2025 Summer Update

Serving on the Board of a small association like BCAEM means wearing many hats. There’s no single succinct handbook for how to grow a professional body fully managed by volunteers with uniquely complex day jobs and lives, all while navigating the intricacies of the Societies Act. We learn our way through this with commitment, learning, and an enormous amount of volunteer time.

At our 2024 Annual General Meeting, members overwhelmingly supported the adoption of new bylaws and the creation of new membership categories. Since then, the Board has been working to implement those changes — not only with care and consistency, but with a deep commitment to fairness. Every Board member will go through the same application process for upgraded membership as the rest of the community, setting a clear benchmark for what leadership in this profession should look like.

We’d also like to acknowledge that Director Christina Carbrey has stepped down from the Board. Her contributions have been greatly valued, and we’re pleased she plans to stay connected as a member. Transitions like these are a natural part of any volunteer organization, especially in a field like ours where personal and professional capacity are stretched every day.

A special thank you to members Jen McEachern for helping us to learn more about website accessibility tools and options, Dan Seguin and Kyle McGhee for instrumental website support, and the members on the Membership Committee: Deb Borsos, Sybille Sanderson, Liam Clifford, and Heather Crozier.

Our (currently five-person) Board continues to work hard behind the scenes. Some of that work isn’t always visible — like negotiating outdated banking systems or transitioning from paper-based financial practices to modern, digital tools. These tasks may seem mundane, but they’re essential for building a strong foundation for a future-ready association.

Current initiatives:

• Bringing awareness to the existing website features
• Development of a web-based job board
• Sharing DEM-specific job ads upon request
• Tidying up banking systems and processes
• Exploring partnerships with post secondary institutions
• Exploring partnerships with other DEM-representative associations
• Continuing efforts with the DEM Core Competency Working Group
• Advancing the DEM-stress research project with York University & Dr. Jennifer Spinney

If you haven’t yet reviewed the 2024 Bylaws or the AGM Report, we encourage you to check them out now:
🔗 Bylaws
🔗 AGM Report

We’re excited to share that the Membership Class Management Policy is now in the hands of the Membership Committee for final review. Once complete, all Associate members will have the opportunity to upgrade their membership — at no extra upgrade cost — to either Professional or Practitioner status.

• Professional Members: Minimum 6 years of experience, which may include a blend of work and education.
• Practitioner Members: Minimum 1 year of relevant experience or training.
  (Full details are in the bylaws and AGM report.)

Upgrading your membership means gaining the right to vote, lead committees or working groups, and — if you’re a Professional Member — run for the Board. With several Board seats opening at the next AGM, now is the time to prepare your documents and get ready to step into leadership.

Why upgrade?

Because our field needs strong, skilled voices to shape its future — and that starts with representation, inclusion, and professionalism. The BCAEM is here to amplify your contributions and support your growth.

As a reminder, our core focus areas include:

• Upholding ethics, values, and standards in emergency management
• Elevating awareness of our profession and its vital public role
• Supporting professional development, training, and research
• Building and reinforcing core competencies
• Connecting BC emergency managers to broader provincial, national, and global networks

Let’s keep building this together.
💪 Update your profile, share your upcoming courses on the Community Calendar, and prepare to make your mark on the future of disaster and emergency management in BC.

It’s a spicy season. Take action to reduce your fire risks at home, learn more about the Single Egress Stairwell BC Building Code softening, and advocacy from a myriad of other organizations on this front, and hydrate while you enjoy all the natural opportunities of being in this beautiful province.

~ Tarina Colledge, Chair