This fall also included a meaningful trip to Ottawa, where EMLCanada partnered with The Resilience Institute to advance a federal budget proposal, which is aimed at scaling our platform nationally, strengthening local capacity, and reducing reliance on federal resources during climate-related disasters. Meetings with MPs, senators, and federal officials were encouraging, underscoring that the conversation around emergency preparedness is gaining momentum at the highest levels.

At EMLCanada, we believe resilience is built one connection at a time. Every member who updates their profile, engages with their neighbours, or adds a new contact to their resource list is helping strengthen a national network of communities and businesses ready to support one another when it matters most.

Participation is about more than maintaining information — it’s about demonstrating readiness. When members keep their profiles current, emergency management organizations can quickly identify local resources, businesses can showcase their capacity, and community organizations can highlight the services they provide. The result is a more reliable, connected, and responsive network.

Inviting neighbouring communities and partners to join multiplies this effect. Each new member adds fresh capacity, expertise, and resources to the system, ensuring that no community has to face emergencies alone. This collective action turns individual efforts into national strength.

Together, we are shaping a whole-of-society approach to preparedness and resilience. From local readiness to regional cooperation to national strategy, EMLCanada members are proving that collaboration is the key to reducing risks and accelerating recovery.

By taking small but important steps — updating your profile, connecting with partners, and engaging with the platform — you are part of building a Canada that is stronger, safer, and better prepared for whatever comes next.

October is a busy month as we continue this important work. You can see us:

• Attending and presenting at Bordering on Disasters in Lloydminster (October 7–9),
• Exhibiting at the Ontario Disaster & Emergency Management Conference (DEMCON) in Toronto (October 21–22)
• Speaking and exhibiting at the Disaster Forum in Kananaskis (October 28–30)

Each of these events is an opportunity to share the EMLCanada story, connect with new partners, and bring home fresh ideas to support our growing network.

In early September, I had the privilege of attending the 2025 Atlantic Emergency Management Conference (AEMC) in Charlottetown, PEI, that was co-hosted by the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC), Wolastoqey Tribal Council Inc. (WTCI), and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM). This year’s theme was “Braving the Uncertain,” which focused on known and unknown issues that emergency management professionals work through daily.

I was honored to attend as a delegate, an exhibitor for EMLCanada, and a presenter, where I gave a talk called Emergency Preparedness Inside Out: A Social Capital Approach to Community Readiness. The presentation looks at the traditional “command and control” model of emergency management through the lens of building community-centric, asset-based strategies that every community (regardless of size or complexity) can use to strengthen local resilience. The reception to these ideas confirmed that we are progressing effectively in assisting communities to enhance their preparedness from within.