This Canadian Wildfire Conference is unique in its mandate to bring together the stakeholders of wildfire suppression, including air operators, fire departments, technology and service suppliers, and government agencies from across North America. This platform is made possible by combined efforts of four Annex Business Media brands, each with their own foothold in a sector to unite ground and air – Wings, Helicopters, Fire Fighting in Canada and Canadian Firefighter.

We invite you to network, collaborate and learn with your peers in wildfire suppression through a range of social, exhibitor and educational programs. Our entire conference is designed to bring you together to advance the sector through cooperative thought leadership. Highlights of this year’s sessions include:

• A keynote from award-winning author John Vaillant. His book Fire Weather is largely based on unfiltered discussions with ground crew from the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire.
• Indigenous Stewardship, First Nations Needs: How municipalities, agencies and private operations can better engage with and learn from Indigenous forest management.
• Innovations in Structure Protection Panel: Exploring operational support during interface wildfires, how air operators and municipal fire departments can work closer together, tactics leading the way on the front lines.
• Mental Health and Fatigue Management: How fire departments, agencies, and the aviation sector best support their personnel’s mental health and wellbeing.
• BC Wildfire’s 2025 Round-Up: BC Wildfire Service will share its reflections and lessons from 2025’s wildfire season from the perspective of ground and air.
• Forest Management and Prescribed Burns: Modern methodology behind prescribed fires and other operational assets to achieve specific land management objectives.
• The Future of Wildfire Suppression, Detection: Deep dive into the technological and strategic innovations in key areas like initial attack, structure protection, NVIS, command and control.

In addition to John Vaillant, the conference will provide insight on advancements in wildfire suppression from a range of sector leaders, such as:

• Robert Gallagher, CEO, Coldstream Helicopters
• Sean Rickards, Director of Operations, Yellowhead Helicopters
• Travis Mizera, General Manager, Airborne Energy Solutions
• Shane Palmer, Director of Operations, VIH Helicopters
• J.J. Lum, Aviation Specialist, BC Wildfire Service
• Wayne Coulson, CEO, Coulson Aviation
• Mike Larsson, Fire Chief, Penticton
• Larry Watkinson, Deputy Fire Chief, Kelowna
• Blaine Wiggins, Chief Operating Officer, National Indigenous Fire Safety Council
• Steve Farina, Firefighter, Mental Health Advocate, former Executive Vice President of the BC Professional Fire Fighters’ Association