Conference agenda.

Why you should join us

The conference offers a wide range of opportunities to learn, connect, and engage. From keynote presentations and interactive panels to hands-on workshops, outdoor activities, and facilitated discussions, the program combines big-picture insight with practical, real-world learning. Whether you want to build skills, explore new ideas, or connect with others across the recreation sector, you’ll find meaningful ways to participate throughout the event.

Don’t miss three days of learning, connection, and inspiration with leaders across BC’s outdoor recreation sector.

More than 75% of all tickets are sold - don’t miss out.

On-site activities & services

KORE Re-Hub Mobile Repair Trailer

Get your outdoor gear repaired for free at the conference. The KORE Re-Hub Tour will be on-site with its mobile repair trailer, offering repairs for jackets, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and other soft goods.

Drop off your clean items during the day and pick them up later. Professional technicians will be on hand with industrial sewing machines, heat welders, and more. Run by the Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE), the Re-Hub Tour helps keep gear in use and out of the landfill.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Optional pre-conference workshops

9:00 AM–4:00 PM (TRU/off-site)

Kick off the conference with optional, hands-on learning opportunities focused on practical skills and leadership in outdoor recreation. Planned topics include trail building, wildlife safety, off-road vehicle skills and safety, and governance, with sessions led by experienced practitioners. Some workshops will take place at TRU, while others may be hosted off-site for field-based learning. 

ORCBC members will receive early access to registration. Stay tuned for updates on topics and registration details.

Registration + expo

4:00–6:00 PM (Rotunda)

Check in, pick up your conference materials, and connect with fellow attendees. Visit exhibitor tables to learn about programs, services, and initiatives from partners across the outdoor recreation sector. This is a great opportunity to network, explore resources, and kick off the conference.

Mingler with BCPARF

4:30–6:00 PM (Rotunda)

Meet and mingle with attendees of the BC Protected Areas Research Forum. The Forum is a meeting of government agencies and land managers from across the province and beyond, who will be wrapping up their conference just as ours gets going. This shared event is a unique opportunity to bridge two communities that are working toward the same goal from different angles. 

Welcome reception

6:00 PM (Horticultural Gardens, TRU)

Join us for an evening of connection in the Horticultural Gardens at TRU. Meet fellow attendees, speakers, and partners and enjoy light refreshments and food, with a cash bar available.

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Registration and breakfast

7:00–7:45 AM (Grand Hall)

Opening session

7:45–9:30 AM (Grand Hall)

Our opening session will prepare attendees for the discussions and learning ahead. The conference will begin with welcomes from members of Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, Louise Pedersen (ORCBC), and Lisa White (Tourism Kamloops). Attendees will then hear a keynote from John Hawkings, Executive Lead for Recreation Strategy & Service Transformation with the Ministry of Environment and Parks, on the provincial government’s evolving vision for outdoor recreation. Moderated by Peter Larose (Larose Research and Strategy), Shelley Witzky from the Adams Lake Indian Band will tell us about the relationship-building that went into the Shuswap Landmarks Project, and Tom Eustache from the Simpcw First Nation will share the transformation that followed a mountain bike trail-building project at Chu Chua. The conversations will show that good things happen when we find common ground.

Breakout sessions

9:45-10:30 am

The following sessions run at the same time. Participants will select one session to attend.

Trail & Recreation Project Delivery
Tyler Wilkes (RC Strategies)
Public demand and expectations for high-quality recreational experiences are rising, but resources to build, maintain, and manage infrastructure are increasingly limited. Making the most of resources is more important than ever. This presentation will share tips and best practices for efficient and effective project planning and execution at any stage of the recreation infrastructure lifecycle.

Making Fishing More Accessible
Matt Jennings (BC Fishing Tourism Association), Mike Gass (Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC) and Jesse Zeman (BC Wildlife Federation)
Three leaders in recreational fishing in B.C. will share the stage to highlight the ongoing work to make the sport more accessible, in every sense of the word. In this wide-ranging conversation, we’ll hear about efforts to build accessible docks and boat launches, balancing tourism promotion and angling opportunities, and efforts to manage invasive species, fish conservation and funding challenges and opportunities.

How Outdoor Organizations can Reduce Risk Through Insurance and Waivers
Jon Heshka (Thompson Rivers University) and Rachela Pollock (Acera Insurance)
Insurance and waivers are ubiquitous in outdoor recreation and adventure sports. Organizations that run outdoor events or trips ought to have insurance and administer waivers as part of their approach to risk management. This presentation will examine and help outdoor organizations understand how to reduce their risk exposure. It will clarify and make insurance less confusing as well as offer up-to-date waiver best practices using case studies.

From Problems to Solutions: Reverse Engineering, Recreation, Zoning, and Trail Classification
Magi Scallion, Mark Barsevskis and Andrea de Vries (McElhanney). This workshop is 90 minutes long and overlaps with the next session.
Join an interactive workshop that starts by identifying common trail-use problems and then moves on to recreation zoning and trail-classification solutions. Participants will be provided with a new way to think about policy as it relates to trails. This is a hands-on session, and attendees will leave with behavioural design tools to help with their unique trail problems.

Networking & Refreshments

10:30-11:00 am

Enjoy a snack, network with fellow attendees, and meet Mark Angelo, founder of BC and World Rivers Day. He will be signing copies of his book River Magic: Tales from a Life on 1000 Rivers and will stick around to introduce his new film, The Rewilders, during the Community Sharing Session later this afternoon. 

Breakout sessions

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

Please note that the following sessions run at the same time. Participants will select one session to attend, unless they signed up for From Problems to Solutions, which will continue through this time.

Working with Motorized Groups
Kristin Parsons (Quad Riders ATV Association of BC), Peter Sprague (BC Off Road Motorcycle Association), Amber Lane (BC Snowmobile Federation - BCSF) and Kim Reeves (Four Wheel Drive Association of BC - 4WDABC)
Motorized recreation groups are often misunderstood, but motorized recreation literally drives non-motorized recreation...to their trailheads! Partnerships between these groups across British Columbia are delivering some of the most significant trail infrastructure, stewardship, and collaborative recreation initiatives in the province.

In this panel session, representatives from the Back Country Powersports Coalition (BCPSC) will highlight the scale and impact of their work, which many in the broader recreation sector may not be fully aware of. Collectively, coalition partners and affiliated organizations support and maintain an estimated 15,000 – 20,000 km of multi-use trails, along with staging areas, many dozens of recreation sites/campgrounds, and critical backcountry infrastructure used by a wide range of recreationists, including hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians, kayakers, canoeists, and dog walkers.

The session will showcase how formal partnerships—such as Memorandums of Understanding between ATVBC and 4WDABC, as well as collaborations with non-motorized groups—are successfully delivering trail maintenance, stewardship programs, and multi-use trail initiatives that benefit entire communities. Panelists will also speak to the coalition’s advocacy work and how working together on shared priorities can strengthen outcomes for all recreation sectors.

Join this session to understand how cross sector collaborations unlocks even stronger, more sustainable outcomes for everyone

How to Build Financial Sustainability and Community Impact with Social Enterprise
Michael Greer (Elevate Outdoors), Kathleen Ayre (Kootenay Connex) and Segun Fatudimu (Impact Toolbox)
This panel discussion will explore how outdoor recreation organizations can build financial sustainability and community impact through social enterprise. The session will feature three practitioners with direct experience developing and supporting social enterprises in the BC outdoor recreation and nonprofit sector. They will cover what a social enterprise is and how it fits with non-profit regulations, how to adopt a social entrepreneurial mindset, and how to get started. 

Working with Private Landowners
Francis Guyver and Shalane Walsh (Mosaic Forest Management), Mat Moran (Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club) and Stewart Spooner (Kootenay Columbia Trails Society - KCTS)
More than 94 percent of B.C. is Crown Land, but that still leaves 47,000 square kilometres of private property. Recreating on private land brings significant challenges for landowners and the public, but as several trail destinations in B.C. show, it can be done successfully. In this session, representatives from Mosaic, a large private landowner on Vancouver Island, will share their efforts to improve access to recreation, including land access agreements with outdoor clubs. Joining the conversation will be representatives from Nanaimo and Kootenay outdoor clubs who have developed strong relationships with private landowners.

Lunch and keynote

12:00-1:00 PM (Grand Hall)

Over lunch, we will hear from keynote speaker Mark Angelo, co-founder of ORCBC and founder of BC and World Rivers Day. Mark will reflect on ORCBC’s early years, sharing stories and inspiration from decades of leadership in river conservation, stewardship, and outdoor recreation.

Breakout sessions

1:00-2:00 PM

The following sessions run at the same time. Participants will select one session to attend.

ReHub: Building Circular Infrastructure for B.C.’s Outdoor Recreation Economy
Kevin Pennock (Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise) and Michael Crowe (College of the Rockies)
Learn how collaborations between education institutions, the gear manufacturing industry and non-profits can strengthen B.C.’s outdoor recreation economy, while reducing waste at the same time. The ReHub Circular Technology Centre, developed through a collaboration between Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) and the College of the Rockies, is advancing a new model for the outdoor sector that connects gear repair, workforce training, and small-scale manufacturing. This session explores how circular infrastructure can extend the life of outdoor equipment while supporting skilled employment, regional innovation, and economic development.

The Value of Roundtables: Multi-Use Trails and the Shuswap Regional Trails Roundtable
Brian Pratt (4WDBC), Linda Buchanan (Backcountry Horsemen of BC), and Jen Bellhouse (Shuswap Trail Alliance)
The Shuswap Regional Trails Roundtable is one of the most successful examples of a collaborative approach to planning, developing, and maintaining recreational trails. Panellists representing motorized recreation, equestrian users, and the Shuswap Trail Alliance will share the Roundtable’s guiding values and principles, as well as the working groups formed to advance specific projects — including the management of shared trail networks for equestrian, mountain bike, motorized, and hiking users.

Quantifying the Outdoors: Early Economic Insights from BC’s Outdoor Recreation Economy
Wendy Koh (Ministry of Jobs & Economic Growth), K’ari Fischer (Ministry of Environment & Parks) and Rasim Jafarov (BC Stats)
How much does outdoor recreation contribute to B.C.’s economy? This session will share early insights from the BC Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Growth, the Ministry of Environment and Parks, and BC Stats to better understand the sector’s economic impact. Presenters will highlight how this work is beginning to quantify the direct and indirect contributions of outdoor recreation, support land-use and infrastructure planning, and inform economic development strategies. Attendees will also learn how the methodology can be applied to assess recreation’s economic impact in regions across B.C., and how organizations can use this emerging data.

Understanding Cumulative Effects and Recreation: Land Stewardship Planning for ʔa·kxam̓is q̓api qapsin (All Living Things)
Nikki Heim (Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative - Y2Y) and Chad Luke (Ktunaxa Nation)
What are cumulative effects, and what’s the impact of recreation? This presentation will provide an overview of a novel and holistic project, led by the Ktunaxa Nation, to better understand recreation in the context of cumulative effects. Guided by Ktunaxa stewardship principles, this project highlights the importance of zooming out and thinking about how we are collectively stewarding the land in a way that ensures the long-term health of ecosystems and sensitive species.

Transition

2:00-2:15 PM

Community sharing sessions

2:15-3:15 pm

Hear stories of accomplishment from across the province. Learn about how different groups have found success and made a difference. Choose from one of three sessions or watch BC Rivers Day founder Mark Angelo’s new film, The Rewilders.

Building It
Learn how building outdoor recreation infrastructure can create benefits far beyond access to nature.

• #WaglislaTrails (Evangeline Clifton, Heiltsuk Trail Makers): How trail building has become a catalyst for wellness, pride, and quality of life for the Heiltsuk First Nation.

• Pemberton Trails Working Group (Ariane Larouche, Pemberton Valley Trails Association and Roxanne Joe, Lil'wat Nation): Demonstrating the power of uniting diverse interests around a shared goal.

• Backcountry Horsemen of BC Successes (Brian Harder, Back Country Horsemen of BC): Exploring the ingredients needed to create successful recreation projects.

• TCT Climate Solutions (Chrissy Cusack) shares the Trans Canada Trail’s Climate Sustainability and Nature Initiative and how it is transforming climate change risk into opportunity by positioning trails as pathways for climate action, community resilience, and nature connection.

Getting It Done
Learn how organizations across BC are taking initiative and creating change in their communities.

• From Community to Coastal Activist (Lilly Woodbury, Surfrider Foundation Canada): The story of how the Surfrider Foundation turns passion into action.

• 4WDBC Community Building (Kim Reeves, 4WDACB): How the association became a self-funded, high-performing volunteer organization over 15 years.

• Building Relations with First Nations on the Coast (Norman Marcy, BC Marine Trails): How BC Marine Trail has meaningfully engaged with dozens of coastal First Nations.

• Restoration and Recreation: Cleaning up 80,000 Pounds of Garbage (Carl Ronka): How leveraging the outdoor community can lead to major stewardship successes.

More Than a Path
Trails and bikes are the uniting elements of these three presentations. Expect inspiration, aspiration and resilience. 

• A National Perspective on Community Trail Planning (Justin Darbyshire, IMBA Canada): Explore what BC can learn from other leading mountain biking destinations across Canada.

• Cycle Tourism in BC: Building Community Connections (Heather Piowar, Trails BC & Colleen MacDonald, Let’s Go Biking): Discover the potential of embracing cycle tourism to strengthen local communities.

• After the Fire: Logan Lake Trails Recovery (Megan Turnock, Lees + Associates): The story of restoring a community forest trail network after a devastating wildfire.

• The Long Game (Stewart Spooner, KCTS): How 30 years of commitment transformed Rossland into a renowned trail destination.

The Rewilders Film
A screening of Mark Angelo’s (ORCBC pioneer and BC Rivers Day founder) new film. Fierce and passionate individuals are taking audacious measures to save a planet in crisis. The Rewilders is a visually spectacular short documentary that follows pioneering conservationists across three continents (including B.C.) as they work to rewild iconic species such as jaguars, elephants, bison, and Pacific salmon. The impact of their efforts is galvanizing a global movement, one species and one landscape at a time. Watch the trailer: https://www.rewildersthefilm.com/

Organized outdoor activities - hikes, fly fishing, paddles and rides

3:15-6:00 PM (off-site)

Enjoy a guided hike, paddle or ride led by local recreation groups and the TRU Adventure Studies team. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration details will be emailed to all registered attendees. There is no additional fee to participate. Activities are weather-dependent.

Conference dinner & celebration

7:00 pm (Grand Hall)

This isn’t just a conference–it’s the ORCBC 50th anniversary. Over dinner, drinks, and a couple of short speeches, we will celebrate 50 years of working together to advocate for outdoor recreation in British Columbia. Kim Reeves from the 4WDABC will deliver a keynote address highlighting how the ORCBC survived for 50 years to become the organization it is today.

Friday, May 22, 2026

Breakfast

7:00–8:00 AM (Grand Hall)

Plenary session

8:00–8:45 PM (Grand Hall)

Responsible Recreation Plenary
Moderator: Elizabeth Thorsen (Leave No Trace Canada) with panellists: Brian Cant (4VI), Hannah Parish (Airbnb) and Sandra Riches (BC Adventure Smart)
As the outdoors gets busier and more and more inexperienced users head outside, how do we encourage respectful recreation and instill sustainable ethics? The short answer is that it’s everyone’s responsibility. Leave No Trace Canada’s first executive director, Elizabeth Thorsen, will moderate a panel discussion to explore it from several angles. Hannah Parish, Airbnb’s Canadian manager, will talk about how they are working with hosts to encourage their guests to be good visitors. Brian Cant, president of 4VI, will share province-wide efforts to develop regenerative tourism. And Sandra Riches, from BC Adventure Smart, will share communication and cooperation strategies that work.

Transition

8:45-9:00 am

Breakout sessions

9:00-10:30 AM

The following sessions run at the same time. Participants will select one session to attend.

