Mark leads the ESI team in conducting risk assessments, training, program, and plan review, exercise scenario development, exercise facilitation, and evaluation as well as compiling final After Action Review documentation and recommendations. Mark has conducted over 150 corporate validation exercises and evaluations in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and India. 
Prior to founding Emergency Solutions International, Mark served the City of Saint John Fire Department as an active firefighter, Hazardous Materials/CBRN-E technician. Mark finished his 26-year career with the Fire Service in the position of Deputy Chief and Director of the Saint John Emergency Management Organization. During his tenure in the Fire Service, Mark worked for over 8 years on the Rescue Squad. The focus of this team at fires was the search and rescue of trapped civilians. He was accommodated 5 times for civilian rescues.
Mark has served as Incident Commander, Safety Officer, and Emergency Site Manager at a number of serious incidents. On several activations of the Saint John Emergency Management Organization, Mark has fulfilled the roles of Fire Services Representative and manager of the Emergency Operations Centre. From September 13-16, 2001, Mark assisted at Ground Zero in New York City. In the final year of service with the City of Saint John, he was the Director of Saint John Emergency Management Organization.
Further to the Consolidated Risk Assessments, Mark has facilitated and produced Capability Analysis/Gap Analysis within the provinces of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
Mark obtained his Bachelor of Business degree in 1998 from the University of New Brunswick and has completed the Dalhousie University, Certificate in Incident Command, the Canadian Association of Fire Chief’s “Chief Fire Officer” designation (CFO), and the British: Institute of Fire Engineer’s “Member’s Level” designation (MIFireE) award. Mark has completed tactical programs at Texas A&M University, has studied Incident Command at the U.S. National Fire Academy, and also completed the Leadership in Crisis program at Harvard University.

Jim Fleming is a distinguished professional with over 35 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety. He launched his career after earning a Bachelor of Education from the University of New Brunswick in 1984. Driven by a passion for community service, he attended the Atlantic Police Academy, where he graduated with honors, receiving the New Brunswick Chiefs of Police Award as the Top Cadet in 1986.
Jim joined the Saint John Police Force later that year and has been dedicated to public safety and crime reduction ever since. His career is marked by numerous accolades, including the Uptown Saint John President's Award for Public Service (2004), multiple acknowledgments from the NB Minister of Public Safety for Crime Prevention (2003, 2010, 2011), the NB Solicitor General Award for Innovation in Police Practices (2007), and the Francis Memorial Award for Excellence in Crime Prevention (2005).
Throughout his tenure, Jim has held various roles within the Saint John Police Force. Since 2010, he has served as the Staff Sergeant in charge of the SJPF Public Order Unit. He has also been the SJPF Emergency Tactical Commander (SWAT), managing responses to violent incidents and protecting critical infrastructure. Additionally, he played a key role in reviving and supervising the SJPF K-9 Unit, coordinating Emergency Measures (EMO) responses, and overseeing Ground Search and Rescue operations.
Jim furthered his education by earning an MSc in Police Policy and Leadership from the University of Portsmouth (UK) in 2014, graduating with Merit. His master's thesis focused on the impact of supervision and training on officer responses to violent incidents within Atlantic Canadian police services.
Jim Fleming's extensive career, deep expertise, and unwavering commitment to public safety have earned him a reputation as a highly respected and accomplished professional in security and law enforcement.

Gary Flanagan is the Diversity Education Program Coordinator at PRUDE Inc.  He has held this role since 2021.  In this position, he speaks to people of all ages about topics such as diversity, inclusion, stereotypes and much more.  He has over 20 years experience as an educator and facilitator.

Ryan began his career as a US military Cyber Warfare officer organizing and facilitating exercises all over the globe including Ulchi Focus Lens, the largest exercise in the world.  In 2013 he transitioned to the commercial sector working with banks, hospitals, and law firms as an incident responder. In 2020, Ryan joined the Motorola family and works with public safety customers to secure their critical infrastructure and prepare organizations to detect, respond, and recover quickly from cybersecurity events.

