2026 Program Schedule

As of November 5, 2025, the program is still under development and subject to additions and changes. Please check back for the latest information. 

Scroll down to see the conference program descriptions

Monday, April 20, 2026: Conference Day One

Click on a session title to jump to that session description.

Tuesday April 21, 2026: Conference Day Two

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Wednesday April 16, 2025 (Post-conference professional development courses)

 Scroll down for Monday/Tuesday Conference Program. Click on a course title to jump to that course description

Please Note: All sessions, speakers, events, times and descriptions are subject to change without notice. Pacific Safety Center Ltd reserves the right to limit quantities and to correct errors or omissions. For the latest information and updates please check the home page.

Photography & Film Footage Will Be Taken During This Event
Please be advised that a photographer and videographer will be attending the Western Conference on Safety. By entering the conference your image may be included in some shots. If you do not wish to be included be identify yourself to the photographer/videographer and so indicate your wishes to them. Otherwise your presence here will constitute your consent to being photographed and/or video’ed and your acknowledgement that such photography/film may be used for promotional, archival or media purposes.

Scent Friendly:
The Western Conference on Safety is a scent-free environment. In consideration of others, please be “scent-sitive” and reduce or avoid your use of perfume or other personal scents. Your fellow conference attendees will appreciate you for it.

Session Descriptions:

Monday April 20, 2026

7:00am

Registration and Safety Tradeshow Open

8:30 – 9:00am

Welcome and Opening Remarks  (Regency Ballroom “D”, 3rd Floor)

Master of Ceremonies:
Welcoming Remarks by:

9:00 – 10:00am

Opening Keynote: EVOLVE:  Driving Innovation in the Age of AI   (Regency Ballroom “D”, 3rd Floor)

In this age of artificial intelligence, how will work evolve beyond ChatGPT?

As the world adopts AI, organizations will struggle to find their competitive edge. After all, using the same groundbreaking platforms will result in the same groundbreaking results — ultimately leading to a lack of differentiation between competitors.

Individuals and industries must learn to differentiate themselves in the age of AI — or be disrupted. Amidst the noise, three foundationally distinct skills — wonder, vision casting, and connection — are emerging.

In this experiential 60-min keynote, Jay Kiew will share how trailblazing organizations are driving disruption in the age of AI. He will also unpack Compass, a leading change navigation playbook, to equip audiences with the strategies needed to skillfully navigate the evolution of work.

The transformation audiences will experience:

• Simplify the AI ecosystem, pinpointing the areas of greatest impact and opportunity.
• Develop the AI fluency necessary to drive disruption at work today.
• Adapt Compass, the change navigation playbook to nurture successful transformations.

10:00 – 10:30am

Safety Tradeshow and Coffee Break

10:30 – 11:45am

Session 2A: 
Workplace Safety Inspections 
Looking for tips on how to conduct your safety inspections? Trying to get more participation or response from the people in your workplace? This is the session for you. Learn how to plan and conduct successful safety inspections, rate hazards and get advice on implementation. This is a great session for safety committees, supervisors or anyone responsible for doing safety inspections in the workplace.
Speaker: Laurie Lowes

Session 2B: 
Avoiding the Safety Illusion: Outcomes Over Optics: Why Activity Doesn’t Aways Equal Safety
Many organizations pour time and resources into “safety” activities that look good on paper but don’t actually reduce risk in the field. This session challenges the widespread tendency to confuse activity with outcomes – what Laura McNeice calls the Safety Illusion. Drawing on real project examples and 20 years of experience in major infrastructure construction, Laura introduces the Safety Clarity Framework, a practical system for cutting through noise and focusing on what truly prevents harm. Participants will learn how to identify illusion-driven practices, strengthen their risk assessment processes, and build accountability systems that move teams from optics to outcomes.
Speaker: Laura McNeice, CRSP, CSP

Session 2C:
Drug Testing, Impairment and Supervisor Responsibility: Fact from Fiction
This session explores how supervisors can identify, respond to, and document potential impairment in safety-sensitive workplaces. It covers legal foundations, privacy, and fit-for-duty expectations, as well as key differences between intoxication and impairment. Participants will gain practical tools to apply policy consistently, make defensible decisions, and balance safety with employee rights in a rapidly evolving landscape of substance use.
Speaker: Dan Demers,  BCc, C-SAPA, CHSC, Director of Business Development, Cann/Amm

Session 2D: 
Exoskeletons: Friend, Foe or Future? 
Exoskeletons are quickly moving from science fiction into the workplace, offering the promise of reducing fatigue, improving safety, and enhancing human performance. But are they the right solution for every job? This session explores how exoskeletons work, where they can be most effective, and the barriers that often stand in the way of adoption. Whether you’re curious about their potential or cautious about their pitfalls, this session will give you the insight needed to make informed decisions about the role of exoskeletons in the future of workplace safety
Speaker: Max Karp, WorkSMART Ergonomics

