Here are the six keynote speakers for the Wildland Fire Canada Conference and Canadian Smoke Forum 2026 who will share their knowledge and experience on different wildfire communities around the world.
Register now for the Wildland Fire Canada Conference and Canadian Smoke Forum 2026. 
#WFCC26 is in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada from 19-23 October 2026.
Edward Alexander represents the Gwich’in on the Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, and Response working groups of the Arctic Council and is Co-Chair of the Arctic Council’s Initiative on Wildland Fire.
Erin Tassell is Fire Aviation Manager for the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and is the state’s first female State Duty Officer. She started her fire career in northern Alberta and has worked in fire management, operations and strategic planning as well as frontline firefighting.
Loressa Mike is the Emergency Management Coordinator Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation. She oversees fire and emergency services for the Nation, working to enhance preparedness, response, recovery and resilience. Her commitment to safety and self-determination is rooted in a belief that Indigenous Nations are best positioned to lead and manage their own emergency services.
Mathieu Bourbonnais is Director of the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program and Principal’s Research Chair in Wildfire Risk and Fire Management at the UBC Centre for Wildfire Coexistence.
Kerry Anderson is a retired fire research scientist from the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada. His is working on the Canadian Forest Fire Emissions Prediction System that predicts the amount, distribution and concentration of wildland fire smoke.
Erick Thompson will close the conference with his story of the Bald Range Wildfire of August 2026, when he livestreamed community updates from the Regional Emergency Operations Centre. Erick is Senior Manager of Communications and Engagement at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, in Penticton, British Columbia.
The full program is ready!
The last WFCC was in 2024 in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The first was in 2010 in Kitchener, Ontario.
The theme for 2026 is Connecting Operations, Research and Community Action.
Register and see the Program here:
wildlandfirecanada.com
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