Wayne Annis retired in December 2022 after working for 33 years in public education. He is a gold seal fire instructor, first aid, an opioid poisoning instructor trainer and a medical first responder instructor as well as partner provider with St. John Ambulance. Wayne is an elected councilor with the Central York Rural Community, and currently serves as Assistant Deputy Chief of the Keswick Valley Fire Department. He is co-owner of Greenbrook Farm and enjoys diving, kayaking, and working around the farm.

Opioid Poisoning Response Training

Learning Objectives:
This training focuses on understanding the ecosystem of Opioids, Managing an Opioid Poisoning Emergency or Overdose, and Self Care for the rescuer. After completing the course, participants will have:
• A new awareness regarding the benefits of de-stigmatized language and harm reduction practices for people who use drugs
• Knowledge of the psychological and social risk factors that opioids pose to an individual and their community.
• How to effectively manage an opioid poisoning emergency and administer Nasal Naloxone
• Effective tools and approaches to manage trauma and stress

Allan Polchies Jr. is the Chief of Sitansisk (St. Mary’s) First Nation Wolastoqiyik and the first Two-Spirit Chief in Atlantic Canada. Born and raised in his community, Allan has over a decade of experience as a Band Councillor and has served in key roles such as Community Planner and Culture Coordinator. He has also been involved with the Economic Development Board, focusing on the sustainable growth of St. Mary’s First Nation and the preservation of Wolastoq language and traditions.
Chief Allan is deeply committed to leading his people with dedication, integrity, and sincere enthusiasm. He engages with Band members at the community level, promoting spiritual connection. He takes pride in being involved in community activities surrounded with language, culture, ceremony and communal celebrations.

Allan and his partner, Tyler, are proud parents to their son, Hunter. As Chief, Allan remains focused on creating a stronger, more resilient future for St. Mary’s First Nation.

Don is a band member from Bilijk (Kingsclear First Nation) and currently works for Wolastoqey Tribal Council as the Emergency Management Program Manager. Prior to retiring from the RCMP after 22 years where his responsibilities was from general duty policing to detachment commander then finally the RCMP/First Nations Policing Liaison officer for the province of New Brunswick he also served 8 1/2 years with the Canadian Armed Forces. He has been awarded the RCMP Long service and Good Conduct medal, United Nations Cyprus medal and the NATO Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal. He has been married for 34 years, two adult children and three grandchildren.

Proud community member of St. Mary's First Nation. Currently employed with Wolastoqey Tribal Council as Emergency Management Program Coordinator since March of 2023 and prior to that was an EMO Coordinator for SMFN since December 2021. After a 25 year career as an ISA Certified Arborist trained in Aerial Rescue, graduated in 2019 with a diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and thus began the transition to emergency management. Currently trained as a Medical First Responder, Search and Rescue Technician, Advanced Drone Pilot, Critical Incident Stress Management and was the Sitansisk Community Safety Plan Committee Coordinator from April 2022 - July 2023.
Blessed to have 5 children and 2 grandchildren with wife Jennifer, all of Sitansisk. Hobbies include coaching minor hockey, spending time with family and the odd game of golf.

Scott holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from Saint Mary’s University. Before joining CMM, Scott worked as an Assistant Coordinator with the province of Nova Scotia’s Climate Adaptation Leadership Program, assisting in creating and implementing climate change adaptation strategies for government departments and their industry partners. Scott was able to apply the knowledge gained from that experience to the role of Emergency Mitigation Officer, where he led the Mi’kmaw Wildfire Resilience Project, working with communities to help build resilience to wildfire and other natural disasters.

Jared began his Emergency Management journey as a flight paramedic, where he developed a passion for aviation, public health initiatives, and community resilience. His experience spans several provinces and Canada’s North, allowing him to witness firsthand how prevention, mitigation, and strategic planning can enhance quality of life and save lives. Having collaborated with First Nations and local municipalities over the years, Jared is excited to share his insights and learn from others at the Atlantic Emergency Management Conference 2024.

