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IAEM-Canada Council News

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Canada Council News

IAEM-Canada is hosting the IAEM Canada Resilience Think Tank, a free symposium that brings together emergency management professionals to connect, collaborate, and discuss topics critical to building resiliency and preparedness.

Event Details
Date: Friday, February 21, 2025
Time: 8:30 AM
Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront, 1 Johnson Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 5H

This event will feature a series of insightful speakers and interactive discussions on various aspects of emergency management. It’s a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from your peers, and strengthen the bonds within our community of professionals dedicated to resilience.

Whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned practitioner, this symposium offers something for everyone. Together, we can explore innovative approaches to enhance preparedness and adaptability in the face of evolving challenges.

Registration

IAEM Canada Registration

  • Ontario Disaster & Emergency Management Conference
    The annual Ontario Disaster & Emergency Management Conference (DEMCON) embraces Ontario’s emergency management community where all can gather to share and learn from their experiences.

    With two full days of networking, you have the opportunity to build important new relationships with peers and organizations strengthening your overall emergency management plans

    Curated by the Planning Committee, DEMCON features senior emergency managers from across North America telling their disaster management stories. With an emphasis on the practical, DEMCON provides a variety of session types including stellar keynote presentations, dynamic panels, in-depth workshops, and interactive round table discussions that focus on lessons learned, new initiatives and best practices on topics such as:
     
    • Disaster Response & Recovery
    • Community Resilience
    • Climate Change
  • Canada Council Seeks Member Input in Preparation for Strategic (9/8/22) – The IAEM-Canada Council is preparing for its Strategic Planning meeting that will be held in October. IAEM-Canada members may provide input by taking this survey.
  • EM Profiles: A Conversation with Anthony Moore, Emergency Response Services Manager, Nisga'a Lisims Government, by Vanessa Howard, Emergency Management Representative, Calian (June 10, 2020). Visit the collection of EM articles written by IAEM-Canada members here.
  • IAEM-Canada Webinar on Pandemic Risk Communication and Business Continuity Planning
    If you missed the Mar. 19 IAEM-Canada Webinar on Pandemic Risk Communication and Business Planning, the webinar recording is available for IAEM members here.
  • Nation-wide Test of the Canada Emergency Public Alerting System (06 May 2019) On May 8, 2019, there will be a nation-wide test of the Canada emergency public alerting system through radio, television, and other mediums. Compatible smartphone users connected to an LTE network should also receive the test message. View or download Key Messaging for Issuing Test Alert - May 8, 2019, which includes the key message and specific times for your area. NOTE: Ontario and Quebec provinces have postponed their test due to flooding, but all other provinces will test on May 8, 2019.
  • IAEM-Canada is now accepting nominations for its 2019 IAEM-Canada Awards Competition (20 Mar 2019). There are four IAEM-Canada (Canada only) award categories: Career Excellence; Community Preparedness; EM Volunteer; and Merit Award. Complete details, as well as nomination forms, are available on the IAEM-Canada Awards Competition web page. Deadline for nominations is May 1, 2019. Please direct any questions to IAEMCanadaMembership@Outlook.com. 
  • Don't miss the free download of the March 2019 IAEM Bulletin issue on mentors (20 Mar 2019) The members-only IAEM Bulletin special focus issue honoring mentors has been published, and it is available to the public. The March issue on “Honor the Past, The People We Remember,” has been selected as IAEM’s current “sample issue” and is downloadable from the IAEM Bulletin web page. If you are not a member of IAEM, this issue will let you know what you’re missing. IAEM also wanted to further honor mentors by sharing the articles about them with a broader audience of emergency management professionals. Please share this issue with others. The IAEM Editorial Work Group will consider articles about the person who made the most difference in your EM career in future issues of the IAEM Bulletin. Contact Karen Thompson, editor, with any questions at Thompson@iaem.com.
  • Call for nominations released for IAEM-Canada Atlantic Region officers election (18 Mar 2019) A call for nominations was distributed via email on Mar. 18, 2019, to IAEM-Canada Atlantic Region members regarding the upcoming regional officers election. The call for nominations can be downloaded here. Atlantic Region voting members will be electing a president, vice president, and secretary to two-year terms. All candidates should email the required documentation to IAEM-Canada Past President Rebecca Wade, CEM, at rebeccalwade74@gmail.com, no later than 23:59 ADT Monday, Apr. 1, 2019.
  • IAEM Canada Has Released a Statement Regarding the Formation of its Newest Region, IAEM-Ontario (25 Jan 2019) By partnering with provincial, federal and global entities through IAEM and IAEM Canada, the Ontario Region will bring a strong and respected voice to the profession while fostering improvement in the professional standards for our great nation. We appreciate the overwhelming support to move forward with the IAEM Canada Ontario Region and look forward to working with the new Ontario Region Board in the very near future. Read the statement here.
  • Two Winners Named for the 2018 IAEM-Canada Merit Award (06 Nov 2018)
    • Dave Colvin, 2018 IAEM-Canada Merit Award Winner
      Dave Colvin was inspired to enter the field of emergency management when, as a young man, a natural gas-line explosion in his neighborhood prompted the evacuation of more than 1,200 people. This event ignited his desire for involvement in volunteer opportunities with amateur radio, air search-and-rescue, and training in federal emergency preparedness. After nearly 20 years as the emergency response and preparedness coordinator at Western University in London, Ontario (ON), and another decade as the manager of emergency management for the city of London, Dave now serves as the emergency management coordinator for the County of Perth, headquartered in the office of Paramedic Services in Stratford, ON. In this role, Dave looks after the emergency management coordination for the county as well as four neighboring municipalities. He was recently awarded the IAEM-Canada Merit Award.

