Virtual Event
InterOp Canada 2023
October 11, 2023 at 11:30am ET

On DEMAND VIDEO
Keynote: A vision for national interoperability 

Moderator: Maria Church, editor/associate publisher, Avert
Speakers:

• Inspector (Ret.) Lance Valcour O.O.M, senior strategic advisor and author
• Pascal Rodier, Supt. (Ret.), MStJ, MA, CEM, PCP, SAS, senior emergency management, response and continuity leader

Canada’s interoperability strategy and action plan were published in the early 2010s identifying ways to enhance governance, planning, technology, training and exercises to promote interoperable voice and data communications. The end goal is for all emergency responders to communicate as needed and as authorized across all disciplines and between all levels, on demand. Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG) original executive director Lance Valcour, and founding leader Pascal Rodier, helped lead the creation of these documents and will share their vision for national interoperability, how far we’ve come, and where we go from here. 

12:30 pm
Break

15-minute break

On DEMAND VIDEO
Panel: What does national interoperability look like?

Moderator: Pascal Rodier, Supt. (Ret.), MStJ, MA, CEM, PCP, SAS, senior emergency management, response and continuity leader
Speakers: 

• Mike Callaghan, Chief of Police, Belleville Police Service
• Fire Chief Chris Case, Chatham-Kent Fire & Rescue
• Jay Walker, Provincial Manager, Emergency Preparedness Special Operations, Nova Scotia EHS

True national interoperability would see integrated SOPs, two-way standards-based sharing of voice and data, national and provincial training exercises, and daily use. A panel of agencies including fire, EMS, police, and emergency managers will explore what interoperability would look like for their operations, how we can advance it, and what challenges lie ahead. 

On DEMAND VIDEO
Panel: The growing threat of heat emergencies

Moderator: Dr. Rhidian Lewis, Associate Dean Enterprise and Employability, University Apprenticeships Lead, University of Bedfordshire

Speakers:

• Sam Greif, Deputy City Manager, Plano, Texas
• Jamie Coutts, fire service leader, consultant and former chief for Lesser Slave Regional Fire Service
• Supt. Peter Tsui, E Division Intelligence Officer, RCMP / GRC

Climate change is triggering volatile and extreme weather events. Heat emergencies are an increasing threat involving multi-agency response. Heat emergencies can be triggered by wildfires, which are also on the rise. From an interoperability perspective, heat emergencies can cover a vast geographic area and involve possibilities for power or cell phone tower outages, cooling station requirements, special care for vulnerable persons and the homeless community, and ultimately have the potential to be a mass casualty event.