Strengthening community resilience: an age-friendly and Indigenous-inclusive approach to emergency preparedness 

ByPatrick Dunne
Residents look on as rising floodwaters cut off a local road, underscoring the need for stronger community preparedness.
Residents look on as rising floodwaters cut off a local road, underscoring the need for stronger community preparedness.

Communities across B.C. are invited to join an Age-friendly Communities webinar on January 14, 2025, at 10:30 am PST, exploring how inclusive and Indigenous-informed approaches can strengthen emergency preparedness for people of all ages. 

As climate-driven emergencies such as wildfires, floods and extreme heat events become increasingly common, communities are recognizing the need for preparedness plans that reflect the diverse needs of residents. This one-hour session will highlight how applying an age-friendly lens – combined with Indigenous knowledge and leadership – can improve communication, coordination, and supports for older adults, caregivers and others who may be more affected during emergencies. 

The webinar will share practical tools and community examples showing how inclusive, equitable preparedness strategies can be incorporated at the local level. Participants will learn from real-life examples and leave with resources they can start using immediately. 

Featured Speakers 

  • Kaye Bright, Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement Advisor, First Nations’ Emergency Services Society (FNESS). Kaye is an experienced emergency management professional who has spent more than a decade supporting First Nations communities across B.C., strengthening community-led disaster risk reduction and culturally grounded emergency planning. As Strategic Partnerships & Community Engagement Advisor at FNESS, she leads initiatives in capacity building, response coordination, and interagency collaboration that enhance readiness and resilience. 
  • The Resort Municipality of Whistler. In 2023, the Resort Municipality of Whistler completed an Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults Assessment and Awareness Campaign to strengthen its age-friendly initiatives. This initiative focused on strengthening emergency preparedness planning to better support the safety, well-being, and social inclusion of older adults in the community. 

Together, they will share insights on age-friendly planning, community-led strategies, and the role of Indigenous Elders and knowledge keepers in strengthening emergency resilience. 

The session will include: 

  • An expert presentation on inclusive, age-friendly emergency planning with an Indigenous lens. 
  • A community case example demonstrating on-the-ground implementation. 
  • A concluding Q&A discussion to explore challenges and share approaches. 

This webinar is designed for municipal and Indigenous governments, emergency-management practitioners, community organizations, and anyone interested in building safer, more connected communities. 

Webinar Registration