      Dave was recognized for the work he has done with the adoption and implementation of the Municipal 511 system in Perth County. This is a map-based information-sharing platform which allows users to log in from any device at home or office to track information such as weather, radar, road conditions, and Google Traffic. This affordable program is available to municipal staff and emergency response organizations and is capable of layering specific information pertinent to the operations of the user, including crowd-sourced information in accidents, local hazards, and response resources. For emergency responders, Responder 511 can track information such as the locations of command posts and staging areas, or evacuation and reception centers. Notwithstanding his more than 30 years of dedication to the emergency management field, making him well deserving of the award, he was specifically recognized by this award for his dedication to the work he has done to increase interoperability and overall response capabilities in Perth County. – Interview and article by Carey Thiesse
    • Nicolas Chebroux, CEM, 2018 IAEM-Canada Merit Award Winner
      Nicolas Chebroux had his first glimpse of the field of emergency management as a child spending his summers on the beaches in the southwest of France. Thoroughly impressed by the water rescue and helicopter rescue efforts, he realized that he had a heart for people in difficult situations and that it would be an interesting career to help people in emergencies. He chose to become a lifeguard, and little by little became more involved in emergency response initiatives, finally deciding to specialize in emergency management in university. After completing his master’s degree in 1999 2001 in France and working in the EM field there, he came to Quebec in 2003 and worked with various organizations, both public and private, for many years.

      Today, based in Calgary, Nicolas has served as an emergency management specialist for the Government of Canada with the National Energy Board for the past two-and-a-half years. He also has been deeply involved in volunteer efforts with the International Red Cross in France, and domestically with the Canadian Red Cross. However, it was his efforts in coordinating the federal humanitarian response for refugees at the Quebec border last year that got him recognized for the IAEM-Canada Merit Award. He was sent by the National Energy Board on behalf of Public Safety Canada the Canadian Red Cross to the Quebec border to implement, for the first time, a federal coordinated response at the field level international response – that included the CBSA, the Canadian Forces, the Red Cross, other companies, and provincial partners – to welcome refugees to Canada. As a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) with IAEM, Nicolas feels the honour of the award is shared with all of the people who first trusted him to do the work and with all who were involved in the project. – Interview and article by Carey Thiessen  

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    EM Weekly's Podcast Featured IAEM-Canada's President (14 June 2018) Episode 65 of Weekly's podcast was focused on emergency management in Canada. Greg Solecki, CEM, IAEM-Canada President, discussed some of the differences, challenges, and similarities faced by Canadian emergency managers. Listen to the podcast here. 

