Leading the Way in Emergency Management 2020

Best practices, fun exercises, new tools and technology, resiliency, volunteer recognition and partnerships.

These are some highlights from the Leading the Way in Emergency Management: Alberta Volunteer Leadership 2020 conference.

Alberta volunteers met on the Tsuu T’ina Nation near Calgary for two days recently with local and national staff from emergency management, volunteer resources, philanthropy and communications.

The conference provided an opportunity for volunteers to collaborate with their peers from across the province.

“We are focussing on resiliency and community partnerships and building our workforce,” says Melissa Fougere, senior manager of emergency management in Alberta. “We are also looking at responses and how we come together and work in an organized and consistent way.”

The Canadian Red Cross strives to evolve and be innovative in the way it responds to emergencies and works with people impacted by these events. And our volunteers are at the forefront of it all. Their insight, experience and leadership are invaluable.

“We have a small staff that supports the volunteers, but the volunteers actually lead the response, so they are integral to everything we do.” Fougere explains.

Calgarian Mike Curtin says volunteering with Red Cross continues to be an “incredibly rewarding experience” that also allows him to “expand my understanding of Canada.”

Siksika Nation Elder Clarence Wolfleg provided the Indigenous Blessing and Prayer and Andrew One Spot Junior brought greetings on behalf of Chief Whitney of the Tsuu T’ina Nation.

The conference also welcomed special guests: Canadian Red Cross Board of Directors Vice-Chair Amit Mehra, Chief of Staff Ann Clancy, Senior Director of Volunteer Resources Louise Geoffrion, Alberta MLA Muhammad Yaseen and Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.