The resilience of Okanagan communities is tested by climate change almost every year, with new challenges always on the horizon. What can we do to ensure our communities are prepared for future wildfires, have access to more sustainable building practices, and are resilient in the face of a changing environment?

Join UBC Okanagan Principal Dr. Lesley Cormack on May 1 for a special after-work event as she provides an in-depth look at what UBC Okanagan is doing to “future-proof” our communities.

Joining Dr. Cormack on stage will be three outstanding researchers who will offer a glimpse into their leading-edge work. Afterward, Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dan Rogers will moderate an audience Q&A.

We encourage everyone to come and learn more about how UBC Okanagan is equipping the Okanagan to be more resilient and enjoy a special after-hours networking opportunity with fellow Chamber members.

 Speakers

Dr. Lesley Cormack is Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBC’s Okanagan campus. Dr. Cormack is an experienced academic administrator and an historian of early modern science. She is a strong advocate for public education and believes in the power of culture and the value of storytelling, with a particular love for live theatre.

Dr. Sumi Siddiqua is a Professor in the UBC Okanagan School of Engineering and a geo-environmental engineer who studies soils and the environment. Her recent research includes exploring the use of pulp mill by-products to improve building materials and construction sustainability. She is currently working with local industry partners to implement her research in our community.

Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais is an Assistant Professor in UBC Okanagan’s Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science. A former wildland firefighter turned professor and researcher, his work at the intersection of remote sensing and ecology includes explorations of how communities can adapt to increasing wildfires, examining wildfire patterns, detection and the role of fire in our landscape.

Andreas Rutkauskas is a Lecturer in UBC Okanagan’s Faculty of Critical and Creative Studies where he teaches photography and visual art. One facet of his research focuses on the aftermath and regeneration of landscapes after wildfires. As climate patterns continue to change, Andreas explores how we can live more cooperatively with fire in a cultural context.

Image: Glenna Turnbull, Significant Forms at the Kelowna Art Gallery, 2024

In partnership with  

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Registration opens at 4:30PM with the event to begin at 4:45PM.

Purchase Deadline: Tickets MUST be purchased before NOON on Monday April 29, 2024

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be received 5 business days prior to the event.