In today’s rapidly changing world, creating safe, secure, and seamless events isn’t optional—it’s essential. Whether you’re producing large-scale festivals, corporate events, sports competitions, theatre productions, or local community gatherings, the Event Safety Alliance Canada Conference is where industry professionals come together to learn, share, and lead.

What You’ll Gain:

• Expert Insights from safety leaders, live event professionals, and emergency response planners
• Real-World Case Studies on what worked (and what didn’t) in live event scenarios
• Opportunity to attend sessions and workshops with hands-on training in crowd management, severe weather planning, risk management, and more
• Networking Opportunities with peers, partners, and vendors in the live event industry

Whether you're in event production, venue operations, security, or logistics—this conference equips you with the tools to protect your people, your attendees, your brand, and your bottom line.

Don’t wait until something goes wrong to get it right. Join us at the Event Safety Alliance Canada Conference - where preparation meets innovation.

Who Should Attend: 

• Event organizers
• Event production
• Venue operations
• Suppliers
• Security and medical providers
• Labour providers
• Logistics
• Colleges and universities
• Authorities having jurisdiction (law enforcement, fire safety, EMS, municipal emergency management, etc.)
• Anyone with a role in these areas of work

SESSIONS

Scott Johnson Keynote - Safety is Leadership in its Truest Form | Annemarie Roe

Sponsored By: Scott Pollard & Suzannah Patmios

Considering the Options: Real-World Safety Scenarios | John Badcock (moderator), Aaron Billesberger, Kerrie Blizard, Jason Gordon, Cindy Sypher

In this interactive session, participants will work through a series of real-world safety scenarios drawn from across the live event industry. Each scenario will present multiple possible response options, and attendees will have the chance to discuss their reasoning in small groups before sharing perspectives with the room. A panel of experts representing different disciplines (e.g., e.g.,occupational health and safety, public safety, engineering, security and crowds) will then weigh in, highlighting key considerations and lessons learned.

Rather than focusing on a single “right answer,” this session emphasizes the process of risk assessment: what information is needed, how decisions are made under pressure, and how those decisions are communicated. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to analyze emerging safety challenges and the value of collaborative problem-solving.

Pink Bows Foundation - Turning Tragedy into Action | Stephanie Stegall (moderator), Steve Allen, Bryan Huneycutt, Tim Roberts

We will go through what the Foundation has done and plans to do since the 2021 Astroworld Crowd Crush taking 10 lives - including the Pink Bows Safe Space, Showstop Course and plans for additional continued education learning options.

Radical Inclusion - Reimagining the Future of Live Entertainment and Events | David Connolly

The future of live entertainment and events depends on more than just innovation—it requires radical inclusion. In this compelling keynote, David Connolly, the first amputee on Broadway and now an acclaimed Artistic Director, Educator, and Disability Inclusion Advocate, shares his powerful personal journey and professional insights to challenge how we define creativity, safety, and access.

David invites us to reimagine what's possible in our industry by connecting the dots between empathy, imagination, and systemic change. Highlighting how every technological and creative breakthrough begins with the question “what if…?”, he emphasizes that both the analytical (left brain) and creative (right brain) are essential in building safer, more inclusive experiences for all.

Whether you're producing a major festival, corporate event, theatrical production, or community gathering, this keynote will encourage you to rethink your role in dismantling historical barriers and championing a more equitable, innovative future in the live event space.

Day 2 Keynote: The FIFA World Cup 2026 - Safety Planning for the World's Greatest Tournament | Peter Code

Sponsored By: Encore Canada

Next summer, for the first time ever, the world’s greatest tournament, the FIFA World Cup, will be played in North America, in three separate countries, in sixteen separate cities, with 48 teams squaring off over 104 matches: the largest FIFA World Cup in history.

6 million fans will watch the drama unfold from inside the stadiums, with an additional 11 million fans watching the action at FIFA Fan Festival sites at each host city.

All of this unfolding across three countries, each with their own unique federal laws, norms and cultures. All of this within sixteen cities, each with their own municipal, provincial and state laws; each with their own challenges in relation to mobility, stadium size and capacity.

An event this size requires a new vision and approach to safety and security planning. A new vision and approach that embraces collaboration as its foundation.

With collaboration comes trust, and with trust comes safety.

Breakout Session | Peer to Peer Conversations | ESAC Board of Directors & Friends

This session creates an opportunity for different sectors to connect with their peers to discuss key topics. Facilitated by some of the best in the industry, these conversations will dig into specific health and safety challenges that we face every day.

Breakout Session | Harm Reduction in (the) House: Bass Coast Music and Arts Festival | Stacey Forrester

Bass Coast Music Festival’s harm reduction program is an in-house model that trains and mobilizes apx. 70 trained volunteers across prevention, support, and mobile activations. From pre-show training delivered to all on-site crew, to asking artists to take a quiz (!!), custom video modules, peer-led chillout and more, this initiative embeds harm reduction into every layer of festival culture. With a dedicated space on the main drag of the event, presence at each stage and the support of the local community, Bass Coast’s approach demonstrates what’s possible when harm reduction is treated as a shared responsibility.

Breakout Session | Safer By Design | Dominic Housiaux

This session will explore the crucial role that event design and layout plays in making events safer for event personnel and attendees. The session will include examples, regulatory requirements and how creating a safer space will enhance creativity not constraint it. The session will look at solutions that are broadly applicable to both small and large events.

Breakout Session | Who Takes Care of the Crowd Outside? | Syan Schaap

This interactive session, using Mentimeter to engage participants, will explore how to improve Zone Ex management measures for public events. The focus will be primarily on free-to-access city festivals and sporting events, due to the challenges related to visitor numbers, crowd behaviors, the allocation of responsibilities among stakeholders, and the need for robust public-private partnerships. We will explore current safety and security risks in the Zone Ex area, how Zone Ex is currently managed, and discuss how we can develop more robust Zone Ex management procedures. Examples from different European events will be used for comparison with Canadian references from the audience.

Breakout Session | Beyond Show Control: Future of Event Safety | Julian Hoare

Show Control systems are employed throughout the Live Entertainment industry - from Theme Parks, Stadium Tours, to municipal light shows. This session will share how the safety logic inherent in these systems is being adapted and developed to move beyond the stage and brought to the audience. How it can be used to improve the user experience while creating safer spaces for people to gather.

Breakout Session | Psychology Meets Production: What Every Entertainment Leader Should Know About Human Behaviour | Bryan Huneycutt

Behind every successful production is a web of human decisions, made under pressure, in high-stakes environments, and often without time to reflect. This session explores how psychology intersects with live event production, revealing what every leader should understand about behavior, communication, and safety on the job.

We’ll begin with a short talk that introduces core behavioral concepts from psychology—like cognitive load, emotional regulation, and psychological safety, and connects them to real-world moments from festivals, theatre, touring, and technical production. From there, a guided panel of experienced industry professionals will share honest stories about leadership, miscommunication, burnout, and how human factors have shaped their crews for better or worse.

Through shared dialogue, we’ll examine how empathy, clarity, and behavioral awareness can improve team dynamics, reduce risk, and create healthier production environments. This isn’t about theory, it’s about understanding what drives people when things get hard, and how smarter leadership can turn stress into strength.

Whether you manage a show or support one, this session offers tools and reflection for building stronger, safer, more human-centered teams.

Breakout Session | Supporting Our Staff After a Critical Incident | Brian Bennett

Knowing what sequence of crisis intervention processes to use and for which individuals or groups at what times, and under what circumstances is crucial to all effective early intervention programs. This talk will present essential info for the assessment of both crisis situations and the effects of critical incident stress on staff. Learn to create and effective plan of action to assist those in crisis and complete a series of exercises designed to sharpen assessment and crisis planning skills. Strategic planning and tactical decision making are emphasized, as are rationales for choosing one method over another.

Objectives: strategic planning as it applies to crisis intervention.Who needs help, what help is required, when and how do we provide support?.

Breakout Session | School's In, Now What? Life Safety in Schools and the Live Event Industry | Chris Litfin

What do schools and live events have in common? It sounds like the setup to a joke, but it is a seriously useful question to consider. Schools and live events have a lot in common when it comes to planning for Crowd Management, Public Safety, and Severe Weather: attendees whose personal safety is not necessarily their first priority, older buildings which were never really designed to do what is expected of them in the modern era, and budgets which are woefully inadequate to do anything about it; yet the two sectors have a vastly different skillset and planning philosophy, and comparing and contrasting the two provides useful insights for both. Through case studies, we will investigate some schools, event venues, and event venues located within schools, with a focus on the questions “Does this plan actually work?”, “We’ve got everybody out of the building (or in a safe place), now what?”, and “What happens when the emergency services show up?”, then examine the answers to these questions in light of Life Safety Codes, ESTA Technical Standards, and industry good practices.

Breakout Session | What to Inspect When You're Inspecting | Evan Sandham

This session will look at the legislative requirements for regular workplace inspections, the frequency and scope of inspections, the role of the workplace Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC), and key areas to include in your inspections - from the mundane production office, to the stage and theatrical systems

Breakout Session | Training and Building Safety Culture Within a Gig Workforce | Kareem Pirani

This session will explore how Crew Supply, a Toronto-based audio-visual and production staffing company, has fostered a safety culture within its small organization and the company’s unique approach to training freelance production workers, which focuses on before-the-job training and hazard risk awareness. How do you effectively build a safety culture and train workers who work for multiple companies while working for you? How do you budget for a training program for workers who are not 100% committed to your organization due to the gig nature of their work? Where can you deliver maximum impact? These questions will be explored, with a detailed look into the implementation of Crew Supply’s health and safety program, safety training practices, resources and safety materials.

Breakout Session | Insuring the Spotlight: How Global Insurance Trends will Impact Canada's Live Event Scene | Neil Macpherson, Dylan MacTavish, Michael McDermott, Benjamin Rossington

The global insurance landscape is evolving rapidly, with significant implications for Canada’s live events industry. Adverse weather events, driven by climate change, are increasing in frequency and severity leading to heightened risks of event cancellations, potential injury to attendees and property damage. These global trends, along with social inflation and nuclear verdicts, are influencing insurance pricing, availability, and underwriting practices in Canada. For members of the ESAC, understanding and adapting to these shifts is critical.

Key insurance products such as event cancellation, general liability, adverse weather, and non-appearance insurance offer essential risk transfer mechanisms. Underwriters assess risk based on event type, location, safety protocols, and claims history. Demonstrating best practices — such as robust emergency planning, vendor management, and crowd management — can lead to more favorable policy terms and conditions.

Global pressures, including rising reinsurance costs and reduced insurer capacity, are impacting Canadian markets, making it vital for event organizers to proactively manage exposures. ESAC members face unique risks, including weather disruptions, crowd safety incidents, equipment loss, and cyber threats. Implementing comprehensive risk management strategies not only mitigates these exposures but also strengthens insurability.

The presentation will highlight the importance of aligning with industry best practices and leveraging appropriate insurance products to navigate an increasingly complex risk environment. By understanding how underwriters evaluate risk and how global trends influence local markets, ESAC members can protect their events and ensure long-term sustainability.

Breakout Session | Front of Stage Barrier Safety | Andy Hollinson

Sponsored By: EPS

Everyone who is involved in the use of front of stage barriers (venue managers, event organizers, engineers, crew and security) needs to understand the purpose of pit barriers and how to protect people within the barrier system. This session will focus on how to inspect and sign off on barriers and it includes a practical demonstration. 

ADHD in Entertainment and Events. Curse? Superpower? Or Both! | Rick Green

In 2001, comedy writer/producer/actor/director Rick Green was diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The knowledge was life-changing, but the resistance, scorn, and misinformation he encountered was shocking. His solution was to create the acclaimed PBS documentary, "ADD & Loving It?!”