11:45am – 1:15pm

Safety Tradeshow and Lunch (On own for lunch)

1:15 – 2:45pm

Session 3A: 
Human and Organizational Performance: Moving Beyond the Perfect Worker
This session reframes the foundation of traditional safety thinking by challenging the myth of the “perfect worker” — the idea that if people simply followed procedures, incidents wouldn’t happen. Instead, we introduce Human and Organizational Performance (HOP) as a practical, field-tested framework for building resilient systems, understanding real-world decision-making, and learning from work — not just reacting to failure.
Speaker: Iqbal Brar, CRSP CHSC, NCSO

Session 3B: 
To Be Announced 
Description to Follow
Speaker: To Be Announced

Session 3C: 
Lithium Batteries and Other Hidden HazMat Risks in Every Workplace
From laptops to forklifts, lithium batteries are everywhere—and not always as harmless as they look. Learn what every workplace should know (but often doesn’t) about lithium battery hazards, along with a practical overview of other key hazmat and TDG requirements. This session is also eye-opening for organizations that consign, import, or already handle hazardous goods.
Speaker: Kevin Swinden, President, Global HazMat

Session 3D: 
To Be Announced 
Description to Follow
Speaker: To Be Announced

2:45 – 3:15pm

Safety Tradeshow and Coffee Break (Tradeshow closes at 3:30pm)

3:15 – 4:30pm

Session 4A: 
From Blame to Understanding: Investigating Behaviour Through Context
Incident investigations are frequently criticized for their limited effectiveness in identifying true root causes and stopping repeat incidents. In addition, part of the ongoing call to move away from “blaming the worker” to a “restorative” or “no-fault” response to incidents includes a dismissal of “root cause analysis” and the assertion it should not be used at all. Michael Fears argues that Safety 2.0 has misdiagnosed the problem and proposed the wrong treatments – but he also argues that Safety 2.0 does provide a key insight to improving safety investigations (context drives behaviour), even if it fails to effectively connect the dots. Drawing on contemporary human and organizational behaviour research, insights from the Safety 2.0 literature, and the experience gained from dozens of high-level investigations, Michael Fears shows how the Big Five principle “context drives behaviour” is a practical solution to improve investigations and shift organizational thinking.  Michael demonstrates through case studies how deliberately considering context to analysis can help expose the incentives, limitations, and forces that drive individual and group behaviour. This opens the door to a broader understanding of incident dynamics that moves beyond “unsafe practices” or “substandard acts”. In addition, Michael shows how organizations can continue to use most current root cause analysis models while applying a contextual lens to help organizations move from blame to understanding.
Speaker: Michael Fears, BA, MA ABD PhD, CRSP

Session 4B: 
Making Sense of the Data
You are collecting near-miss reports, behavioral observations, conducting more inspections, and other data… Now what? Many organizations gather data and generate reports, but not all are using this information to effectively manage and make better decisions. This presentation will examine common safety metrics, but more importantly: what to do with them. Using basic tools, this presentation will demonstrate how organizations can better track and measure their leading indicator data and what to do with the results. It is directed towards health and safety practitioners that are new to the world of statistics, and small to midsize organizations that don’t have the resources for expensive analytics software.
Speaker: Ryan Davis, MBA, CRSP, CSP, CHSC, CIT,  Statera Risk Management Inc., President, Spruce Grove, Alberta

Session 4C: 
WorkSafeBC Resources for Safety Committees (invited)
Description to Follow
Speaker: To Be Announced

Session 4D: 
To Be Announced 
Description to Follow
Speaker: To Be Announced

Tuesday April 21, 2026

7:00am

Registration and Safety Tradeshow Open

8:30 – 9:45am

Session 6A:
Wildfire Personal Emergency Preparedness
Wildfires are becoming a regular part of BC summers, and families are looking for clear, trustworthy guidance – not fear, not overwhelm, but real solutions that work. This Disaster & Wildfire Preparedness session gives you practical, proven strategies to keep your loved ones safe before, during, and after an emergency. We’ll walk through simple wildfire risk-reduction steps, including key FireSmart-recommended practices, how and when to make the decision to evacuate, what to do if you’re not with your family, and the essential actions that make a massive difference in any disaster. I’ll share real-life stories that show why being prepared matters – and how it can truly impact outcomes. No matter what the emergency – wildfire, earthquake, power outage, or flood – you’ll leave feeling confident, prepared, and ready for whatever comes your way. This session gives you the tools to protect yourself, your family, and your pets – no panic, no overwhelm, just a plan that works
Speaker: Jackie Kloosterboer, Survive-It Disaster Preparedness