Colin has worked for Millbrook First Nation for over 25 years in several different roles, serving as a councilor, youth support worker and currently transitioning into Emergency Management and Community Liaison, where his priority is community awareness and resiliency will be my priority in his new role. . Colin is also an avid volunteer and works with many groups including the Mi’kmaq Grand Council for 12 years, the Mi’kmaq Sport Council, Board member of the North American Indigenous Games Host Society, Member of Tripartite Sport Council, Chair of the Millbrook Interagency,  and the Chair of the First Nation Education Committee for CCRCE.

Heather is an emergency management specialist with a Master of Science in Risk Crisis and Disaster Management. Heather has worked as a Health Educator, Paramedic, Health Science Instructor, Writer, Emergency Management Consultant, and federal government program manager. As well as authoring two textbooks, Heather has been widely published in the areas of pre-hospital care, communication, emergency preparedness and response. 
With over twelve years operational experience as a Regional Emergency Management Coordinator Heather has guided government agencies through a risk analysis process to identify how the emerging science predictions of Climate Change will affect the region and necessitate adaptation procedures for both imminent response and long-term planning. Heather has functioned as the Emergency Operations Centre Manager during activations for the impacts of hurricanes, high intensity rainfall, blizzards, large fires, hazardous materials events, and the COVID-19 pandemic providing support to both municipal and First Nation communities.

From 2019 to present Heather retains a faculty position with the Nova Scotia Community College in the Emergency Management Program. In May 2022, Heather facilitated the first Emergency Management Certificate Program for Indigenous students through contracts between Tribal Councils and Nova Scotia Community College.
Heather is also Part-time Faculty and Undergraduate Programs Coordinator within the School of Health Administration of Dalhousie University.

Heather took the role of Team Lead Educational Program with Indigenous Services Canada in the Atlantic Region from 2021 to 2023. She was responsible for working with First Nation communities, particularly in Newfoundland Labrador and Prince Edward Island to advance education transformation following Truth and Reconciliation guidelines.

Heather is expanding her cultural awareness, educational background and personal journey and completed the first pilot program of a Graduate Certificate of Education; Decolonizing and Indigenizing Teaching and Learning, from Yorkville University in 2023.

Ghislain is a dedicated Health Director for Bouctouche First Nation, whose biography reflects a profound passion for Wholistic Health and Wellness, as well as Emergency Management. Ghislain's journey in the field of health and wellness began with a deep-seated commitment to improving the access to wholistic health services for indigenous community members. His early experiences working within Bouctouche First Nation ignited his passion for addressing the unique spiritual and mental health support needs faced by its community members.

Over the years, Ghislain has tirelessly advocated for mental health awareness and access to quality wholistic health services within the community. He firmly believes that mental health is a cornerstone of overall well-being and has worked diligently to reduce stigma and increase resources for mental health support. In addition to his dedication to wholistic health, Ghislain has played a pivotal role in Emergency Management for Bouctouche First Nation. Recognizing the importance of preparedness and resilience, he has led efforts to ensure the community is well-equipped to respond effectively to emergencies and crises, safeguarding the health and safety of its community members and residents.

Chris has been with Motorola for over 30 years and has extensive experience in public safety communications and operations. His career at Motorola has encompassed many roles, including system engineering, product management and business management. Six years ago Chris moved into the cyber team and established the Supply Chain Risk Management program used across Motorola Solutions to strengthen the cyber posture of both Motorola and our partners. Currently the product owner for the Public Safety Threat Alliance he was instrumental in establishing the program and growing the membership to strengthen the cybersecurity knowledge and preparedness of public safety organizations.
 

Justin Carr is a Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst on the PSTA Intelligence Team. He has been with Motorola Solutions for 3 years. His role on the team is to collect tactical data (the how) on methods threat actors use to target Public Safety Organizations with.