In this talk Rick will bust 7 common myths and show how ADHD can affect every realm of life, for better or worse, depending on whether or not one knows they have it. About 4 to 6% of adults have inherited this unique, gene-driven neurology. Unfortunately most adults are undiagnosed. They struggle, believing they are lazy, weak-willed, or stupid. They wonder ‘What’s wrong with me?”

So getting a proper assessment is life changing. This is a good news diagnosis. "Suddenly my whole life makes sense!"

Rick knows in some situations has ADHD has given him an advantage. It's possible to be wildly successful. Just ask Channing Tatum, Emma Watson, Howie Mandel, or tens of thousands of people working television, theatre, music, film, and the arts. They have focused on their strengths, such as lateral thinking, risk-taking, cross-disciplinary thinking, a visual imagination, ideation, enthusiasm, novelty-seeking, and an ability to "hyper-focus when interested.”

The key to harnessing this unique neurology is to understand it is NOT an illness. You're not damaged or broken. You think and process information differently.

Rick will explore the long history of this ‘Hunter Mindset,’ then outline what constitutes a 'proper diagnosis,’ and conclude with simple strategies ADDers use to thrive.

Everyone Loves a (Safe) Parade | Steven Adelman

There is a surprisingly long list of things that have gone tragically wrong at parades and other events that take place on the streets of our cities and towns. This session will consider a variety of foreseeable risks and discuss ways to mitigate them based on the new American National Standard for Parade Safety, ANSI ES1.42-2025.

Breakout Session | Implementing the Event Alert System (EAS) and Why You Should Start Now | Kirsten Fleming

The Event Alert System (EAS) developed by Chicago Event Management (CEM) and increasingly adopted in the mass participation space, is a communication tool designed to keep participants, staff, and spectators informed during large-scale public events, such as marathons and festivals. The system, when implemented and executed correctly, provides timely updates on event conditions, safety information, and emergency alerts.

EAS uses a color-coded flag system—green, yellow, red, and black—to indicate the current status of the event based on factors like weather conditions, course congestion, and medical emergencies. For example, a green flag signals normal conditions, while a black flag indicates extreme conditions that may lead to event cancellation. These flags are prominently displayed at key points along the race course and communicated through digital platforms, public address systems, and event staff.

The primary goal of the EAS is to enhance situational awareness and safety for everyone involved. By providing clear, real-time information, the system helps participants make informed decisions and allows event organizers to coordinate effectively with city agencies and emergency responders. Events don't have to start from scratch, whether you are a small organization with small events or a larger staff with big audiences, this is a scalable system that is increasingly more important in the wake of climate change and external risk factors.

Breakout Session | The Criticality of Communication in Event Safety | Aaron Billesberger

This interactive session will examine the vital role communication plays in the planning and execution of any event. Participants will explore key areas including: (1) Building partnerships through communication with external stakeholders and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs); (2) pre-event communication with those working, responding to, and attending the event; and (3) effective communication during both normal and emergency operations, including Show Pause/Show Stop Protocols and emergency messaging.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Breakout Session | Stage Drapery Fire Safety: Ensuring Compliance, Mitigating Risks, and Managing Costs | Brad Davies

Fire Safety on stages is a real issue- drapes are naturally flammable and, when exposed to hot lights, or electrical sparks, there is an increased risk of fire. Flameproofing on drapes form an important part of a theater's fire safety system.
We review the different types of fabrics and flame retardant treatments available. In addition, we share practical knowledge from the field sharing little-known facts such as flame retardant wears off over time, and even Inherently Flame Retardant fabrics will become flammable with the accumulation of dust. Finally, we review how to make drapery compliant with the fire code without incurring the significant cost of replacement.

Stage Draperies require on-going care and maintenance to continue to look good and be safe. Presentation will discuss fabrics used in theatres, show tips on handling and caring for them to preserve their lifespan.

Breakout Session | What Goes Up Must Come Down - Safety! (Insider Insight for Non-Riggers) | Gary MacLeod

"What Goes Up Must Come Down...Safely," is a session for anyone overseeing or working alongside rigging operations, including Technical Directors, Production Managers, Site Supervisors, Health & Safety Professionals, and production workers who aren't riggers themselves. This session aims to demystify rigging concepts and terminology, and will introduce you to basic rigging equipment through a practical "show and tell" demonstration. You will learn to identify critical safety issues you must consider for your event and you'll gain a solid understanding of how proper scheduling and staffing contribute to safe and efficient rigging operations. You'll leave this session equipped with the knowledge and understanding necessary to better oversee and engage with rigging operations.

Breakout Session | Security Folk - Winnipeg Folk Festival - Community Based Trauma Informed Security | Nicole Anderson

We will present on the history and development of our Security Folk team. From our start at identifying the need for a different approach than contract security had to offer. Recognizing that the community of attendees were looking for security who understood the unique group of people who were attending. From this we started by developing and working with the province to train and license volunteers to meet the security needs of the event. Over the years we have further developed and grown, offering training in the areas of harm reduction, safer spaces, de-escalation strategies, what it means to be trauma – informed, mental health response and more. We are able to successfully recruit new candidates year to year. These folks commit to the training and we as an event spend the time and resources to have each new group of people complete 100 plus hours of training each year. This further offers the organization the opportunity to expand the training opportunities to other volunteers throughout the festival. Through this we have been able to adapt and expand other areas including safer spaces, harm reduction. Instead of looking at security separately we are able to better support and respond to our audience prioritizing safer spaces and trauma informed responses.

Breakout Session | The Swiss-Cheese "Cheesy" Approach to Contractor H&S Management | Claire Mocock

This session builds (remember, progress not perfection!) on Claire’s session in 2024 on Safety and Due Diligence for a Multi-Employer Workplace. Last year, Claire covered key roles, duties and definitions – while keeping things practical with a case study review and providing tangible resources of checklists, orientations, toolbox talks, pre-job planning and hazard assessments. This year, Claire will continue to build on this with helping event organizers understand “what” (and more importantly “how”) to execute their duties and demonstrate due diligence in a practical way and how to hold contractors and trades accountable for H&S duties and expectations when working on your worksite. We all hold a shared responsibility for safety to keep workplaces (and events) safe. The objective of this session is a national (and cheesy) approach in improving contractor H&S management for event multi-employer worksites because as “cheesy” as it sounds – we are all stronger and safer when we work together.

Breakout Session | Emergency Protocols After the Fall | Morgan Myler, Natasha D'Angelo

Sponsored By: IATSE 58

Suspension trauma remains a critical yet often misunderstood risk in fall protection and rescue planning. In this session, Morgan Myler, Vice President of IATSE Local 58 and safety educator, joins Natasha D’Angelo, Manager, Special Projects at WHSC, to present a collaborative approach to suspension trauma protocol. Together, they will outline the rationale behind their jointly developed best-practice response, drawing on field experience, medical insight, and evolving regulatory guidance. The session will include a brief background on traditional protocols, the limitations observed, and the adjustments made in their revised approach. A live demonstration of the recommended protocol will be conducted, highlighting key steps and safety considerations for rescuers and responders. This session aims to provide practical, evidence-informed guidance to help organizations update their own rescue plans.

Breakout Session Part 1 | Stampede Storms - An Applied Meteorologist's Point-of-View | Kevin Stanfield

The Calgary Stampede becomes a reasonably-sized city over its eleven day run. This discussion covers the key hazards we anticipate for the Stampede and its multitudinous threat vectors, how we monitor conditions, and how we work with the operations side to implement response.

Breakout Session Part 2 | From Fabric to Framework: Structural Integrity in Volatile Weather | Cindy Sypher

Sponsored By: Paradigm Rigging

Canada’s climate throws everything at us—from sudden squalls on the prairies to coastal windstorms and unpredictable northern cold snaps. In this session, we’ll explore how temporary structures—tents, inflatables, stages, and modular builds—can be designed, deployed, and reinforced to withstand severe weather events without compromising safety or performance.

