Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 16:30

Wed, November 21, 2018 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM Okanagan Centre for Innovation. Fire and Flood: Climate Change & Extreme Weather in the Okanagan

Fire, smoke, flood, drought are becoming a new reality in the Central Okanagan and across the entire Northern Hemisphere. Our emergency response systems are being tested like never before with wildfires, flooding and drought increasing in frequency and intensity.

Join experts from our community, the Province of B.C., and UBC Okanagan for a compelling conversation about the accelerated disruption our community is facing and what is needed to restore balance in B.C. and create a more sustainable future.

Date: Wednesday, November 21, from 4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Location: Innovation Centre (Theatre), 460 Doyle Avenue

Keynote Speaker: Ray Crampton, District Manager, Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District, Province of B.C.
Topic: “Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia” (independent review of the 2017 flood/wildfire seasons and the Government's Action Plan: Responding to Wildfire and Flood Risks)

Expert Panel:

1. David Scott, Assoc. Prof., UBC Okanagan (Effect of Wildfires on Soils)

2. Mathieu Bourbonnais, Asst. Prof., UBC Okanagan (LiDAR data/spatial analysis/remote sensing for fire/flood response; former forest firefighter)

3. Leif Burge, Adjunct Prof., UBC Okanagan; Senior Associate, Fluvial Geomorphlogy, Stantec (Flood Response)

4. Denise Neilsen, Recently Retired Research Scientist, Summerland Research and Development Centre (Climate Change Modelling Expert); Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) Water Stewardship Council Chair

5. Ray Crampton, District Manager, Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District, Province of B.C.; Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) Water Stewardship Council Member