The World Bank identifies five dimensions of social capital – trust, social cohesion and inclusion, groups and networks, collective action and cooperation, and information and communications. This session will explore the five dimensions of social capital as they relate to the United Nations Sendai Framework and the “whole of society” approach contained within. Too often, local emergency management organizations are being supported by people in positions related to emergency management, and therefore form only part of their overall responsibilities. With limited resources and capacity, preparedness takes a back seat to response and recovery planning as priorities. Generating the community capacity and resilience possible by assuming a “whole of society” approach therefore falls off the corner of the desk. The knowledge, skills, and resources needed to adopt and implement a “whole of society” approach therefore needs to be built. Through a series of examples, this presentation will use the five dimensions of social capital as a framework to better understand the significance of this approach and how it can immediately shift community capacity and resilience – for the better. We will present a novel roadmap, a series of operationalized processes to implement a “whole of society” approach, scalable to all levels of governance. Through engaging the corporate, public, civil and non-profit sectors of society, this model will create the system for increasing preparedness across society and contribute to increased climate resiliency. It will lower the burden on the public sector, limiting demands for increased resource allocation.

Resident communication and outreach are fundamental aspects of floodplain management. If done successfully, they can have cascading positive effects. Providing the community with actionable flood risk information can empower them to take individual action to mitigate and adapt, resulting in fewer compliance issues over time. More-informed residents can also mean a safer community overall, with open lines of communication helping to strengthen government trust. While effective communication is crucial, making it a priority can be difficult in communities where floodplain managers have competing important tasks and not enough time. It has also become increasingly complex with map changes and shifts in insurance. Compounding this is the need for clarity and specificity – with more and more residents seeking detailed information about individual properties. It can be hard to provide nuanced data to a large public and even harder to keep track of that communication for internal recordkeeping, relationship building, and programs like the CRS. Using the case study of Forerunner’s work with a partner community in Tennessee, this session will outline how the community combines technology with robust outreach strategies to boost resident communication. We’ll discuss how software like Forerunner can help communities pull together disparate datasets and mobilize information for property-specific outreach to provide smarter resources to a variety of community stakeholders. We’ll explore how using digital workflows for outreach can ensure faster response time to resident requests, better compliance enforcement, and stronger data continuity. The presentation will also include suggestions on how other communities might be able to leverage data to strengthen their floodplain management programs.

The City of Calgary is facing increasing risks from climate change, such as extreme weather events, flooding, drought, wildfire, and heat waves. These hazards pose challenges for The City's infrastructure, economy, environment, and social well-being. The City of Calgary has adopted a multi-faceted approach to climate adaptation that integrates data, knowledge sharing, planning, and policy. This approach will be explored with the following initiatives: the Climate Ready Home Program, the Community Climate Risk Index and the Climate Risk Assessment Framework.

The Community Climate Risk Index is a tool that measures and maps the relative exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of Calgary communities to climate hazards. The index uses environmental, infrastructure, and socio-economic indicator data to assess the potential impacts of climate change in different communities. The index, especially when used in conjunction with The City’s Urban Heat Map, helps to identify the most vulnerable communities and prioritize areas for adaptation action. The Climate Ready Home Program is a public facing program that informs Calgarians about actions they can take to improve resilience to climate hazards. Included as part of the program is the Climate Ready Home Guide which informs homeowners of climate adaptive measures that could be implemented during a renovation or construction project, or to regular home maintenance to build resilience at home. The Climate Risk Assessment Framework guides The City of Calgary in assessing and managing climate risks across its infrastructure, operations, and services. The framework follows a four-step process: identify climate hazards and scenarios, assess climate risks and opportunities, evaluate adaptation options and strategies, and implement and monitor adaptation actions. The framework helps to integrate climate considerations into planning, design, and decision-making processes and enhance the resilience of The City's assets. By sharing the lessons learned and best practices from these initiatives, this presentation will contribute to the knowledge exchange and collaboration among the CEPCA participants on the ways in which Calgary is building climate resilience.