Session 6B:
Fitness for Duty in Action: From Misconceptions to Best Practices
This session addresses misconceptions that undermine drug and alcohol testing programs, focusing on modern risks such as fentanyl-laced cocaine and organized crime’s influence on workplace exposure. Attendees will learn how national substance use trends, legal frameworks, and best practices, such as CSA Z1008, shape credible fitness-for-duty programs. Emphasis is placed on supervisor accountability, consistent enforcement, and data-driven program improvement
Speaker: Dan Demers,  BCc, C-SAPA, CHSC, Director of Business Development, Cann/Amm  

Session 6C:
Verbal Tactics to De-Escalate Conflict 
Description to Follow
Speaker: Haley Whishaw, Arete Training

Session 6D:
The Ripple Effect: How Leadership Mindset Shapes Safety Culture
Every leader sends out ripples. Some build trust, clarity, and commitment. Others create confusion, fear, or disengagement. This session shows how leadership mindset is the single greatest driver of safety culture—and how to harness it with intention. At the core is a simple truth: safety is not a policy—it’s a value. When leaders frame safety as a non-negotiable core value, not just another shifting priority, it anchors every decision. That mindset trickles down through conversations, coaching moments, and even silence, shaping how teams think and act. This is not a lecture. It’s a highly interactive seminar designed to spark insight and action. Participants will work through exercises, tackle high-level questions, and experience firsthand how mindset shifts change outcomes. With engaging delivery, real-world stories, and practical frameworks, the session keeps energy high and learning memorable. The presentation is built around the 4 Ms of Safety Culture—Modeling, Messaging, Mindset, and Meaning—and unfolds through nine connected lessons:

Attendees will leave with: Tools to see how their own behaviors ripple outward, Practical strategies to align leadership mindset with core values, A clear path to move safety from compliance to culture. This session is insightful, interactive, and yes—fun. The ripple effect is already happening in your workplace. The question is: what kind of waves are you sending.
Speaker: Brian Hollett, CRSP, NCSO – Lead Consultant, Deluxe Safety Services

9:45 – 10:15am

Safety Tradeshow and Coffee Break

10:15 – 11:30am

Session 7A: 
Visual Design for Safer Workplaces
This presentation highlights the vital role of graphic design and visual communication in improving workplace safety and culture. Presented by a safety professional who is also a graphics design expert, this practical and real world based sessino shares how often overlooked, clear and purposeful design can significantly enhance comprehension, influence behavior, and reduce incidents. The session explores how effective signage, messaging, and media contribute to safety compliance and foster a proactive safety culture. Through interdisciplinary research, real-world case studies, and practical design principles, attendees will gain insights into how intentional design serves as a strategic tool—not just an aesthetic choice—for risk reduction and workforce engagement across various industries.
Speaker: Simon Miles

Session 7B: 
Can You Dig It? Protecting Critical infrastructure, One Click At A Time
Sharing the good news about increasingly successful utility damage prevention initiatives across BC! This engaging panel will bring together industry experts from the oil, gas, and hydro sectors. Moderated by a seasoned professional from BC 1 Call, together they’ll explore how enhanced strategies for safe excavation, regulatory compliance, and cross-industry collaboration are driving down incidents and making communities safer. Attendees with gain insights into decreasing strikes to underground infrastructure, real-world case studies, industry safety standards, and practical steps to reduce risk.
Moderator: Donna Grant, President, BC 1 Call. Panelists From: Trans Mountain Pipeline, Fortis BC, BC Hydro

Session 7C: 
Mental Health First Aid
If I sprain my Ankle, chances are you’ll know what to do. If I have a panic attack, chances are you won’t. Organizations across Canada are recognizing the tremendous cost in both human and financial terms of mental health issues in and out of the workplace. They are seeking to address and help those who may be facing mental health challenges by training designated in-house staff in Mental Health First Aid with the intention of providing initial support to someone who may be developing or experiencing a mental health issue. If a crisis does arise, a MHFA trained person can take appropriate steps that may help to reduce the harm that can result. This session provides an overview of mental health first aid and how you can get involved in implementing a similar program in their workplace.
Speaker: Laurie Lowes, Delta BC. Canadian Mental Health Association certified MHFA trainer

Session 7D: 
To Be Announced 
Description to Follow
Speaker: To Be Announced

11:30am – 12:45pm

Safety Tradeshow and Lunch (On own for lunch. Tradeshow closes at 12:45pm)

