As the recent issue of Plan Canada exclaimed 'long term climactic planning no longer works'. While climate change may be a novel challenge in some respects, strategies to assess and manage natural hazard risk have been around for decades. Climate change is providing the impetus to apply these tools in earnest, especially in the Lower Mainland, an area exposed to sea level rise and coastal storms, earthquake hazards, and riverine flooding. 

How might we enhance the transitions between science, policy and action to ensure the resilience of our communities in an era of rapid change? How might we apply land use planning and infrastructure approaches to ensure our communities will not only survive natural hazard events but thrive despite them? 

Please join the PIBC South Coast Chapter as we welcome natural hazard experts in a panel discussion about how we use science to inform planning for resilient communities. 

Martin Zaleski, Senior Engineering Geologist, BGC Engineering

Martin brings his expert knowledge of earthquake hazards to bare in conducting natural hazard risk analyses for municipalities in the Lower Mainland. He will describe the earthquake hazard in British Columbia and his recent work to transform hazard science into loss estimates for Victoria, BC.

 

Jessica Shoubridge, Planner and Principal, Thrive Consulting

Jessica's work focuses on enhancing the transition of hazard science into policy that builds community resilience. Her recent work includes acting as the Planner and Project Lead for the City of Vancouver's Earthquake Preparedness Strategy. Jessica will talk about some existing and potential policy responses to natural hazard risks in the Lower Mainland.

 

Fiona Dercole, Manager, Public Safety, District of North Vancouver

Fiona has managed the District’s Natural Hazards Management Program since 2007. The program has focused on risk assessment and mitigation, and providing greater public access to hazard and risk information. The program uses both likelihood and consequence of natural hazard events such as landslides, debris flows, wildland-urban interface fires, severe storms, flooding, and earthquakes to inform planning and development decision making. Fiona will discuss the hazard specific development permit areas that were adopted as part of the OCP in 2011 as well as other current initiatives to manage natural hazards in the District.



Jason Owen, District Energy Manager, City of Surrey

Jason is a Civil engineer and Planner responsible for district energy planning and implementation in Surrey. He will outline how community energy planning will support the resilience of communities as they seek to transition to a low-carbon economy and cope with increasing natural hazard events.

Don’t miss this great opportunity to reconnect and network with other planners in the Lower mainland!

This event qualifies for 1.5 structured CPL learning units.