W1: Manitoba’s Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) & the Mitigation and Preparedness Program (MPP)

Robert Belton, Recovery & Mitigation Specialist, Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization

Stephanie Woltman, A/Manager of Mitigation, Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization

Disasters are a growing threat to the safety and economic viability of Manitoba communities as events become more common and increase in intensity, including this past year, which marked the second wettest spring in recorded history in Manitoba and the wettest spring in a century. This presentation will explore how Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization’s (EMO) DFA program supports communities with recovering from an event. The presentation will also provide an update on the federal Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) review and the connections between DFA and the evolving insurance landscape. Manitoba EMO will also present on the MPP, which is an innovative initiative, offered to municipalities to build local resiliency against natural disasters, extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change.

W2: Leadership in an Emergency Event – Know Your Role Before it Happens

Cheryl Christian, former Mayor of Rural Municipality of West St. Paul

Shelley Napier, Napier Emergency Consulting

As elected officials, it is critical that you understand your role during an emergency. The direction and tone for the emergency response will be set by leadership and government of each municipality and First Nation. What is expected of you? How do you work with the Emergency Coordinator and the Incident Commander and their teams? What is expected of the Chief Administrative Officer, and how do you all work together to help coordinate the response effort during the emergency event?

W3: The Relief within Grief: Why Grief Centred, Trauma Sensitive Approaches are Critical in the Aftermath of Disasters

Serena Lewis, a master’s level social worker & consultant, Colchester County, Nova Scotia

In one sentence, ‘Grief and Resilience live together,’ written by Michelle Obama, we recognize a need for progressive change. Grief is at the centre of all disaster management; be it homes, community identity, jobs, structures, as well as lives. We recognize that within disaster management, our leadership roles are always relational. Yet for many, we are uncomfortable in our grief literacy and trauma sensitivity. When death, and other losses, are sudden and unexpected, support systems are thrust into a grief trajectory in an abrupt way. The swallowed cries of mourners become deafening- as we consider bereaved families, workplaces, communities – and front-line workers who can be impacted by cumulative loss and moral distress. Imposing language of resiliency oftentimes further silences mourners, and front line workers. While seeking the growth and positive glimmers, we diminish and avoid the deep levels of pain.

This workshop will:
• Support a deeper understanding of grief and trauma being core to leadership
• Expand upon grief literacy, trauma sensitivity- strengthening our responses to others
• Explore a macro-meso and micro level approach to integrating grief into all aspects of our disaster management approach
• Recognize that grief and trauma informed practices are pro-active mental health actions
• Summarize the importance of self-compassion in this process.

W4: Key Elements You Need to Set Up a Reception Centre

Gabriel Peters, Provincial Manager of Emergency Management in Manitoba and Nunavut for the Canadian Red Cross

Michelle Ford, Senior Advisor of operational readiness and planning for Manitoba and Nunavut with the Canadian Red Cross

Ellie Cansfield, Canadian Red Cross volunteer Support to Evacuation and Repatriation Team

Emergencies often require evacuations. This presentation will share Canadian Red Cross expertise on the foundations, considerations, and requirements for operating reception centres. This includes sections on selection, set-up, layouts, material requirements, human requirements, tasks, communications, and functional areas such as registration and supply management desks. This presentation will provide context for the tabletop exercise.

This scenario-based table-top discussion will help you develop common understanding, apply knowledge and skills, validate plans and procedures, and clarify roles and responsibilities. Learn from a structured series of questions to guide the discussion and group analysis. This will include a breakout session. Group discussions will focus on a specific hazards or incident scenarios to explore dilemmas within the larger context of reception centres.