     

     

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    • First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership Shares Recommendations for Emergency Managers (30 Oct 2018) The First Nations Wildfire Evacuation Partnership brings together researchers at the University of Alberta and Canadian Forest Service; seven First Nations in Alberta (Dene Tha’ First Nation and Whitefish Lake First Nation), Saskatchewan (Lac La Ronge Indian Band (Stanley Mission) and Onion Lake Cree Nation), and Ontario (Deer Lake First Nation, Sandy Lake First Nation, and Mishkeegogamang Ojibway Nation); and agencies that carry out or provide support during wildfire evacuations. The research team, together with research assistants, interviewed more than 200 residents to learn about First Nation peoples’ wildfire evacuation experiences and identify ways to reduce negative impacts of evacuations. They found that all participating First Nations carried out their evacuations effectively in difficult circumstances. There are many examples of adaptive resilience, where decisions made during the evacuation helped to minimize negative impacts. However, not all evacuation experiences were positive, and there were still negative mental and physical health impacts on evacuees. The linked article and infographic summarize the recommendations for emergency managers, from participants and our research team.
    • IAEM-Canada to Hold 2019 Annual Conference in Calgary (17 July 2018) IAEM-Canada will hold its 2019 Annual Conference on June 4-7, 2019, in Alberta, Calgary. Save the date! Details about the 2019 conference will be posted here as they become available.
    • IAEM-Canada Issues Call for Interest in IAEM-Canada Membership Director Position
      (09 June 2018) Anyone interested please provide a short bio and photo to 
      canadapresident@iaem.com, by Friday, July 27, 2018. The IAEM-Canada Board will
      appoint the successful candidate. Download complete details here.
       
    • IAEM-Canada Seeks Feedback by Friday, June 15th on Inaugural Conference (14 June 2018) IAEM-Canada’s premier Leadership and Innovation in Emergency Management Conference was held in Calgary, June 5-8, 2018. Conference attendees experienced global, expert keynote speakers who inspired their audiences with current, real-life events, their challenges and lessons learned, and attendees left with new EM tools to take back to their organizations. Attendees networked in breaks and during workshops with other colleagues who share their understanding of the diverse challenges EM and industry professionals in Canada face every day. If you attended the conference, please let the organizers know what you thought about the inaugural IAEM Canada conference by completing a short survey. The deadline for survey responses is Friday, June 15, 2018.
  • Let us know what you think about the value, benefits and opportunities for improvement at IAEM-Canada. IAEM-Canada wants to serve our members and the overall emergency management community better, so take five minutes to complete the survey by Nov. 1, 2018, and get a chance to win your annual membership fees. #IAEMCANSUR2018
     
    • Have you read ICS Outside the Norm, by IAEM Canada’s, own IAEM Canada Holly Tobin, Vice President, IAEM-Canada Atlantic Region? The article is available here. (24 Sept 2018)
       
    • Save the Date for IAEM Canada’s Annual Conference June 2019 in Calgary (24 Sept 2018) This annual event is designed for Canadian emergency management and industry professionals like you. IAEM Canada will be hosting our second conference back in Calgary, June 4-7, 2019. Join us for this premier, national conference at the top of the beautiful Bow Building in downtown Calgary.
       
