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Wildfire Mitigation for Utilities – Canada

November 18 - 19, 2026 Vancouver, BC and Online :: Mountain Time British Columbia Utilities Commission

As wildfire threats continue to intensify, electric utilities must adapt to an increasingly complex landscape of risks, evolving regulations, and expectations for grid reliability and public safety. Building a resilient wildfire mitigation program requires practical solutions, proven strategies, and collaboration across the industry.

Wildfire Mitigation for Utilities Canada is the premier event dedicated to helping Canadian utilities prepare for, respond to, and reduce wildfire risk. Modeled after the highly successful U.S. conference series, this event brings together utility professionals, regulators, emergency management leaders, and technology experts to share lessons learned and innovative approaches tailored to Canadian utilities.

Through utility-led case studies, expert presentations, and peer-to-peer discussions, attendees will gain practical strategies to:

  • Strengthen utility wildfire mitigation programs
  • Improve vegetation management and asset protection
  • Leverage AI, predictive analytics, and advanced monitoring technologies
  • Enhance emergency preparedness and response capabilities
  • Navigate evolving regulatory, legal, and insurance challenges
  • Build stronger partnerships with government agencies, emergency responders, Indigenous communities, and other key stakeholders

Whether you are responsible for operations, engineering, asset management, vegetation management, emergency preparedness, or wildfire mitigation, you will leave with valuable industry connections and proven strategies you can implement immediately.

Register now to learn from the organizations leading wildfire mitigation across Canada and return to your utility better prepared to protect your system, your customers, and your communities.

Learning Outcomes

  • Identify emerging wildfire risks across Canada and evaluate the impacts of changing climate conditions, fire behavior, and wildfire events on electric utility infrastructure and reliability
  • Develop strategies for building comprehensive utility wildfire mitigation programs, including governance structures, risk prioritization frameworks, funding approaches, and stakeholder alignment
  • Evaluate wildfire risk modeling, threat mapping, and data-driven tools used to identify high-risk assets, analyze fire exposure, and support proactive mitigation decisions
  • Assess infrastructure hardening strategies, including covered conductors, undergrounding, equipment upgrades, and substation protection approaches to improve grid resilience
  • Apply best practices for modernizing vegetation management programs
  • Explore emerging wildfire mitigation technologies, tools, and solutions that support improved risk assessment, monitoring, response, and operational decision-making
  • Analyze evolving regulatory expectations for wildfire mitigation in Canada, including reporting requirements, compliance obligations, and cost recovery considerations
  • Evaluate strategies for managing wildfire-related liability, insurance challenges, documentation requirements, and legal risks facing utilities
  • Develop approaches for strengthening community engagement and Indigenous partnerships to improve wildfire preparedness, communication, and resilience
  • Identify operational strategies for managing extreme fire weather conditions, including situational awareness, grid flexibility, emergency coordination, and incident response
  • Discuss future trends shaping utility wildfire mitigation, including evolving climate risks, emerging technologies, workforce challenges, and long-term resilience strategies

Register

Please Note: Confirmed speakers do not need to register and are encouraged to participate in all sessions of the event. If you are a speaker and have any questions please contact our offices at 1.303.770.8800

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Individual attendee(s)$CAD 2095.00 each(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $CAD 2,395.00)
- OR - I choose to attend remotely
Individual remote connections(s)$CAD 2095.00 each(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $CAD 2,395.00)
Volume pricing also available

Individual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility

Pack of 5 attendees$CAD 8,905.00 (15% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $CAD 10,175.00)
Pack of 10 attendees$CAD 16,760.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $CAD 19,160.00)
Pack of 20 attendees$CAD 32,425.00 (23% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $CAD 35,925.00)

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before October 16, 2026 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a $395.00 CAD processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

EUCI retains the right to refuse registration by any individual or company.

Day one

Wednesday, November 18, 2026

Day two

Thursday, November 19, 2026

Agenda

Wednesday, November 18, 2026
Mountain Time

Vancouver, BC and Online

Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM

Group Luncheon

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Adjourn for the day

4:45 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Registration & Networking Breakfast

8:45 - 9:00 AM

Online Login

9:00 - 10:00 AM

The Growing Wildfire Threat to Canada’s Electric Infrastructure

As wildfire seasons become longer and more severe, utilities must understand how evolving climate conditions and fire behavior are changing risk profiles across Canada. This opening session will examine emerging wildfire threats and provide insight into how utilities can balance reliability, affordability, and resilience while preparing for future challenges.

  • Wildfire risks across Canadian provinces and regions
  • Impacts of wildfire events on transmission and distribution infrastructure
  • Lessons learned from recent wildfire seasons to improve preparedness
  • Emerging high-risk areas and infrastructure vulnerabilities

Daniel Gent Director of Transmission & Reliability Electricity Canada

Curtis Eck Director, Engineering Fortis Alberta

10:00 - 10:30 AM

Networking Break

10:30 - 11:30 AM

Utility Wildfire Mitigation Programs: Building a Comprehensive Strategy

Developing an effective wildfire mitigation program requires more than individual initiatives. It requires enterprise-wide planning, governance, and accountability. This session will provide practical guidance for building a comprehensive strategy that aligns operational priorities, regulatory expectations, and stakeholder needs.

