hotel, 1171 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, British Columbia. A pre-conference workshop on emergency preparedness for First Nations communities is scheduled for the morning of February 9.

The symposium is designed for emergency management directors and coordinators, First Nations Chiefs and emergency management leaders, disaster risk reduction officers, fire and protective services leaders, infrastructure and utility resilience professionals, and government officials. It is also relevant to emergency support services personnel, health and environmental risk officers, insurance and risk managers, consultants, researchers, and emergency management technology providers.

The conference spans public safety and emergency services, Indigenous governance, municipal and regional government, infrastructure and utilities, insurance, environmental and climate resilience consulting, health and community support, academia, and emergency management technology.

The 2027 agenda covers EDMA implementation, Indigenous-led preparedness, wildfire response, rural firefighting, evacuation and re-entry procedures, emergency communications, AI and GIS technologies, and multijurisdictional coordination. Sessions also address flood risk and nature-based solutions, after-action reviews, care for displaced people, resilient rebuilding, and catastrophic-loss insurance.

Attendees will explore practical approaches to emergency planning and EDMA requirements, partnership-building with First Nations, and coordination across agencies and jurisdictions. Case studies and panels examine how to improve evacuation support, apply technology to situational awareness, translate after-action findings into operational improvements, and strengthen community resilience.

Faculty include emergency program managers, Indigenous engagement and preparedness specialists, fire chiefs, emergency support services leaders, government policy analysts, communications professionals, and resilience consultants. The program combines frontline operational experience, public-sector policy perspectives, and private-sector expertise.

The 2027 faculty includes professionals from the City of Merritt, Central Okanagan Emergency Management, Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations’ Emergency Services Society, City of Kelowna, and FORTLOG Services Inc. Named participants include conference co-chairs Charlene Joe and Alesi Zito-LaRose, as well as Michael Nugent, Chantelle Linklater, Wendi Omeasoo, and Sean Coubrough.

The program includes a networking breakfast, networking luncheon, and scheduled refreshment breaks for conversations with peers and faculty. Panels, case studies, and the innovation technology showcase also create opportunities to connect across Indigenous communities, government, emergency services, and solution providers.

Yes. Groups from the same organization registering together receive a 10% conference discount for 4–8 attendees or 15% for 9–12 attendees. For groups larger than 12, call 1-877-927-7936; discounts apply to conference fees, not workshops or add-ons.

For the most up-to-date information on delegate substitutions and cancellations for Canadian Institute events, please review the Delegate Substitutions and Cancellation policy here.

A limited room block is available at the Coast Capri Hotel, 1171 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC, at a negotiated delegate rate. Contact the hotel directly and quote “5427589”; the room-block cut-off is January 11, 2027, and availability and rates are not guaranteed after the deadline or once the block fills.

The two-day conference can be applied toward 8 substantive Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours for Law Society of Ontario requirements, with an additional 3 substantive hours for the pre-conference workshop. The program also provides guidance for legal continuing education in British Columbia, Québec, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. CME accreditation is not specified.