Community and social resiliency are fundamentally linked to how closely connected we are to those around us and our access to social supports. Stress and social isolation have a profound impact on us individually and collectively, significantly impairing our ability to connect with each other or prepare for and bounce back from an emergency. Few environments can be as stressful or dynamic as disaster response, with emergency management teams responsible for managing tactical resources while providing for critical social needs. We have all experienced or witnessed a situation when toxic or insufficient leadership handicapped the performance of the entire team, whether in daily activity or in times of stress activation. How do emergency managers transition from a traditional response-based command and control system to a leadership and team management approach that promotes authenticity and compassion throughout all four (4) phases of the emergency management continuum? How do we gain awareness of our own perceptions, biases, and filters so that we can identify our emotional reactions and make informed decisions? This presentation will dive into the depths of emotional intelligence through different levels of energy we all exhibit as human leaders and how our thoughts in each level impact our reactions, behaviors, and ultimately our individual and team performance. Participants will increase their awareness of how our individual and collective perceptions inform our leadership styles and will learn practical ways to identify, support, train, and be an authentic and effective leader. Ultimately, increasing our ability to motivate ourselves and others allows us to create social networks and support systems that foster resilience in the emergency management organization and the community we serve.

Session Summary: Learn how data-rich aerial imagery captured by drones is being used by emergency preparedness teams to reduce the impact of natural disasters, and is also helping emergency response teams make critical decisions in real-time.

About Spexi: Spexi delivers standardized data-rich Earth imagery that traditional methods such as fixed-wing aircraft and satellites cannot deliver. Spexi’s global network of drone pilots capture highly detailed data that governments, private enterprises, and technology companies rely on to make better decisions and fuel next generation AI-powered applications.

Abstract Overview

 Our world is experiencing drastically changing weather and these severe episodes of flooding and fires are disrupting our traditional communication links such as Fiber, Cell or Microwave. Our presentation will discuss Rapid Response Communication for First Responders, First Nations, and Governments as well as businesses. We now have the technology to connect these departments and governments with Internet, Data and Voice Services even in the most remote areas.

3 key developments

It is really the new Low Earth Orbiting satellite technology that provides Fiber in the Sky networks which is the game changer. In the past, satellite services were expensive, hard to install and offered high latency and low speed links connections. Today we have hundreds of Mbps speeds and low latency services such as OneWeb that allow all the new applications to operate the same as if you were on fiber.

The next big technology advancement are the small flat panel antennas from Intellian. These now are easy to set up, easy to transport and are more cost effective. The new small lightweight mobility terminals can now operate while in motion or on-the-halt. This allows EMS, Police, Fire, First Nations and government as well as private companies to have comms everywhere they go and while they are driving or as a quick deploy without having to maneuver any equipment.

The third major development is Private 5G. Nokia has developed an affordable and scalable way for Police and municipalities to deploy their own private 5G network to support emergency services every day and especially when their regular comms go offline due to a disaster. 5G from Nokia is like Wi-Fi on steroids, it can connect thousands of devices with incredible speeds and reliability.

CEPCA is key to drawing awareness to the increasing Emergency events and igniting action and innovation from industries to adopt and develop solutions that will protect and help manage these crises.

In the realm of disaster response and recovery, the efficiency, scalability, and rapid deployability of utility systems are of paramount importance. Traditional Relocatable Temporary Camps (RTCs), employed by the Canadian Armed Forces in both domestic and international operations, face challenges in minimizing logistics, reducing environmental impact, and optimizing overall efficiency due to the lack of integration among different utility systems. Addressing sustainment challenges requires a better approach, including combining newer technologies in novel ways. The Circular City project consortium led by Innocorps Research was announced the winner of the Department of National Defence Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security’s (IDEaS) Pop Up City Contest in November 2023. Circular City holistically integrated energy, water, and waste systems together to simultaneously meet the utility needs of a camp without changing end-user behaviour and minimize resupply. This pioneering circular approach effectively addresses the inefficiencies of existing RTCs, leading to reduced logistical costs, a smaller environmental footprint, and enhanced safety for personnel during operations. A major highlight of Circular City was the demonstration and validation of key technologies at scale, setting a new benchmark for rapidly deployable off-grid integrated utility systems. This included a global first at CFB Suffield in August 2023 – the deployment of a mobile direct potable reuse system that safely recycled wastewater back to purified potable water, meeting Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. This presentation will delve into the project’s innovative circular approach, emphasizing the seamless integration and modularity of four critical subsystems: a microgrid that synergizes renewable energy sources with diesel generation, a blackwater treatment system for sanitation reuse, the world-first mobile direct potable reuse system for efficient wastewater recycling, and a waste-to-energy gasification solution to reduce solid waste and provide waste heat. Novel heat integration among these subsystems will be discussed that led to further significant reductions in resource usage and establish new standards in off-grid utility systems. Key project outcomes at CFB Suffield include attaining up to 95% recovery rates in high recovery reverse osmosis systems using batch reverse osmosis in a wastewater recycling application, reducing solid waste by up to ten-fold through waste-to-energy gasification, and deploying a hybrid microgrid that can significantly reduce diesel fuel dependency. These achievements underscore the immense potential of circular integrated systems in enhancing operational efficiency, sustainment, and minimize environmental footprint in temporary camps during disaster scenarios. The presentation will also cover six key insights into the circular design philosophy and first-principles approach process, revealing opportunities for application beyond disaster response and recovery, particularly in the development of climate-resilient infrastructure.

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) have entered into a unique partnership to strengthen research, education, training, and innovation programs for wildfire agencies, partner organizations and communities throughout British Columbia, Canada, and internationally.

This initiative, known as TRU Wildfire, brings together two public sector entities to capitalize on the operational and innovation expertise of BCWS and the educational and research strengths of TRU. By integrating research, education, training, and innovation the initiative will establish an ecosystem that encourages the flow of knowledge from lab to practice and practice to lab to ensure that research and innovation are adapted to the changing nature of wildfire resulting from climate change. We will lead the way in training and education, with the partnership providing a foundation to build timely and relevant training and education informed by current and relevant research. The result is career-spanning, research-informed and climate-adapted education and training programs that develop the next generation of wildfire management professionals.

TRU’s Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency (IWSAR) is a driver for wildfire research and is led by world-renowned wildfire researcher Dr. Mike Flannigan. The Wildfire Institute unites researchers from across disciplines to work and collaborate on projects related to wildfire science, Indigenous fire stewardship, social and community resilience and health and wellness. The goal is to develop innovative solutions by embedding technological enablers such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and virtual reality into the ecosystem.

TRU Wildfire aims to be a national centre for wildfire research, education, training and innovation – an ecosystem that unites students, practitioners, knowledge keepers, instructors and researchers to explore new ideas and develop solutions. Together we will recognize wildfire studies as an academic discipline and create an environment to propel wildfire response in the future.

From coordinated harassment campaigns (e.g. spamouflage, Oct 2023) to information interference (e.g. Meta’s new block in Canada, Mid-2023), information incidents are increasing in speed, magnitude and complexity. A holistic approach is needed to detect, understand and manage the evolving threat landscape and improve resilience of the broader information ecosystem. This presentation will describe the Project on Information Ecosystem Resilience (PIER) from the Media Ecosystem Observatory (McGill University) an innovative research project that aims to support civil society organizations, government, media, public and private institutions to prevent and mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from information incidents, as well as improve information ecosystem resilience.

This project has four main goals: 1. Provide baseline understanding of the information ecosystem conceptualizing information flows, influence, sources and effects of mis/disinformation and interference, and anomalies as it relates to media, public perception and the political discourse 2. Monitor and identify information incidents as they occur, provide ongoing updates as an incident evolves, and characterize ripple effects to inform future planning and lessons learned, and 3. Improve information ecosystem resilience through (mis)information literacy public education programming. 4. PIER is predicated on the vision of research as a service, i.e. transforming the research process so that it can be delivered faster, be easily digestible and grounded in the operational needs of individuals and organizations faced with the information threats.

This work is conducted through a ground-breaking research approach that mixes ongoing public survey (tracking survey) with digital trace efforts that analyzes the information ecosystem through across-platform monitoring and analysis of the top 1% most influential social media accounts in our ecosystem. Qualitative research is also used to supplement some of our findings with interview data and evolve the theoretical landscape of information incident management.

The presentation will describe the current information ecosystem landscape, define and contextualize current and emerging information incidents (e.g. ranging from mis/disinformation to interference to broader), identify challenges operating in this landscape and emerging threats for various actors within the ecosystem. The PIER project will be introduced as an initiative that aims to help build a more resilient information ecosystem by explaining its purpose, how it operates, what it delivers and how it aims to improve. Discussion will identify and explore research experiences and findings associated with setting up the program, theoretical concepts around the emerging field in information incident management, and reflect on challenges and lessons learned from providing research as a service in this space.

The hope is that this presentation will help attendees better conceptualize the information ecosystem threat landscape and how it interacts with their work, how to approach information incidents, and opportunities for working with researchers for support but also collaboration around information ecosystem resilience.

This presentation is a case study of working with equity-deserving groups in Calgary, Alberta. Equity-deserving groups are unequally impacted by disasters. They often have higher levels of social vulnerability and face barriers that inhibit their ability to prepare for an emergency. When an emergency happens, with fewer resources to fall back on, equity-deserving groups disproportionately access Emergency Social Services (ESS). This is true for Calgary evacuees as well as evacuees from other jurisdictions arriving in Calgary. The needs of evacuees are increasingly complex. This complexity is compounded by evacuees who arrive in Calgary from other jurisdictions as they are unfamiliar with supports in the city. This increase in response complexity has necessitated a reset of the Calgary ESS program that includes a focus on increasing the capacity of ESS members to support equity-deserving community members. The CEMA Emergency Social Services program is made up of 130 City of Calgary employees from all areas of the Corporation who, in addition to their regular role, step forward to support those affected by a disaster. ESS members need to have increased awareness to work with high-need individuals within equity-deserving groups in fast-paced stressful situations. The CEMA ESS program is working with community partners serving equity-deserving groups to co-create a new training program for ESS members. The training program will build on community partners existing training materials but will be tailored to give ESS members the skills to support vulnerable folks from equity-deserving groups in an emergency. The work being done by ESS is informed by the research and outreach conducted by the CEMA community preparedness team over the past two years. The Community Preparedness team’s work has focused on increasing the capacity of equity-deserving groups in Calgary to prepare for emergencies by reducing barriers to accessing tools, resources, training, programs, and supports. CEMA has focused on newcomers, people with disabilities, older adults, Racialized community members and Indigenous community members. Engagement has included a community-wide survey to gauge preparedness, face to face community conversations to co-create tools and resources and an ongoing commitment to work with equity-deserving groups in community events and ongoing outreach. CEMA is committed to building more resilient communities by engaging with equity-deserving groups to get them better prepared and we are training our ESS members so that when we need to support equity-deserving groups, we are tied into community partner networks to better meet their needs.

The County of AlUla, Saudi Arabia, which is approximately 25,000km2 (3.5x Greater Toronto Area) is on an ambitious mission to create a global destination for cultural and environmental preservation, centred around the existing UNESCO World Heritage Site at Hegra (circa 100 B.C.-100 A.D.). In doing so, AlUla is intending to increase its average daily population from 32,000 in 2010 to 150,000 in 2035, which brings forth the need for rapid and significant infrastructure investment to meet future demands. To facilitate intended growth, prompt and effective flood management and planning advice is crucial to safeguard heritage and archaeological sites, existing communities, and ecosystems. This presentation shall outline the collaborative efforts and masterplanning life-cycle flood regulatory services provided by AECOM to develop a comprehensive flood management and planning framework to enable the projected growth of AlUla and the facilitation of sustainable tourism. This project, now in its 4th year, emphasizes early and regular engagement with a variety of infrastructure consultants, provision of periodically updated flood maps of the region and bespoke regulatory advice centred around the preservation and restoration of wadis, promoting the use of green infrastructure and enhancement of the natural and built environment. To demonstrate the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia, urban populations have grown from 0.65m (1950) to 24.8m (2015) and is on course to reach 35.8m (2050). An example of historical urban planning complexity is Jeddah (Population: 0.4m [1971], 3.5m [2010]), which has experienced significant and frequent flood events, notably the biggest occurring in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The statistics released demonstrate how hundreds of lives were lost and thousands of buildings destroyed, all with legal development permits. Retrofitting solutions within an area that has grown and developed this rapidly has left Jeddah and other major cities facing significant future climate related risks. AlUla is taking a leadership position in urban masterplanning and flood risk resilience to integrate global best practices at the earliest possible stage. Insights gained from the AECOM-Royal Commission of AlUla collaboration offer valuable lessons for other regions such as Canada, where wide-scale flood mapping is not publicly available, to inform development and masterplanning, instilling flood awareness at comparable municipal and provincial scales. The objective of this project is to ensure that resilience and sustainability remain at the heart of AlUla for generations to come. As such, the aim of this conference presentation will be to discuss the project's challenges, solution methodology, and the significance of developing an openly shared flood risk management/masterplan strategy for the future development of AlUla. This presentation shall conclude with an overview of the transferability, benefits and disadvantages of developing such processes in Canada.

2023 has the dubious distinction of being the hottest year on record, synonymous with burning highways and firefighter sacrifice. Future climate data tells us that summer 2023 likely represents the new baseline - hot, dry days, smoky skies, and evacuation alerts. The rise of displaced people due to disasters raises questions about the suitability of spaces typically used in disaster response situations and requires new approaches to the challenge. We will explore the suitability, availability, and adaptations needed to make atypical third spaces a viable emergency housing alternative, explore opportunities for resilient infrastructure design and discuss opportunities for collaboration. Our hope is that attendees will: -Gain an understanding of how climate hazard trends like heatwaves, wildfires and floods are changing in frequency and severity and how that applies to infrastructure planning and design. -Identify novel approaches for use of atypical third space for managing response to acute shocks and understand how to implement in your practice. -Understand the various roles required to help unlock our cities for disaster relief and how to encourage collaboration amongst building professionals, commercial real estate actors and government entities. -Identify the strategies, collaborations, funding, and adaptions needed to implement these solutions.

The inclusion of Indigenous governing bodies alongside local governments is key to fostering resilience and promoting holistic solutions across all phases of emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery). This abstract explores the advantages of such collaboration in addressing the complex challenges posed by natural hazard event recovery while providing practitioners with a set of wise practices gleaned from lived experience during the British Columbia 2021 and 2023 wildfire and flood events. Engaging First Nations in local government response and recovery structures recognizes the invaluable traditional ecological knowledge and practices that have been honed over generations in managing, mitigating and recovering from the impacts of wildfires and floods. Partnering with local Indigenous governing bodies ensures that their voices, priorities and rights are respected and integrated into municipal decision-making processes. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of response and recovery strategies but also promotes trust and collaboration across governments during the mitigation and planning phases. Additionally, partnerships between First Nations and local governments can lead to the development of innovative and culturally appropriate solutions that prioritize community well-being, environmental stewardship and long-term resilience. By leveraging the strengths and resources of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous entities, emergency management initiatives can be tailored to local needs, values and aspirations, thereby enhancing their sustainability and impact. Moreover, collaboration with First Nations can help local governments navigate complex regulatory frameworks, access funding opportunities and build effective partnerships with other partners, including non-profit organizations and private sector entities. By working together, Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities can leverage their respective networks and expertise to mobilize resources, share wise practices, and coordinate efforts more effectively. This session will leave emergency management practitioners with a set of engagements practices and frameworks related to Indigenous governing body and local government collaboration across the phases of emergency management. The inclusion of First Nations alongside local governments offers a unique opportunity to leverage diverse knowledge systems, build mutual trust and respect, and co-create innovative solutions that benefit both people and the environment. By embracing a collaborative and inclusive approach, communities can build a more resilient, culturally safe, and sustainable future for all.