Drawing from real-world case studies and field experience across fairs, festivals, emergency response, and commercial installations, Cindy Sypher will unpack the engineering principles, material choices, and risk mitigation strategies that separate a resilient build from a catastrophic failure. We’ll look at soft good mitigation strategies, how frameworks distribute load, and what happens when weather conditions exceed operational expectations.

This session is ideal for event producers, engineers, municipal planners, and anyone responsible for temporary infrastructure in Canada’s dynamic climate. Whether you're setting up a concert stage in downtown Toronto or deploying inflatable shelters in remote regions, you’ll leave with practical insights and actionable tools to improve safety, compliance, and confidence in your structures.

Let’s rethink what “temporary” really means—because when the weather turns volatile, your structure needs to be anything but.

Breakout Session | Violence Prevention in the Arts and Entertainment Industries | Daniel Farley, Caleigh Hoot

Workplace violence risks in the arts and entertainment industries are constantly evolving. In this session we will analyze the increased risk of violence and provide an overview of a customizable newly developed violence and harassment prevention toolkit to help employers, supervisors, and workers mitigate and manage the risk of violence and harassment. An overview of the following toolkit components will be provided:

We will examine how functioning internal responsibility systems support Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Programs and support a defense of due diligence while minimizing the risk of violence and harassment creating safe spaces to share the gift of arts and entertainment.

Breakout Session | Tabletop Exercise: Racing Against the Crisis | Camille McInnis, Martin Deslauriers
(session delivered in English, materials provided in English and Français)

Racing the Crisis is a high-energy, tabletop exercise where decision-makers must work together to navigate a fast-paced, immersive scenario inspired by the Grand Prix du Canada. The simulation includes evolving injects focused on incident management & emergency management, testing participants’ ability to respond under pressure.

The session will open with a short presentation on the importance of regularly testing protocols and team readiness. Participants will then be immersed in a dynamic scenario that challenges cross-functional coordination, rapid decision-making, and crisis leadership in a complex, high-traffic outdoor event setting.

Attendees will leave not only with insights from the simulation, but also with a practical toolkit to help them design and lead tabletop exercises within their own organizations.

Can you stay in control when the pace picks up and the stakes get real?

The Taylor Effect - Hosting Mega Events & Concerts | Jodie Shebib, Keith MacDonald

In 2024, Taylor Swift’s record-breaking Eras Tour made its highly anticipated stop in Vancouver, drawing over 150,000 fans across three sold-out nights. While the spotlight was on the stage, the real show was happening behind the scenes—where the City of Vancouver’s permitting office and the Vancouver Police Department worked in lockstep to ensure the safety, security, and seamless execution of one of the largest events in the city’s history.

This session offers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the planning, coordination, and real-time decision-making that went into managing a mega-event in an urban environment. Representatives from the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police will walk attendees through the permitting process, inter-agency collaboration, crowd management strategies, and public safety protocols that were deployed before, during, and after the concerts.

From navigating complex municipal requirements to managing crowd dynamics in and around BC Place, this session will explore the challenges and successes of hosting a global superstar in a bustling metropolitan setting. It will also highlight the importance of proactive planning, stakeholder communication, and adaptive response strategies in ensuring public safety and community well-being during high-profile events.

Whether you're involved in municipal operations, event production, or public safety, this session will provide a compelling case study of how cities can rise to the occasion when the world is watching.

Sailing Through Heavy Rain and High Winds at a World Circuit Sailing Race | Mike Gillett

This presentation is about an international sailing event, often referred to as the F1 of sailing with catamaran boats reaching speeds up to 100 km/hr. This event was held in Halifax in June 2024, drew thousands of people to both sides of the harbour, and shut down marine and air traffic in an unprecedented fashion. Mike Gillett will provide insight into the steps that were taken by event organizers to protect everyone on the water and on land during this exciting event.

2025 CONFERENCE HOST

SCOTT JOHNSON KEYNOTE

DAY 2 KEYNOTE

SPEAKERS