12:45 – 2:00pm – Super Sessions

Super Session 8A: 
Think Before You Prompt: Artificial Intelligence in the Real World
In this keynote, David Dunham shows how artificial intelligence can awaken the dormant storyteller, designer, and strategist in every safety committee member or safety professional . Tracing his own journey from conventional practice to AI-augmented creativity, he reveals why ignoring or criticizing the technology leaves vast potential untapped. By treating AI as a co-creator that expands reach, sharpens judgment, and makes safety messages resonate, David illustrates how thoughtful prompting amplifies—rather than replaces—professional expertise, helping build workplaces that are not only safer but more engaging for everyone.
Speaker: David Dunham, Pragmatic Safety Services

Super Session 8B: 
Challenging Assumptions Behind Health & Safety Thinking 

Drawing on psychology, behavioural economics, Safety 2.0, and decades of meddling in safety programs, Michael Fears contends there are several assumptions, slogans, or common themes in health and safety thinking that are less helpful than we think – they may even be harmful. As a recovering academic and 20+ years as a boots-on-the-ground safety guy, Michael Fears picks apart common mantras such as “zero incidents can be achieved”, “safety rewards develop safe behaviours”, and “safety is our top priority”.

Often “saying the quiet parts out loud”, Michael links research, direct experience, and many hours of professional engagement over adult beverages to show that safety thinking has increasingly fallen prey to some sketchy ideas – flawed  assumptions, outright myths, and even our own “golden calves”. He shows how each impacts safety programs for good and bad, and highlights when they can result in the opposite of what we intended. Eternally optimistic with book and beer in hand, Michael also suggests alternative thinking that aligns better with reality and includes workable solutions to mitigate the potential damage that our good intentions may have created.
Speaker: Michael Fears, BA, MA ABD PhD, CRSP

2:00 – 2:15pm

Room Change

2:15 – 3:30pm

Closing Keynote:Moments of Impact by Tom Wilson

My name is Tom. I am the sole survivor of an unsurviveable plane crash. In 2008, I lost 7 co-workers and friends, including the plane’s pilot, in a plane crash off the coast of British Columbia. I barely escaped the accident with my life, and I barely escaped the demons that followed.

What I did in the moments that led up to the crash weigh heavy on me every day. If I had only spoken up, my friends might still be alive. What I’ve done in the days and years following the crash have taken me from the darkest depths to the highest highs.

Today, I live to share my story and encourage people who hear it to consider how they handle the Moments of Impact in their lives, and how to live a life with intention and awareness.

Tom’s life goal is to tell his story to as many people as possible, and have every single person come away with a renewed sense of ownership over their own life and decisions, awareness of their risk tolerance, and their behavioural tendencies when under pressure. Tom’s message is applicable to any audience who wants to live with more awareness, intention, and joy. It is especially impactful for organizations driving a safety-first culture.

3:30pm – Conference Concludes

_______________________________________________________________________________

Post-Conference Courses:

Wednesday April 22, 2026

8:30am – 4:30pm

Course PC-1
Fundamentals for Joint Health and Safety Committees Course  
This course is ideal for new safety committee members needing to comply with WorkSafeBC’s Safety Committee Member training regulations as well as existing members looking to upgrade their safety knowledge and skills. If your organization is setting up its first safety committee or looking to makes its existing committee more effective, this one day course is just what you need.

Topics include: applying the process of safety inspections and accident investigations, participating in constructive committee meetings, helping your committee work together and much more.
Fees:
$265.00 (register by Mar. 19, 2026)
$295.00 (after Mar. 19, 2026)
GST extra

Course PC-2
Accident/Incident Investigation Course  
Great course for safety committee members, supervisors or anyone who is required to conduct and/or review accidents and incidents in the workplace. It will help you to effectively investigate accidents with the objective of reducing or preventing future accidents. This is one of our most popular courses.
Fees:
$295.00 (register by Mar. 19, 2026)
$395.00 (after Mar. 19, 2026)
GST extra

Course PC-3
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment Course
A fundamental concept in managing occupational health and safety (and also in many WorkSafeBC’s regulations) is the recognition, assessment and control of hazards. The process is commonly referred to as Hazard Identification or Risk Assessment. But how do you determine what is a hazard and how do you find hidden hazards before someone gets hurt? This course will assist you in recognizing and rating the severity of workplace hazards and explore common strategies for controlling them. A great course for supervisors, managers and safety committee members.
Fees:
$295.00 (register by Mar. 19, 2026)
$395.00 (after Mar. 19, 2026)
GST extra

Course PC-4
Supervisors Safety Training Course
Supervisors are arguably the most influential people in preventing workplace incidents and injuries. But only if they understand their key role and have the specific skills needed to follow through on that understanding. If they don’t or worse, have never been taught how to supervisor for safety as part of the job, then accidents and injuries nearly always follow. This jam-packed one day course guides new or experienced supervisors through the fundamentals they need to ensure safety on the job.
Fees:
$295.00 (register by Mar. 19, 2026)
$395.00 (after Mar. 19, 2026)
GST Extra