    • Registration is Open for the 2019 CatIQ Connect, Canada’s Catastrophe Conference (24 July 2018) The 2019 CatIQ Connect (formerly known as C4), Canada’s Catastrophe Conference, will take place on Feb. 4-6, 2019, at the Metro Toronto Convention Center, Toronto, Ontario. Registration is now open, and you can save $100 by registering by Oct. 31, 2018. CatIQ Connect is a content-driven discussion to foster collaboration before, during and after catastrophic events. This conference provides a content driven overview of catastrophes, discusses strategies in catastrophe management and explores sector perspectives. Overall themes are on preparedness and resiliency, available tools, and impacted stakeholder and policy makers working together for the greater good of all Canadians. Keynote speakers will include: Henk Ovink, special envoy for international water affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Ed Struzik, writer, photographer and author of Firestorm: How Wildfire Will Shape Our Future; and Howard Kunreuther, co-director of the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center, University of Pennsylvania, and author of The Ostrich Paradox: Why We Underprepare for Disasters. Complete details and registration are online at the event site. IAEM-Canada is a community partner of CatIQ Connect.
  • An Interview with Michel C. Doré, PhD, CEM, CGU, President, National Emergency Medical System Transformation Committee, by Holly McInroy, CBCP, CEM, CRM, IAEM-Canada Communications & Marketing Team. (11 Oct 2019).Visit the collection of EM articles written by IAEM-Canada members here.
     
    • The IAEM-Canada Collection of EM Articles has been moved to its own web page here. (10 Oct 2019) The collection now includes 11 articles. This includes interviews with Canada emergency managers, as well as IAEM Bulletin articles written by IAEM-Canada members. 
       
    • An Interview with Shane Schreiber, Managing Director, Alberta Emergency Management Agency, by Holly McInroy, IAEM-Canada Communications & Marketing Team (10 Aug 2019). Visit the collection of EM articles written by IAEM members on the IAEM-Canada Resources page.
       
    • An Interview with Ron Andrews, Emergency Management from a Business Continuity Perspective, by Holly McInroy, IAEM-Canada Communications & Marketing Team (13 July 2019). Visit the collection of EM articles written by IAEM members on the IAEM-Canada Resources page.
       
    • An Interview with Lili Brylowski Nestor, Emergency and Disaster Management from a Health Science Perspective, Holly McInroy, IAEM-Canada Communications & Marketing Team (13 June 2019). Read other articles in the recently created collection of EM articles created by IAEM members on the IAEM-Canada Resources page.
       
    • Public Safety Canada Launches Emergency Management Exemplary Service Awards (13 June 2019) In December 2017, the Federal, Provincial, and Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management launched the Emergency Management Exemplary Service Award (EMESA). The award is a prestigious recognition for exceptional service and achievement across Canada to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters. This award, a partnership between provincial, territorial and federal governments, recognizes recipients who have achieved excellence in their respective fields. Awards are granted in five categories: Resilient Communities, Search and Rescue Volunteers, Search and Rescue Employees, Youth, and Outstanding Contribution to Emergency Management. In May, 2018, at the inaugural award ceremony in Ottawa, we were honored to present successful recipients with their prestigious award. Last year’s award recipients span every province and territory and represent a variety of professions in the emergency management community: from emergency management professionals and volunteers across all levels of government to leaders from Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations, youth, academia, and associations. Public Safety Canada is accepting federal nominations for all categories, and Search and Rescue nominations for all jurisdictions, for the 2019 Awards. The deadline for nominations is August 30, 2019. For more information about the Award and where to access nominations forms, please visit the Public Safety Canada website. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jean-Philippe Chénier (jean-philippe.chénier@canada.ca, 613. 998.7245) or Mary-Ann Mattioli (mary-ann.mattioli@canada.ca, 613.991-3643).
       
  • IAEM-Canada Communications & Marketing Team Creates New Collection of EM Articles (17 May 2019) The IAEM-Canada Communications & Marketing Team have begun a new project to collect and post emergency management articles by IAEM members. The first three articles have been posted, and you can download them on the IAEM-Canada Resources page or at the links below: