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Schedule of Events

SYMPOSIUM2026 PROGRAM Download 

Monday, October 26, 2026

Breakfast, lunch, breaks, and reception to be held in Conference Centre 1-3 (2nd floor).
Sessions to be held in the Markham Ballroom (1st floor).

7:30—8:30 am Breakfast with exhibitors

8:30—9:00 am Official Welcome

  • Amy Gangl, President & Chair of the Board – ORFA
  • Sarah Ane, Interim CEO – Parks and Recreation Ontario

9:00—9:30 am Keynote: Ontario Emergency Preparedness & Response – Activating Support

  • The Honourable Jill Dunlop, Minister of Emergency Preparedness & Response
  • Beth Gooding, Director of Ontario Corps, Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response

9:30—10:00 am  Types of Emergencies that have Shaped the Recreation Facility Industry

  • Terry Piche, Director Training, Research & Development – Ontario Recreation Facilities Association

10:00—10:30 am Break with exhibitors

10:30—11:15 am Emergency Management in Canada

  • Patricia Martel, Ontario Office and Special Projects – Napier Emergency Consulting

11:15—Noon Ontario’s Municipal Government Priorities: Facilities Infrastructure in Context

  • Dershil Shah, Senior Advisor, Policy – Association of Municipalities Ontario

Noon—1:00 pm Lunch with exhibitors

1:00—2:00 pm Health & Safety in Emergencies – Keep Workers Healthy & Safe

  • Jeff Pajot, Health & Safety Consultant – Public Services Health and Safety Association

2:00—2:30 pm Break with exhibitors

2:30—3:15 pm A History of Recreational Emergency Preparedness

  • Terry Piche, Director Training, Research & Development – Ontario Recreation Facilities Association

3:15—4:30 pm Designing & Retrofitting Community Facilities for Emergency Response

  • Marin Katov, Principal – Architecture49
  • Mike Greer, Blood Sweat and Wheels/Rick Hansen Foundation

4:30—6:00 pm Reception/social with exhibitors

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Breakfast, lunch, breaks, and all sessions to be held in Markham Ballroom (1st floor).

7:30—8:30 am Breakfast

8:30—9:30 am Covid-19: Post Pandemic Learnings in Public Health

  • Peter Heywood and Jordan Shorey, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors – Ontario

9:30—10:15 am Case Study: 2025 Ice Storm Community Response

  • Jodi Denoble, Director Emergency & Risk Management – City of Peterborough

10:15—10:30 am Break

10:30—11:15 am Emergency Planning for Refrigeration and Aquatics Facilities

  • Bruce Clarke, Power Plant Inspector – Technical Standards & Safety Authority
  • Bernie Mayer, Manager of Environmental Health at Lakelands Public Health

11:15—Noon Mental Health Support in the Workplace

  • Pierrick Gacinya, Bilingual Trainer/Facilitator – Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario
  • Barbara Matzner, Trainer/Facilitator (Mental Health Works) – Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario

Noon—1:00 pm Lunch

1:00—1:45 pm Demystifying Crisis Communications: Planning to Communicate Effectively

  • Brian Lambie, President – Redbrick Communications

1:45—2:15 pm Crowd Safety in Community Events Shawn Devine, Executive Director – OPTIC

2:15—2:30 pm Break

2:30—3:30 pm Digital Risks: AI and Cybersecurity

  • Frank Fazio, Founder – CySAT Security

3:30—4:30 pm Post Recovery: Insurance, Litigation, Consolation

  • Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Specialist – Intact Public Entities
  • Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilience – Intact Centre on Climate Adaption

SYMPOSIUM2026 Sponsored by:

       
GOLD SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR


 
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