Maureen Robinson is an environmental scientist who represents Health Canada’s Air Quality program in the Atlantic provinces. Her role involves spearheading outreach and engagement initiatives, aiming to elevate public awareness and action regarding air quality issues, with a particular focus on the health implications of air pollution.

Iyad Mansour is the Director of Learning at St. John Ambulance NS/PEI. Iyad has 15 years of experience in logistics, Learning/Development, project management and health and safety project development and implementation. Iyad oversees the training department and is responsible for all programs and delivery in Nova Scotia/PEI.
From First Aid and Mental Health and Wellness to youth safety courses, Iyad ensures the appropriate onboarding of instructors with the latest best practices to teach and build curricula for the modern learner. Iyad is a health, safety and preparedness advocate and strives to work with partners (provincially and nationally) to deliver world-class educational programs to Nova Scotians, PE Islanders and Atlantic Canadians.

Jennifer Quehe is the Inventory & Operations Coordinator for St. John Ambulance New Brunswick Council, where she manages stock as well as various operational needs. Jennifer is passionate about helping others and comes from a background in paramedicine. Her background in emergency services provides the knowledge and understanding needed to fulfill and maintain the necessary medical equipment. Jennifer sources and avails of supplies for the medical first responder community services programs as well as within the emergency response unit. She provides others with a knowledge of how to maintain their first aid kits as well as performing regular maintenance on their defibrillators, ensuring members of the community are prepared for an emergency.

With seven years of dedicated service at St. John Ambulance, Jessica Brewer has excelled as the Manager of Community Services. In her role, she leads initiatives that enhance community health and safety, fostering a culture of preparedness and support. Jessica is passionate about making a positive impact in her community through training programs and outreach efforts.

Nelson has been the Senior Field Tech at Anqotum for the last 15 years.
He has worked at helping protect Species at Risk, and their habitat.
Also Anqotum hopes to inspire a love and respect for our environment by teaching kids
how fascinating and fun our work can be can be. Anqotum: to take care of.

Joe Augustine is a Beaverbrook Scholar with an Honours degree in Biology from the University of New Brunswick. He brings with him several years of biological research experience, having worked as a field technician for Miramichi Salmon Association, a research assistant for the University of New Brunswick and now a research technician with Anqotum Resource Management.  

I founded Campbell Health in 2020, and I spend my days leading and challenging our team to continuously innovate and deliver the best possible mental healthcare. My job is to take care of our team, to help them grow, improve, and feel supported and protected so that they can take care of the families we serve. I also practice full time as a therapist working with adults and youth to help them better understand themselves, their world and become more intentional in their life.

I value forgiveness of self and others, and humility. I also really value humor, and optimism and contributing to things in life that are bigger than ourselves as individuals. I’m very thankful for my family, friends and community that are always there to support me in good times and bad.

Cassandra LeBlanc is a long-time resident of Fredericton, New Brunswick and is passionate about the city she’s called home for most of her life! Cassandra has contributed to her community as a member of the Board of Directors for the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, as well as for Fredericton Women in Business. For eight years, she spent her career in the private sector working for a local small business in sales, administration, accounting, marketing, and building management before leaving to start her own business.  
  
In 2019, Cassandra joined the Fredericton Community Kitchens as their part-time Fundraising Coordinator and quickly fell in love with the organization’s mission – providing nutritious food and a sense of community to those in Fredericton and beyond in difficult economic and social conditions and working to eliminate hunger through education and advocacy. 
  
In March 2020, she became their Executive Director, at the same time that a global pandemic was announced, and subsequently received a crash course in emergency management. Since then, Cassandra has dedicated herself to strengthening food security systems across Fredericton and New Brunswick. In 2021, Cassandra was inspired by her work in food security and homelessness to offer her passion and energy to the greater Fredericton community by running for City Council, and in May 2021, became the youngest women to ever be elected to council in Fredericton at the age of 27.  
  