VEXSL is a Canadian-based, veteran-owned, and operated industry leader, specializing in providing innovative and cutting-edge secure Disasterfield Logistics solutions with a primary focus on risk mitigation and proactive emergency response through early warning alerts and smart situational awareness systems. With decades of industrial emergency response and military experience, VEXSL has found that many of the current technologies used for situational awareness, visibility, and efficient communications in the most elite units of the military during operations have a direct and valuable application in providing a universal operating system used by municipalities, businesses, agencies, and First Nations globally to tackle disasters effectively with purpose, structure, and intent. While VEXSL pioneers the adoption of the most advanced technologies in disaster response through the Disasterfield Operating System, our goal remains to ensure that the safety and security of communities, assets, and frontline personnel are upheld during all-hazard disaster events. VEXSL purposefully employs active and previously serving military veterans and first responders with a focus on supporting mental health initiatives within the communities we serve.

Extreme heat events (EHEs) pose a significant challenge, particularly for vulnerable populations who often face heightened risks and barriers to accessing resources during such events. This presentation aims to outline a community-centered approach to extreme heat planning, focusing on engaging support organizations already embedded within communities. In an era where governments are increasingly challenged to provide comprehensive emergency management services, this collaborative approach helps enhance community resilience by leveraging existing support networks and community resources. The objectives are twofold: firstly, to reach vulnerable populations that are often easily overlooked during emergencies, and secondly, to foster a collaborative network involving diverse community partners for effective preparedness and response. Methods entail leveraging existing community support networks, including government agencies, public facilities, service clubs, community associations, and grassroots organizations, to identify vulnerable areas and individuals. These partners play a critical role in being able to provide essential data, identifying needs, and developing targeted strategies to protect and support vulnerable populations. Results from this approach demonstrate a shift towards proactive community engagement, emphasizing the utilization of cool public spaces over traditional cooling centres, and the implementation of preventative practices such as neighbourhood heat patrols and heat buddy programs. These initiatives empower residents to take an active role in ensuring the health and safety of their communities during extreme heat events. Furthermore, this presentation offers novel insights by highlighting the effectiveness of engaging existing support organizations that are typically excluded from community emergency conversations. By tapping into their existing mandates or service delivery models, as well as their established relationships and trusted networks, governing bodies can facilitate the flow of information and support directly to those in need, ultimately enhancing community resilience to extreme heat and other emergencies. In conclusion, the methodology presented here will serve as a blueprint for fostering collaboration, improving information sharing, and building community resilience to extreme heat events. This approach not only addresses the immediate challenges posed by EHEs but also lays the groundwork for a more cohesive and inclusive community response to future emergencies.

Deploying secure, automated, zero-touch communication networks in emergency sites is crucial for effective response. Explore the specific challenges of setting up reliable communications in temporary locations and learn how to ensure seamless access to vital information and resources during crises. Discover strategies to utilize advanced security threat management, real-time protection, application control, and unified management to build a dependable and secure communications framework that supports the rapid deployment of emergency response teams.

At Prodigy Fire Solutions, we understand that protecting public assets is crucial not only for the safety of the structures themselves but also for the security and peace of mind of the entire community. Our state-of-the-art wildfire protection systems are designed to shield properties from the devastating effects of wildfires by creating a defensible space and preventing the ignition of structures.

Our approach is built on the principle that the more properties we protect, the safer the entire community becomes. Wildfires often spread from one structure to another, and by safeguarding critical buildings, we create a buffer that can significantly reduce the spread of fires to neighbouring properties. This collective protection strategy helps to mitigate the overall risk to the community and reinforces the importance of wildfire preparedness at all levels.

The evolution of sprinkler use from lawn sprinklers to the Elevated Sprinkler Mount System