1:15–2:30pm: Keynote 3

Living the I AM in an I HAVE Culture: Advancing from CharactOR to CharactER, Being the Leader People trust through Critical Moments
John R. Robertson, Workforce Wellness & Culture Alignment Specialist and founder of FORTLOG Services Inc.

How often have we heard that people in leadership question why they wanted to be a leader? The pressures, demands, consequences, and dealing with shifting expectations, the leader can lose who they are, and what matters, through these critical moments. Discover how authentic leaders navigate crises, build trust, engage teams, and foster resilience to inspire others amid challenges. when the foundation is set, even critics cannot dispute the credibility, it’s the type of authority that position and title cannot provide. Leveraging 25+ years of helping and guiding leadership transform critical moments [crisis, change, and/or growth], and his second bestseller book, this keynote defines the leadership character that can lead your team people follow through these challenging times, building trust, and respect with one another and with those outside the organization.

2:30–3:00pm

Exhibitor Break

3:00pm–4:00pm: Breakout Sessions C

Boost Your Battery: Reframing Resilience: Run Toward the Roar — Stay Charged, Lead Well, and Finish Well
John R. Robertson, FORTLOG Services Inc.

In high-stakes professions you’re trained to be ready — always. But constant readiness can come at a cost. Too often, resilience becomes code for “just keep going,” even when you’re running on empty. This interactive, hands-on session goes beyond the buzzwords to help you plan beyond just resilience in real time. Using relatable sports metaphors and the personal battery framework, this session is designed to help you recognize what drains your energy, what recharges it, and how to lead from a place of strength — not survival. At the heart of the breakout is your personalized VERI PLAN©, plus a VERI practical tool based on Values, Encouragement, Responsibility and Initiative.

C2: Strengthening Accessibility in Emergency Management and Risk Communication Systems
Michelle Yang McLean; Mariya Somyk; Jeffrey Jutai

A growing number of disasters experienced in Canada places increasing demand on emergency management systems, who are under more pressure than ever to communicate information about how to prepare for an emergency and what actions to take during it. Many have reported that risk communications through channels such as emergency alerts, news media, social media, safety notifications, and public health websites- are often not accessible to persons with disabilities, making them more vulnerable to disasters. This is concerning, as persons with disabilities make up 27% of the Canadian population, and 43% of the aging population has a chronic illness that results in a disability. This session will introduce a new Disability-Inclusive Risk Communication Framework developed by researchers at the University of Ottawa as a tool for emergency managers to better manage risks before and during disasters. The Framework provides practical strategies across key areas: accessibility by design, multi-modal communication channels, culturally and linguistically appropriate messaging, and training and capacity development. The strategies are built around three guiding ideas: Content; Construction; Culture. The Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Communication Framework supports the Accessible Canada Act (ACA) and its principle of “Nothing without us”. It offers practical guidance for making emergency communication more inclusive and effective for everyone in Canada.

C3: A Stronger Together: The Power of Recreation in Emergencies
Laine Wilson; Emily George

When emergencies strike, whether they are floods, wildfires, pandemics, or community crises, recreation may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Yet recreation programs, facilities, and practitioners often become essential support for communities during and after emergencies. Recreation spaces are where people find shelter, information, and connection. Equally important, recreation practitioners bring extensive networks across local organizations, service providers, and volunteers, allowing them to mobilize
resources and respond quickly when communities are under stress. In this session,
we will explore the practical role recreation plays in emergency response and recovery. Drawing on Manitoba-based experiences and national perspectives, they will highlight how recreation professionals and organizations have supported communities through disruption, by leveraging their networks, adapting facilities as emergency hubs, and fostering mental health and resilience through play and connection. Participants will leave with concrete ideas on how to better integrate recreation into emergency planning, ensuring it is recognized not only as a quality-of-life service, but as a critical component of community resilience.

C4: Southern Chief’s Organization Panel on 2025 Wildfires
Geoff Reimer, SCO; Jennifer Parkman, SCO

The 2025 Wildfire Season affected many Indigenous Communities and caused record breaking evacuations from Northern Manitoba. The citizens were housed in Winnipeg and surrounding communities and moved repeatedly throughout the province. This panel discussion will discuss problems that arose, how the Indigenous Service Organizations worked with Leadership to bridge the gap between the Provincial response and the need of their Nations and people.