Today, Cassandra continues to serve her community in her two roles and through various committees! She is the vice-chair of the city’s Mobility Committee and Finance & Administration Committee as well as the council representative for the Arts Advisory Committee, Youth Advisory Committee and Newcomer Partnership Council. She is also the member-at-large for the New Brunswick Food Bank Advisory Committee!  Cassandra is committed to making sustainable change in the areas of food security and homelessness and freely lends her skills to any initiative that furthers these goals in Fredericton, New Brunswick and across Canada.  
 

Wendy Scott has more than 8 years of experience in accessible design of built environment for persons of all abilities.  A leader in accessibility, she has been breaking down barriers for employers in communities across New Brunswick as the manager of Ability New Brunswick’s Accessible NB program. Wendy has extensive knowledge on universal design and accessibility standards from across Canada.  She strongly believes in community development to ensure people can be as independent as possible and fully participate in our communities.
 
Wendy Scott is a member of the Canadian Accessibility Network and is trained as a Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification (RHFAC) Professional.    
 
She lives in Fredericton with her husband, Mark, their two daughters and their dog, Molly.

Lynsey Wilson Norrad is a social worker, mental health counsellor and consultant based in Fredericton, NB. Lynsey acknowledges and appreciates the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Mi’kmaq, Wolastoqiyik, and Peskotomuhkati Peoples, land she is honoured to live, work, and grow on. As a settler on this land, she is committed to the journey of critical allyship by humbly listening, learning, building supportive relationships, taking action towards equity, standing up against anti-Indigenous racism, and unlearning colonial ways.
 
Lynsey has over 15 years of diverse experience in the field of social work. This includes roles in the primary healthcare sector, supporting her home community of Upper Miramichi/Doaktown around substance use, crisis response, mental health, and emotional wellbeing, as well as community development and capacity building. She has worked alongside vulnerably-housed individuals in the downtown Fredericton area and spent time managing the Mobile Seniors’ Wellness Network pilot project. She is a part-time faculty member of the School of Social Work at St.Thomas University. In 2020, Lynsey opened her private practice, Bridge to Wellness, where she and her team provide trauma-informed, anti-oppressive counselling, crisis support and consulting services. Lynsey focuses on supporting individuals and communities in healing and growth, with an emphasis on understanding of the impact of historical trauma and systemic oppression on mental health. She has a keen interest in “helping the helpers” and works to support them in finding ways to prioritize their own healing while they provide care to others.

Edward Perley is Traditional Elder, Fire Keeper, and Pipe Carrier from  Neqotkuk /Tobique First Nation. He has dedicated his life to promoting wellness and empowering youth, adults, families, and communities to connect with culture and ceremony in meaningful ways. He lives his values and in his humble and authentic way, he helps people reconnect their spirit and with Creator. He has had a diverse career that has always centred on serving others, whether in policing, roles with the Band, creating and managing Beh-Jip-Po-Nen Wejok-Ked-Wa-Gon Inc., or providing reintegration support in correctional facilities, to name only a few. Elder Edward is a dedicated member of the  Wolastoqiyik Wampum CISM team that works to create spaces of healing for those affected by critical incidents, grief, loss, and tragedy. You can usually find him at the Sacred Fire, where he will welcome you with an open heart.

Whether he is working with governmental organizations providing cultural guidance and support, encouraging youth by developing and facilitating programs that increase their knowledge, skills, and sense of hope, or supporting communities through healing and capacity building, he embodies a trauma-informed helper that empowers every person he connects with through a loving, respectful, authentic and compassionate presence. Elder Edward is a proud husband, father and grandfather. He is a speaker of the Wolastoqey language and shares traditional knowledge through stories, song, drumming, and the Sacred Fire.

Stuart Knockwood is a respected leader from Sipekne'katik First Nation, currently serving as Director of Administration for the First Nation. With a background in emergency management operations coordination, Stuart has extensive experience in crisis response and community safety. He has worked on initiatives such as the Employee Assistance Program, supporting the well-being of First Nation employees. Prior to his current role, he retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 29 years ago, where he dedicated years of service to law enforcement and public safety. Stuart's wealth of experience continues to support his community’s growth and resilience.

