The University of British Columbia Okanagan and the Cheakamus Community Forest – Whistler present a scholar-practitioner workshop on the theme of Wildfire Resilience in Times of Uncertainty. This is a two-day workshop that seeks to bring together the public, municipal officials, academic researchers, practitioners and Indigenous land stewards to discuss a range of issues relating to wildfire risk and management in Whistler and, more generally, in BC.
The workshop will include a keynote address, a series of presentations by academics and practitioners, a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session on Whistler’s wildfire risk management, a field trip to one of Whistler’s fuel-thinned areas, and a series of ‘lightning talks’ and small group discussions.
Presentations and discussions at the workshop will reflect on questions such as:
- What is uncertain in terms of how we manage landscapes that burn?
- What are the social, economic and political uncertainties surrounding wildfire management, and how do these intersect with the diverse and shifting expectations of different stakeholders and First Nations?
- What are some gaps in our knowledge of wildfires, and what sort of research and collaborations are needed to address these gaps?
- How might interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaborations help us grapple with uncertainty?
Workshop Format:
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
8.30 am – 4.15 pm for the day session
7.00 pm – 8.30 pm for the evening panel session
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
8.30 am – 4.00 pm
This workshop is free to attend, but registration is required. Registration opens March 3.
Coffee and lunch will be provided on both days.
This event is being organized by: Heather Beresford (Cheakamus Community Forest) and Dr Adeniyi Asiyanbi (University of British Columbia Okanagan)
- This event is sponsored by:
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC)
Cheakamus Community Forest (Resort Municipality of Whistler, Squamish Nation, Lil’wat Nation partnership)
Living with Wildfire Interdisciplinary Cluster, UBC Okanagan
UBC Okanagan Principal Research Chair, Dr Onyx Sloan Morgan
And is being supported by the Whistler Institute.