Outdoors for All: How to Make Recreation More Accessible
Brittny Turner and Craig Paulson (BC Parks), Alfiya Battalova (Royal Roads University), Tanelle Bolt (RAD Society) and Sierra McCann (Squamish Off-road Cycling Association)
In this session, two panels will show that designing for accessibility can enhance, rather than compromise, outdoor recreation experiences, and share how to include people with disabilities in outdoor recreation planning and experiences. In Including Disability Communities in Outdoor Recreation BC Parks staff will share new case studies and research that will equip attendees with practical insights and strategies to advance accessibility and inclusion in all areas of outdoor recreation. The other panel will focus on Rethinking Accessibility through Handcycling and Adaptive Mountain Biking. Drawing on lived experiences and examples from across British Columbia, the speakers will highlight research in recreational cycling and disability, policy gaps, standards development, and challenges that hinder the full integration of adaptive and e-bike users.

Workshop: Tracks & Trails
Nadine Raynolds (Y2Y), Mel Wigglesworth (Fernie Trails Alliance), Andrea Kortello (Wolverine Watch) and Katharina Bsteh (Provincial Caribou Recovery Program)
Knowing we share the trails with wildlife is one of the things that makes outdoor recreation special. So how do we make sure our presence doesn’t have a negative impact on wildlife? This workshop will share wildlife stewardship success stories from across species, seasons, and outdoor pursuits. Participants will leave with an understanding of how to stay safe and provide safe passage for wildlife, such as wolverines and grizzly bears, and will discuss strategies they can apply in their own backyards. 

The Value of Trails: Understanding the Use and Impacts of Mountain Biking Trails in British Columbia & Scalable Research Design
Meghan Tabor (Mountain Bike BC), Dr. Farhad Moghimehfar (Vancouver Island University) and Peter Larose (Larose Research & Strategy)
This is a two-part session, opening with a presentation of Mountain Bike BC’s community dashboard research project, followed by a workshop on how to conduct your own low cost research project. The opening will share the results of a province-wide study conducted across 20 B.C. trail networks, including surveys of trail managers and more than 6,000 trail users. Discussion topics will cover what the research reveals about how mountain biking is affecting your communities’ trails, local economy, and quality of life, and whether your current decisions about trail investment, maintenance, and access are keeping pace with who is really using your trails, when and how? For the last 30 minutes, Peter Larose, who has conducted a dozen economic impact analyses, will lead a workshop teaching simple ways to gather economic and non-economic value and user data for conducting research on any kind of outdoor recreation.  

Raising the Next Generation of Outdoor Recreation Leaders
Andrew Stagemann, Blake Rowsell, students Natalia Scally and Lanny Yan (Capilano University)
Outdoor education in post-secondary institutions is uniquely positioned to shape the next generation of leaders, educators and recreation professionals. This session opens with a short presentation highlighting current trends and challenges in post-secondary outdoor education, followed by a student-led showcase exploring how to share decision-making with younger members, where and how to reach them, and which volunteer roles and club experiences actually incentivize them to join and stay. We close with a facilitated mini-workshop where participants collaborate in small groups to identify practical “next steps” to advance outdoor education and youth engagement in their own institutional or community contexts.

Networking Refreshments

10:30-11:00 am

Breakout sessions

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

TED-Style Presentations
A series of short, engaging talks highlighting innovative ideas, emerging trends, new research and practical insights from across the outdoor recreation sector. These TED Talk-style presentations will help prepare us for the future. Choose from four themed sessions.

The Path Forward: Modern trail planning is complex. For anyone involved in recreation planning these presentations will provide new ideas for your next project.

• Section 57 Best Practices (Noelle Kekulla, Ministry of Environment & Parks): Improve your Section 57 application process with advice on best practices from a Recreation Officer.

• Build It and Who Will Come? (Peter Holton, Nelson Nordic Club): The Nelson Nordic Ski Club’s Goldlilocks Trail Expansion might have been the best option, but it was not the simplest solution. Lessons learned from this important trail addition apply to any recreation project.

• Three Huts in Three Years (Adam Steele, UBC Varsity Outdoor Club): How full-time university students in the UBC Varsity Outdoor Club completed three major projects in remote locations in as many years.

Stronger Together: These presentations show how collaboration and cooperation can deliver better experiences for everyone.

• Slow and Say Hello (Sharon Pickthorne, Back Country Horsemen of BC): Learn about the four-word slogan emerging as a best practice for safe and friendly interactions with horses on multi-use trails.

• The Trail Forward: Invasive Species Management (Gail Wallin, Invasive Species Council of BC): Recreation users play an important role in preventing the spread of invasive species, and this presentation will show how any organization can get involved.