Raphael Chavardes is a research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service. His collaborative research focuses on vegetation and interface fires, including their drivers and impacts. Raphael’s introduction to fire science from 2011 to 2022 was mainly by reconstructing fire regimes and testing local to regional scale fire-climate associations. His more recent work in fire science along with researchers in Canada includes 1) updating Fire Behaviour Prediction fuel type information, 2) developing a fire prevention and mitigation plan for the 5thCanadian Division Support Base Gagetown, 3) improving fire loss rate functions to understand residential structure exposure and damage due to fires, 4) building a consortium of fire researchers, managers, practitioners (including university academics, Indigenous knowledge keepers, foresters) to address challenges in the vegetation and interface fire domain, 5) applying artificial intelligence to classify synoptic weather and understand its association with lightning ignited clusters of fires.

Started with Mawiw Council Inc in January 2023; 
My mother is from Neqotkuk Malicite Nation, NB; my father is from Motahkomikuk, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Indian Township, Maine;
Education includes Bachelor of Science Degree with a concentration in Business Administration & Hospitality Management, DeVry University, Illinois;
Previous work experience includes 6 ½ years in Finance with Tobique First Nation band administration, 7 years as a Casino table games dealer (Blackjack, Roulette & Texas Hold’em) and a shortened career in the US Army with the 82nd Airborne Division, 3rd Battalion 505th Infantry Regiment, Fort Bragg, NC.

Tim Plant is Wolastoqiyik from Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation), where he has managed his community’s natural resources and Duty to Consult files since 2017. He has played a key role in the development of the newly established NB Indigenous Type 2 Wildland Firefighting team. Tim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team from his previous role as a Type 1 Wildland Firefighter with GNB, and from his academic studies at UNB where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Natural Resources, studying the impacts of climate change on people and the environment.

With 10 years of experience in emergency management, Haley has worked with all levels of government, Indigenous groups, the private sector, and diverse communities. She understands the complexities of service provision and the intersections of climate change, community vulnerability, and governance. As part of the Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team, Haley assists local governments across Canada in planning for and responding to climate risks. She has responded to severe climate emergencies, developing programs to enhance community resilience and inform climate adaptation strategies. Her work includes creating emergency management plans, risk assessments, and public education programs. Haley's experience and passion for holistic emergency management foster strong community and organizational resilience.

Davis is a Project Manager for Colliers Project Leaders. Davis has several years of experience in the construction industry acting on behalf of investors, owners, and occupants. At Colliers, Davis is responsible for managing and coordinating the activities of a project to ensure cost, schedule, document control, and quality standards are met. 
Davis has accumulated a wide range of project experience since joining Colliers. Davis is known for his calm demeanor when facilitating meetings, ensuring everyone is heard and keeping the meetings on track. He continuously promotes effective collaboration between internal stakeholders, contractors, consultants, and project team members, to ensure clients’ business needs are achieved.

Adam resides and works in Amherst, NS where he manages the Emergency Management Assistance Program and holds the Special Initiatives Portfolio with Indigenous Services Canada, Atlantic Region. Additionally, he leads the Fire Protection File, the Asset Management Program, and, during the pandemic, the Indigenous Community Support Fund. Before joining Indigenous Services Canada in 2018, Adam worked in Economic Development for 12 years in Nunavut with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and the former Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. In his 16-year career with the Federal Government, Adam has worked in various capacities for program delivery, development, and management. He is focused on supporting Indigenous Partners' governments, organizations, and businesses.
Before work-life, Adam studied at Memorial University of Newfoundland and obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He has continued his studies since, obtaining a certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo and holds a Professional Certification from the Economic Developers Association as a Certified Economic Developer. Since embarking on Emergency Management, Adam has continued to develop his skills and knowledge in the field. He has taken several Emergency Management Courses, including ICS 100, Basic Emergency Management and Emergency Operations Centre Essentials, and more to go!

