Maple Ridge, B.C., Sept. 24, 2026 – Registration is now open for the City of Maple Ridge’s Climate Ready Conference – Building Resilience and Reducing Risks. The full-day event on Wednesday, Nov. 25 will connect residents, local businesses, community organizations and partners with practical tools to prepare for climate-related emergencies.
The Climate Ready Conference will focus on actions individuals, businesses, organizations and governments can take now to understand risks, prepare for disruptions and support recovery when emergencies occur.
“Maple Ridge is growing, and planning for climate impacts is an important part of building a strong, sustainable community for the future,” said Mayor Dan Ruimy. “The Climate Ready Conference supports the work already underway through our Climate Action Plan by bringing together local knowledge, expert advice and practical solutions that can help our community adapt and thrive.”
The full-day conference takes place on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at The ACT Arts Centre. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding by 5 p.m.
Tickets are $30.25, including snacks, and can be purchased at Purchase.MapleRidgeACT.ca. More information is available at MapleRidge.ca/ClimateReady.
Featured Speakers
Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Climate Finance and Resilience, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, University of Waterloo
Bakos will explore the financial and social impacts of more frequent and severe extreme-weather events. Her presentation will highlight practical tools and approaches that can help residents, communities, governments and financial institutions better understand and manage climate-related risk.
Jeff Donaldson, Owner, Preparedness Labs; Professor, Royal Roads University
Donaldson will discuss how municipalities and local businesses can work together before, during and after emergencies. His presentation will examine business continuity, trusted local partnerships and ways technology can support preparedness, response and recovery.
Lucy Grainger, Education Officer, FireSmart BC and Emily Kozlik, Maple Ridge’s FireSmart Coordinator.
Grainger will introduce FireSmart as a practical example of how residents, businesses and communities can reduce wildfire risk. Her presentation will be co-presented with Emily.
Ian Newman, Executive, Client Relations, Strategy and Growth, Onside Restoration
Newman will moderate the closing panel discussion with featured speakers. The discussion will connect the day’s themes, including climate risk, financial resilience, emergency preparedness, wildfire mitigation, business continuity and community action.
Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Climate readiness is a shared responsibility,” said Edd Bennett, the City’s Emergency Program Manager. “By bringing residents, businesses, community organizations and response partners together, we can build stronger local connections, share useful information and help ensure our community is better prepared to respond and recover.”
Who Should Attend
The conference is designed for anyone with a role in helping Maple Ridge prepare for climate-related impacts, including residents, local business, community groups, businesses, developers and builders, climate adaptation professionals, emergency management practitioners and government representatives.
Residents will gain practical information to help prepare their homes and families for climate-related events. Businesses and organizations will learn more about continuity planning, local partnerships and ways to support community response and recovery. The event will also help build relationships across sectors before an emergency occurs.
The event is part of the City’s ongoing work to deliver on Resilient Future 2050, Maple Ridge’s Climate Action Plan.
For more information or to register, go to MapleRidge.ca/ClimateReady.
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Media contact:
Pardeep Purewal, Senior Manager Corporate Communications and Public Engagement
T 604 466 4319 C 778 955 4249 E Media@MapleRidge.ca