Monday, June 3 | 7 pm
“Ashes to Action: Learning to Live with Wildfire” Keynote Panel – 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) | Free community event
Location: Kelowna Community Theatre, 1375 Water St, Kelowna, BC
Welcome: Wilfred (Grouse) Barnes, Syilx Elder and member of Westbank First Nation
Opening Remarks: Lesley Cormack (Deputy Vice Chancellor and Principal, UBC Okanagan)
Panel: Dr. Lori Daniels (UBC Vancouver), Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (UBC Okanagan), Joe Gilchrist (Salish Fire Keepers Society), Dr. Paul Hessburg (US Forest Service); Jason Brolund (West Kelowna Fire Chief)
Moderator: Chris Walker (CBC)
Sponsored by Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions
Tuesday, June 4 | 9 am – 7 pm
UBC Okanagan
Location: Room 201 of The Commons, 3297 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
9:00 am
Welcome: Wilfred (Grouse) Barnes, Syilx Elder and member of Westbank First Nation
Introduction: Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (UBC Okanagan) and Mr. Jordan Coble (Councillor, Westbank First Nation)
9:30 am
Panel 1: Impacts of wildfire on water, carbon, forests and wildlife
Panelists: Mr. Jason Hwang (Pacific Salmon Foundation), Dr. Marc-André Parisien (Canadian Forest Service), Dr. Kira Hoffman (UBC-Vancouver and Bulkley Valley Research Centre), Dr. Adam Ford (UBC Okanagan)
Moderator: Dr. Jill Harvey (Thompson Rivers University)
11:00 am
Panel 2: Impacts of wildfire on human health, Indigenous culture, homeowners and economics
Panelists: Dr. Sarah Henderson (BC Centre for Disease Control), Ms. Angela Kane (Secwepemcul’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society), Mr. Robert Gray (R.W. Gray Consulting Ltd.), Mr. Don Iveson (Co-operators)
Moderator: Mr. Kevin Scott (RESOLVE Canada)
12:30 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:30 pm
Invited Guest Speakers: Transitioning from megafires to wildfire coexistence
Mr. Byron Spinks (Council Member, Lytton First Nation), Dr. Paul Hessburg (US Forest Service)
3:00 pm
Panel 3: Transformative solutions for all of society
Panelists: Dr. Lori Daniels (UBC Vancouver), Mr. Dave Pascal (First Nations Emergency Services Society), Ms. Stephanie Ewen (UBC Alex Fraser Research Forest), Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson (Indigenous Leadership Initiative)
Moderator: Ms. Yolanda Clayworthy (Simon Fraser University)
5:00 pm
Happy hour
Join us to meet and chat with the speakers
Wednesday, June 5 | 9 am – 5 pm
UBC Okanagan
Location: Room 201 of The Commons, 3297 University Way, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7
9:00 am
Welcome Back and Lessons Learned and Emerging Themes from Tuesday
Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (UBC-Okanagan) and Mr. Bob Gray (R.W. Gray Consulting Ltd.) and Renee Merrifield (MLA, Kelowna Mission Constituency)
9:30 am
Premier’s Expert Task Force on Emergencies – Q&A with members of the task force
Mr. Rob Schweitzer and Mr. Anthony Pesklevits (BC Wildfire Service) and Ms. Tanya Spooner (Prince George Emergency Programs)
Learn more about the: Goals and Recommendations of the Task Force
11:00 am
Solutions to Coexist with Wildfire in BC
Panelists: Dr. Lori Daniels (UBC-Vancouver), Mr. Robert Phillips (First Nations Summit), Mr. Jesse Zeman (BC Wildlife Federation), Mr. Kevin Scott (RESOLVE Canada), Mr. Jordan Coble (Westbank First Nation)
Moderator: Chris Walker (CBC)
12:15 pm
Closing Remarks
Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais (UBC-Okanagan)
12:30 pm
Optional field trip (lunch provided)
Visit the forests impacted by the Macdougall Creek fire to witness the effects of extreme wildfire and the benefits of treatments to reduce forest fuels near homes and neighbourhoods.
Special guests: Jason Brolund (West Kelowna Fire Chief) and Coulter Roberts (Ntityix Development Corp., Westbank First Nation)