Whitney Coscarella is a Senior Policy Advisor on the Multilateral Engagement team within the Emergency Management Directorate at Indigenous Services Canada. Whitney has worked for the Government of Canada in various operational and policy roles for over 15 years and has been with Indigenous Services Canada since 2021. An alumna of Carleton University, Whitney earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with High Honours in Mass Communication in December 2010. In her current role, Whitney is committed to enhancing partnerships and passionate about developing multilateral agreements that are inclusive First Nations as full and equal partners from design to delivery in emergency management. Whitney was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe People, where she continues to reside, proudly raising her two young children with her husband. In her spare time, Whitney enjoys travelling, cooking, and spending time with her family and beloved dogs.

My name is Holly Mitchell and I am a Mi’kmaq woman from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation. I am a Band Councillor in Esgenoôpetitj and am wrapping up my first term. I am the General Manager of the Esgenoôpetitj Power Centre and Financial Comptroller for Band-Owned Businesses in my community. I have graduated from Business Administration at UNB, Human Resources at UNB, First Nations Governance and Leadership at UNB, and First Nations Emergency Management at Nova Scotia Community College. I am a part of the Emergency Management Team for my community.

My name is Rayburn Dedam and I am a Mi’kmaq from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation. I have been working as a Fishery Guardian in Esgenoôpetitj for 22 years. As Guardians in my community, we not only keep people safe in the water, but we also play a big role in keeping our community safe. We have extensive training and have played a major role in all emergency events that takes place in our community. I graduated from First Nations Emergency Management at Nova Scotia Community College and am part of the Emergency Management Team for my community.

My name is Robin Somerville and I am a Mi’kmaq from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation. I started my law enforcement career in 1994 as Band Constable Auxiliary before moving into the RCMP Auxiliary program in 1996. I began training for the Esgenoôpetitj Fishery Guardians program in 1998. In 2001, I became a supervisor for the Guardians program and we have taken numerous courses and training to enhance our skills. Where we have previously dealt with mass emergency events in the community, we were introduced to the First Nations Emergency Management program at Nova Scotia Community College. I graduated from this program in October 2023 and am part of the Emergency Management Team for my community.

My name is Dale Ward and I am a Mi’kmaq from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation. I have been employed with my community for over 20 years as a Primary Operator and have served my community in the Capacity of Safe Drinking Water. I have my Class 1 in Water Collection, Water Treatment, Wastewater Collection and Wastewater Treatment. I am an active member with Maritime Province Water & Wastewater Association (MPWWA), Atlantic Canada Water & Wastewater Association (ACWWA), and work closely with the Circuit Rider Training Program (CRTP). I graduated from the First Nations Emergency Management program at Nova Scotia Community College. The importance of continuous training and development of skills for my position within the community is required to keep up with technology and industry.

My name is Clark Dedam and I am a Mi’kmaq from Esgenoôpetitj First Nation and aside from attending school in Fredericton, NB, I have lived in my community all of my life. I have been a Band Councillor in my community since 2001 and am also the Director of Fisheries in my community. I serve on several boards within the community and with the tribal council Mawiw Inc. I graduated from Business Administration at UNB, the First Nations Emergency Management program at Nova Scotia Community College and am currently on the Emergency Management team in my community.

David has made it his mission to build the social infrastructure needed for a more resilient, sustainable, and inclusive community that is better prepared to face the challenging future that awaits all of us.
He uses his passion for Emergency Management, Business Continuity, climate change adaptation, and community building to assist organizations, and individuals better assess their risks and hazards in a changing climate. And make the changes needed to mitigate those risks to their organization or household.
Whether it’s organizing the SupperNova multicultural potluck for almost 10 years, leading a neighborhood Joint Emergency Management volunteer team, or as co-founder of the Fairview Food Pantry Project, he strives to build connections between different segments of the community so that no one is left behind.   All in a context of reorienting the economy through increased local economic activity and cooperation.
He is a father of 2, a partner to Jen Graham, and a martial artist, training for a 3rd degree Black Belt at Chimo Tae Kwon Do.