• On the Same Trails (Brad Harrison, Back Country Lodges of BC ): Learn how members of the Backcountry Lodges of BC Association and the public have worked together to achieve mutual benefits while sharing the same spaces.

Managing users: The outdoors may be busier than ever, but these presentations show there  are powerful ways of minimizing impacts.

• Crux of Conservation (Cole Hooper, UBC): With rock climbing rapidly growing at Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park, how can the climbing community help sustain both climbing access and the ecological values? Lessons learned from this new research are applicable to all forms of recreation and park management. 

• Exporting Fernie’s AWILD Program (Corien Sieders, Tourism Fernie): The AmbassadorWILD program (AWILD) has improved outdoor recreation experiences, protected local ecosystems and fostered sustainable tourism. After five years, Tourism Fernie is ready to share it with other regions of B.C.

• Making Waves: Managing Wake Boat Impacts (Alli Banting, Wildsight): Wake boats are indicative of other recreation-ecology conflicts. A case study from the Columbia Valley shows that recreation planning is the key to balancing access and ecology. 

Designing the Future: Discover new ideas that will make your organization more resilient and the outdoors more welcoming.

• Trails to Transformation (Harry Olson, Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club): When the Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club shifted to thinking of itself as a brand, and not just a club, a lot of its challenges became opportunities. Learn how to make the same shift, with insights from a recent digital maturity survey of outdoor clubs.

• People Powered (Sean Easton, Zero Ceiling): It took Zero Ceiling 28 years to develop the practices and tools for empowering youth and creating an inclusive organization. They will share them with you in 15 minutes.

• New Outdoor Ethics for Sustainable Communities (Phil Mullins, University of Northern BC): Leave No Trace ethics were imagined in the 1960s, before reconciliation, climate change and expanded outdoor recreation. What should a modern outdoor ethic include?

Lunch

12:00-1:00 PM (Grand Hall)

Breakout sessions

1:00-2:00 PM

The following sessions run at the same time. Participants will select one session to attend.

Benefits of Community Forests
Patrick Beech (Lees + Associates), Randy Spyksma (Forsite Consultants Ltd.), Noelle Kekula (District Recreation Officer), Darren Coates and Arran Cooperman (Wells Gray Outdoors Club)
In many parts of B.C., building and maintaining trail networks is becoming increasingly complex, but community forests offer a different model. With a focus on local decision-making, relationship-building, and direct investment in recreation infrastructure, community forests play a unique role in trail development and management. As the provincial government looks to expand the community forest network, this panel of foresters, land managers, and trail association volunteers will explore both the benefits and challenges of developing trail networks in these landscapes.

Aligning with Tourism: Recreation Assets as Engines of Tourism Growth
Dawn Rueckl (Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sports), Erica Hummel (Destination BC), Erik Fisher (Tourism Kamloops) and Curtis Pawliuk (Valemount & Area Recreation Association)
Outdoor recreation assets are more than amenities; they are powerful economic drivers for communities across British Columbia. This session explores how strategic investment, planning, and alignment across tourism, recreation, and economic development can transform public recreation assets into sustainable tourism economies. A case study of trail development will bring these ideas to life, showing how public recreation assets can catalyze tourism growth while supporting local values and livability.

Regenerative Tourism in Action: Revelstoke Thanksgiving Back
Clara-Jane Blye (University of Utah), Taniell Hamilton (Tourism Revelstoke) and Alex Cooper (Revelstoke Cycling Association)
Regenerative tourism promises to move from visitors minimizing harm to actively enhancing communities and ecosystems. Does it work? This presentation shares research findings from Revelstoke Thanksgiving Back, a regenerative tourism initiative led by Tourism Revelstoke that invites visitors to contribute time, care, and resources to the places they enjoy. The collaborative research project found that community-driven regenerative tourism programs can cultivate shared responsibility, extend the benefits of tourism beyond economic indicators, and support local organizations such as the Revelstoke Cycling Association. 

