The BC Climate Resilience Summit (BCCRS) 2026 was a two-day interactive event that brought together researchers/scientists, planners/policymakers, community leaders, industry professionals, First Nations partners, and innovators of all varieties to advance climate and disaster resilience in British Columbia. Held on March 2–3, 2026 at UBC Robson Square, the Summit built on the Understanding Risk BC Symposiums and BCCRS 2025, continuing over nine years of collaborative work to strengthen shared understanding of natural hazard and disaster risks in service of advancing low-carbon resilience.

 

Across two days of panels, facilitated dialogues, workshops, demonstrations, and fireside conversations, attendees explored how BC can accelerate practical, inclusive, and scalable climate resilience solutions.

 

Why This Summit Stands Out

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• Highly Interactive: Designed for dialogue—not monologue—with real-time input tools and opportunities for facilitated Q&A, networking, and cross-sector problem-solving.

• Locally Grounded, Broadly Relevant: Focused on Southwest BC while offering insights applicable across the bioregion, across Canada, and globally.

• Cross-Sector by Design: Bridging research, policy, community, and industry perspectives to generate shared understandings, build trust, and spark innovation.

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Session Highlights are as follows (slides attached): 

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* The DCRRA... and Beyond!: Moderated by Tamsin Mills (Pinna Sustainability) 

• Dominique Sigg (Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness)

• Kris Holm (BGC)

• David Hewson (KPMG)

• Tamsin Lyle (Ebbwater Consulting)

• Twyla Kowwalcyk (Associated Engineering)

 

* AI and Climate Risk: Innovation, Liability, or Leap of Faith?: Moderated by Deborah Harford (ACT, Simon Fraser University)

• ​Richard Carter (BGC Engineering)

• David Slade (Engineers and Geoscientists BC)

 

*Fireside Chat: When Do We Press the Big Red Button on Climate Damages?: Moderated by George Benson (The Zero Emissions Innovation

Centre) 

• Matt Price (Executive Director, Investors for Paris Compliance)

 

*Hazard in Focus: Earthquakes: Moderated by Micah Hilt (City of Vancouver)  

• Carlos Molina Hutt (University of British Columbia)

• Monrit Gill (City of Vancouver  & The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute—British Columbia Chapter)

 

*Vital Connections & Resilient Homes: Strengthening our Built Environment in Support of Community Resilience: Moderated by Ian Mauro (Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions) 

• Tamara Mosqueda (Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction)

• Craig Dedels (Vancouver Coastal Health)

• Dylan Clark (Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions) 

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*Introduction to CityStudio & Musical Improvisation 

• Pablo Zacarías (CityStudio)

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*Hazard in Focus: Floods: Moderated by Sahar Safaie (Arcadis)  

• Roni Deitz (Arcadis)

• Deborah Carlson (West Coast Environmental Law & Lower Fraser Floodplains Coalition)

• Jessica Wilson (DHI)

• Sara Hyland (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)

• Andrew Giles (River Forecast Centre and Flood Safety, Ministry of Water Land and Resource Stewardship)

• Julie Van De Valk (Public Safety Canada)

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*Trouble in the Headwaters: Film Preview & Fireside Chat: Moderated by Daniel J. Pierce (Ramshackle Pictures) 

• Dr. Younes Alila (University of British Columbia)

• Carie-Anne Hancock (BGC Engineering)

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*Hazard in Focus: Wildfire: Moderated by Kelsey Copes-Gerbitz (Wildfire Resiliency Consortium of Canada)  

• Jessica Shoubridge (Thrive Consulting)

• Melanie Stutt (Emergency Services Coordinator, Simpcw First Nation)

• Nick Soverel (Frontera Forest Solutions)

• Marc Apduhan (Flash Forest)

• James Whitehead (Simon Fraser University, Mitigating Wildfire Initiative) 

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*Keeping Canada Insurable: Moderated by Don Iveson (The Co-operators) 

• Franziska Niegemann (BC Financial Services Authority)

• Alison Ashcroft (Municipal Finance Authority of BC)

• David Leibl (Wawanesa Insurance)

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*Innovation Showcase 

• CanAdapt: A Fast Track for Canada's Climate Practitioners, with Stephanie Gagnon & Rik Logtenberg (Climate Risk Institute)

• The Nootka Sound Salmon and Watershed Assessment Tool: A Platform for Climate-resilient Salmon and Watershed Action with David Teran & Morgan Hocking (Trinity Consultants)

• Building Operational Readiness and Decision-support for Interior Health with Jamie Blackley (Licker Geospatial Consulting Co.)

• Mapping Biodiversity and (Im-)perviousness of Vancouver's Core with Dr. Christine Thuring (Green Roof Infrastructure Network of BC)

• Empowered Voices Project with Sherry Da (BC Native Women's Association Lead—Keepers of the Circle)

• Climate Data for Contaminated Sites: A User-Tailored Application with Eva Gnegy (Canadian Centre for Climate Services)

• Who Gets the Power? Using Systems Thinking to Govern AI for Climate Resilience with Amir Albadvi (Urban Resilience and Sustainability Alliance, University Canada West)

• Who’s Your City: Using Climate Analogues to Explore Flood Risk in 2050 with HaiLin Wang (Simon Fraser University)

• User-Informed Future Fire Weather Projections: An Interactive Tool with Carrington Pomeroy (Canadian Centre for Climate Services)