Bill Lawlor is the Vice President for the Canadian Red Cross in Atlantic Canada. He joined the organization in 1998 and has served in a variety of capacities and programs throughout the years.

Bill has been a primary spokesperson with media and a frequent representative with other strategic stakeholders including public government standing committee appearances. Although his involvement has been mostly related to Emergency Management, he has also worked in Community Health and government relations. In 2014, Bill became the Provincial Director for New Brunswick operations and added Prince Edward Island to his portfolio in 2018.

When disasters strike in Atlantic Canada, Bill works with provincial and local public authority leadership to support those impacted by what has become all too frequent disruptive events. He has experience in many local emergencies including, but not limited to, Sussex Bus Crash (2001), September 11 diverted airplanes (2001), Badger NL Floods (2003), Hurricane Juan (2003), Hurricane Igor (2010), RCMP Moncton Shooting (2014), NB Ice Storm (2017), Fredericton Mass Shooting (2018), back-to-back historic flooding along the St. John River (2018 & 2019), Hurricane Dorian (2019), COVID-19 Pandemic (2020), Nova Scotia Mass Shooting (2020), Hurricane Fiona (2022), and the Nova Scotia Wildfires (2023).

He has volunteered in minor sports in support of local football, basketball and baseball leagues. Bill lives in Saint John, New Brunswick with his wife and three children.

Corey has more than thirty years of professional experience in health and emergency services, which has spanned across five Canadian Provinces and the State of Maine. Corey is an Advanced Care Paramedic and Registered Nurse and holds a Master’s in Disaster and Emergency Management. He currently serves as Division Chief, Medical for Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency Services.

Jennifer Mark is a Policy & Business Initiatives Coordinator with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency. Jennifer has worked in various policy advisory roles at the Provincial and Municipal orders of government for the past 15 years. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree for Acadia University and a Master of Public Administration from Dalhousie University.

Bruce Lake is the Division Chief of Safety and Compliance with Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency. Bruce is a Level 4 Fire Officer. He is a graduate member of The Institution of Fire Engineers and he has attained the Executive Chief Fire Officer designation from the Canadian Association of Fire Chief’s. Bruce is a certified as both an incident safety officer and health and safety officer. He has been published in Fire Engineering and Firefighting in Canada. Prior to becoming a Chief Officer, Bruce worked as a station officer, training officer, engineer, hazardous materials technician, career, and volunteer firefighter.

Bradley Parker is the President of the New Brunswick Ground Search and Rescue Assocation, which represents the 9 GSAR team across New Brunswick, all of which are entirely run by Volunteers. Bradley has been a member since 2017, and also serves as a Search Manager with York Sunbury SAR in the Fredericton area. When not volunteering with Search and Rescue, his day job is working in cybersecurity software development.

Erica Thomas is the CEO of Transitional Solutions, a Management Consulting firm aimed at helping municipalities, provincial governments and non-profit organizations through transition. Erica has grown Transitional Solutions into a national consulting firm with over 45 consultants across Canada. She is proud of the work her team does in helping communities become better prepared for emergencies through proper planning, training and practicing. When disaster strikes, as it did to so many communities during 2023, Transitional Solutions is there to review the response and assist communities in their recovery. Erica is also a Mom to four young kids and volunteers with their local Children's Hospital.

Alex Post is the Emergency Management Specialist at the Saskatoon Tribal Council.  His expertise spans all five pillars of emergency management, ensuring a comprehensive approach to prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. His passion for emergency management is evident in his role at STC, where he has contributed significantly for over three years.  His previous experience in large event medical planning and his time with the County of Wellington Emergency Management in Ontario further enriches his skillset.  Alex holds an Honours Degree from York University in Disaster & Emergency Management and is also an ICS Canada certified instructor.  His bottom-up planning approach emphasizes collaboration and inclusivity, ensuring that the needs and perspectives of all stakeholders are considered in emergency management strategies. His commitment to excellence and his passion for making a positive impact make him a valuable asset to the Saskatoon Tribal Council.