How to Practice Citizen-Based Reconciliation
Moderator: Norman Marcy (BC Marine Trails).
Panellists: Rod Clapton (ORCBC reconciliation committee chair), Roxanne Joe (Lilwat Nation) and other speakers.
This session goes beyond highlighting examples of outdoor clubs practicing Citizen Base Reconciliation to offer practical tips on how to engage with First Nations in a positive way. Speakers from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities will talk about the important conversations and actions that worked and what didn't work. This session will also touch on the work of the ORCBC Reconciliation Committee and some of the tools and resources the ORCBC has created to help begin and nurture these relationships.

Community sharing sessions

2:15-3.15 PM

The following sessions run at the same time. Participants will select one session to attend.

Building Volunteer Recruitment
Rachelle Tomm (4WDABC), Kirsten Silfvenius (Alpine Club of Canada-Columbia Mtn Section) and Lily Woodbury (Surfrider Foundation Canada)
Volunteer recruitment, retention, and management can be challenging, but some organizations are finding success. In this session, speakers will share simple, repeatable strategies for growing volunteer engagement and discuss what other organizations can learn from their experiences.

Understanding the Social, Psychological, and Community Value of Snowmobiling
Amber Lane (BC Snowmobile Federation) and Farhad Moghimehfar (Vancouver Island University)
Outdoor recreation is often measured in visitor days and GDP, but what about belonging, resilience, and mental health? In this session, we’ll learn about an ongoing research project that aims to measure the other values of snowmobiling for rural communities. Vancouver Island University, in partnership with the BC Snowmobile Federation, is undertaking a provincial socio-economic and social-psychological study to document how organized snowmobiling contributes to rural vitality, intergenerational connection, and community well-being across British Columbia.

The Future of Resource Access Roads
Moderator: John Hawkings (Ministry of Environment & Parks).
Panel: Curtis Pawliuk (Valemount and Area Recreation Development Association), Nadine Raynolds (Y2Y), Cassandra Zerebeski (Tourism Industry Association of BC) and Joe Kenny (Ministry of Forests, Engineering Branch)
Resource roads are the backbone of outdoor recreation in British Columbia. Hundreds of thousands of kilometres connect people to world‑class experiences and have become recreation assets themselves. Yet they also fragment wilderness and affect ecological values. Built largely through a forest industry now in transition, this network faces an uncertain future. Today’s panel brings together voices from conservation, recreation, tourism, and government to explore how resource roads can be planned, managed and funded in the years ahead.

Blurred (Trail) Lines
Rocky Blondin (provincial e-mtb committee) and Kristin Parsons (BC Powersports Dealers Association)
Electric mobility devices (e-bikes, e-scooters & e-motorcycles) are fundamentally changing how people move. This is a cultural shift with new user conflicts, new types of wear and tear, and new technology being governed by old rules. This session aims to clarify grey areas, provide background on the different technologies, ongoing work by ORCBC, motorized recreation advocates, and others, and facilitate a discussion on how to integrate these new devices into existing land-use planning and user groups.

Plenary and wrap-up

3:30-4:45 PM (Grand Hall)

Join us for our final plenary, Blazing new trails, as well as closing reflections and key takeaways from the conference.

Blazing New Trails
Moderator: Raymond Belmonte (BC Parks Foundation)
Panellists: Brittny Turner (BC Parks) and Carinna Kenigsberg (Power To Be)
Getting outside should be simple and fun, but many British Columbians face barriers to participating in outdoor recreation. This plenary will explore how organizations are working to remove those barriers and make outdoor spaces more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming. Panellists will share practical solutions for addressing knowledge gaps, language barriers, and accessibility challenges for people with physical and developmental disabilities.

Following the plenary, Carinna Kenigsberg will deliver a keynote outlining her “audacious goal” of making British Columbia the most accessible and welcoming place to recreate in Canada, and perhaps the world.

Address from the Honourable Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks
The Honourable Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks, will offer closing remarks and share her vision for the future of outdoor recreation in British Columbia. Her ministry oversees Recreation Sites and Trails BC and BC Parks, making her perspective a fitting conclusion to the conference.

ORCBC Annual General Meeting (for members)

5:00-6:00 PM

ORCBC members are invited to attend the Annual General Meeting. Join us for organizational updates and an opportunity to help elect our next board of directors.

The program is subject to change.