  • Developing risk prioritization frameworks to guide investment decisions

  • Governance structures and executive oversight models

  • Funding, cost recovery, and regulatory alignment challenges

Jay Leyno Sr. Director, Wildfire Mitigation Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Karen McKelvie Sr. Manager, Wildfire Mitigation Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

11:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Wildfire Risk Modeling and Threat Mapping for Canadian Utilities

Accurate risk assessment is the foundation of effective wildfire mitigation. This session will explore how utilities are leveraging advanced data, modeling, and mapping tools to better understand wildfire exposure and prioritize mitigation efforts.

  • Vegetation, fuel, and weather data to improve wildfire risk assessments
  • GIS, LiDAR, and predictive analytics to identify vulnerable assets
  • Integrating climate and operational data into mitigation planning

Sarah Liuba Managing Consultant Filsinger Energy Partners

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Group Luncheon

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Hardening Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure Against Wildfire Threats

Infrastructure resilience is critical as utilities face increasing wildfire exposure. This session will examine proven approaches for reducing ignition risk, protecting critical assets, and strengthening grid reliability during extreme wildfire conditions.

  • Evaluating covered conductor, undergrounding, and equipment replacement strategies

  • Prioritizing infrastructure investments based on wildfire risk

  • Strengthening substation resilience and asset protection approaches

Stephen Tao Sr. Manager, Asset Management and Wildfire Mitigation ATCO Electric

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Modernizing Vegetation Management Programs

Vegetation management remains one of the most critical components of wildfire prevention. This session will explore how utilities are improving inspection practices, managing vegetation risk, and overcoming workforce and environmental challenges.

  • Vegetation inspection and risk assessment strategies
  • Right-of-way management
  • Contractor, workforce, and resource challenges
  • Strengthening coordination with landowners, municipalities, and environmental stakeholders

Amber Lahti Vegetation Management & Environmental Specialist Manitoba Hydro

3:30 - 4:45 PM

Tech and Tools Showcase

Explore the latest technologies and solutions supporting utility wildfire mitigation efforts. This interactive showcase will highlight tools designed to improve risk detection, monitoring, operational awareness, and emergency response.

  • Emerging technologies supporting wildfire prevention and response
  • Innovative approaches to monitoring and managing wildfire risk
  • Solutions that can enhance operational decision-making and resilience

Agenda

Thursday, November 19, 2026
Mountain Time

Vancouver, BC and Online

Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM

Adjourn for the day

12:00 PM

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM

Networking Breakfast

8:45 - 9:00 AM

Online Log In

9:00 - 9:30 AM

Regulatory Expectations for Utility Wildfire Mitigation in Canada

Regulatory expectations for wildfire mitigation continue to evolve. This session will provide insight into changing requirements and help utilities understand how to demonstrate compliance while supporting long-term resilience investments.

  • Navigating provincial regulatory developments and reporting expectations
  • Utility accountability and compliance requirements
  • Cost recovery and rate case considerations
  • Opportunities for cross-provincial collaboration

Kristine Bienert Executive Director, Regulatory British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC)

10:00 - 10:30 AM

Networking Break

10:30 - 11:15 AM

Operational Strategies During Extreme Fire Weather

Extreme fire weather events require utilities to make rapid, informed operational decisions. This session will explore how utilities are adapting operations to improve situational awareness, coordinate response efforts, and maintain system reliability.

  • High fire risk operational protocols
  • Situational awareness and emergency coordination
  • Utilizing grid flexibility and reconfiguration strategies
  • Integrating utility operations with emergency management response

Sarah McKinley Wildfire Resiliency & Operations FortisBC

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

The Future of Wildfire Mitigation for Utilities

As wildfire risks continue to evolve, utilities must develop long-term strategies that incorporate new technologies, workforce readiness, and changing regulatory expectations. This forward-looking discussion will explore what the future of wildfire mitigation will require from the industry.

Lauren Woolstencroft Manager, Capital & Planning British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC)

Speakers

Kristine Bienert

Executive Director, Regulatory
British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC)

Curtis Eck

Director, Engineering
Fortis Alberta

Daniel Gent

Director of Transmission & Reliability
Electricity Canada

Amber Lahti

Vegetation Management & Environmental Specialist
Manitoba Hydro

Jay Leyno

Sr. Director, Wildfire Mitigation
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Sarah Liuba

Managing Consultant
Filsinger Energy Partners

Karen McKelvie

Sr. Manager, Wildfire Mitigation
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Sarah McKinley

Wildfire Resiliency & Operations
FortisBC

Stephen Tao

Sr. Manager, Asset Management and Wildfire Mitigation
ATCO Electric

Lauren Woolstencroft

Manager, Capital & Planning
British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC)

Location

British Columbia Utilities Commission
600-900 Howe St
Vancouver BC V6Z 2M4 Canada

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