A leading wildfire evacuation expert is set to challenge how Saskatchewan communities prepare for and respond to increasingly frequent seasonal wildfires at an upcoming regional disaster conference.
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Alex Post, the emergency management specialist with the Saskatoon Tribal Council, will headline a key breakout session at the annual Bordering on Disaster Conference, scheduled for Oct. 14 and 15 at the Lloydminster Exhibition Association’s WLS Convention Centre.
Post’s presentation, titled “Ready to Host: Strengthening First Nation Wildfire Evacuation Preparedness,” aims to shift the emergency narrative from reactive crisis management to proactive, community-led planning.
“Wildfires are becoming more frequent, with smoke hours, the number of fires, area burned, and evacuee counts continuing to reach record levels,” organizers said in a release, noting that these highly predictable seasonal events are still too often treated as unexpected emergencies.
During his session, Post will introduce his newly developed Evacuee Hosting Quick Reference Guide for First Nation Communities. The practical, easy-to-use resource is designed to help First Nations establish safe, welcoming, healthy, and culturally informed spaces when hosting evacuees from neighbouring areas during active emergencies.
Post, who supports seven member First Nations in the Treaty 6 territory, holds a degree in disaster and emergency management from York University. He is an Associate Business Continuity Professional and an Incident Command System instructor known for his hands-on, community-first planning strategies.
The two-day conference, operating under the theme “Beyond the Expected,” will bring together municipal leaders, emergency responders, and non-profits to share real-world emergency strategies and showcase a robust industry trade show.
Delegates can access an extended early-bird registration rate of $250 until Aug. 10, which includes entry into a promotional prize draw sponsored by ATCO. Regular admission is $300 starting Aug. 11, with registration closing on Sept. 7. Single-day passes are available for $150.
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