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.

The agenda continues to take shape, with additional speakers and session details announced as they are confirmed. The program is subject to change.

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

More than 50% of all tickets are sold - don’t miss out. Register now!

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, 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

7:00–8:00 AM (Grand Hall)

Opening session

8:00–9:45 AM (Grand Hall)

Our opening session will include a welcome from members of the Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, Louise Pedersen, Executive Director of the ORCBC, and others, followed by a keynote presentation by John Hawkings, Executive Lead for Recreation Strategy & Service Transformation for the provincial government. John will highlight the government’s vision for the future of outdoor recreation in the province.

Breakout sessions

10:00-10:45 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 quality recreation experiences are increasing, but resources to build, maintain, and manage the 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; and Mike Gass, Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC
Explore approaches and practical strategies to improve access to fishing opportunities for a wider range of participants.

The promise and peril of waivers
Jon Heshka, Thompson Rivers University; Rachela Pollock, Acera Insurance
Waivers are ubiquitous in outdoor recreation and adventure sports. They make races and group events possible. But there’s a lot of misunderstanding about what signing a waiver actually means–and that’s not just because no one reads them. This presentation will bring you up-to-date on waiver best practices. We’ll examine the history of waivers in outdoor recreation, why the courts don’t enforce them and why they do, how to properly prepare and administer them, and what the insurance industry has to say about them. 

From problems to solutions: Reverse engineering recreation zoning and trail classification
Magi Scallion, McElhanney; Mark Barsevskis, McElhanney; Andrea de Vries, McElhanney. This workshop is 90 minutes long and overlaps with the next session.
Join an interactive workshop that starts with identifying common trail use problems and moves 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.

Breakout sessions

11:00 AM-12:00 PM

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 Rivers ATV Association of BC; Peter Spraque, BC Off-Road Motorcycle Association of BC; and others
Motorized and self-propelled recreation groups sometimes clash, but good things happen when they work together. In this panel presentation, representatives from the Back Country Powersports Coalition (BCPSC) will share the goals of the advocacy group and then highlight examples of partnerships between motorized and non-motorized groups. Come learn how these collaborations have delivered programs, trail maintenance work, and successful multi-use trail projects, benefiting everyone involved. 

Working with private landowners
Mosaic Forest Management and others
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 Forest Management, 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 outdoor clubs who have developed strong relationships with private landowners.

How to Work with IPCAs
Terry Doward, IISAAK OLAM Foundation; Frank Brown, Great Bear Sea IPCA
There are more than a dozen IPCAs, or Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas, proposed in B.C. Each one will have a unique relationship with the outdoor recreation community. Learn more about IPCAs, how to get involved in their creation, and what they might mean for recreation access, in a fireside chat with Terry Dorward of the IISAAK OLAM Foundation and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation/Tofino, and Frank Brown, former Heiltsuk Nation Chief and leader of Great Bear Sea IPCA. 

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; 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, Linda Buchanan & Jen Bellhouse
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.

Understanding cumulative effects and recreation: Land stewardship planning for ʔa·kxam̓is q̓api qapsin (All Living Things)
Nikki Heim, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y); 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.

Community sharing sessions

2:15-3:15 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
In this session we’ll learn that building outdoor recreation infrastructure is a path to much more than just access to nature. 

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

• In #WaglislaTrails (Evangeline Clifton), we’ll learn how trail building has become a catalyst for enhanced quality of life, wellness, and pride for the Heiltsuk First Nation.

• The Pemberton Trails Working Group (Ariane Larouche) shows the power of uniting diverse interests behind a collaborative goal.

• In Backcountry Horse Council of BC Successes (Brian Harder), we will see the different ingredients that need to come together to create successful projects. 

Getting it done
These organizations aren’t waiting for anyone else to make change happen. 

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

• Building Relations with First Nations on the Coast (Norman Marcy) will reveal 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) shows how leveraging the outdoor recreation community can lead to huge stewardship wins.

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

• B.C. is known as a leader in mountain biking, but A National Perspective on Community Trail Planning (Justin Darbyshire) will show there’s lots to learn from other mountain biking hotspots.

• Cycle Tourism in BC: Building Community Connections (Heather Piowar & Colleen MacDonald) lays out the potential of embracing two-wheeled travelers in the province.

• After the Fire: Logan Lake Trails Recovery (Megan Turnock) is the story of rehabbing a Community Forest trail network after a devastating wildfire.

• The Long Game (Stewart Spooner) will show the 30 years of commitment that transformed the economy and culture of Rossland into a trail destination.

The Rewilders film
Fierce and passionate individuals are taking audacious measures to save a planet in crisis. The Rewilders is a visually spectacular short documentary by executive producer and ORCBC co-founder Mark Angelo that follows pioneering conservationists on three continents as they work to rewild iconic species such as jaguar, elephant, 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 Four-Wheel Drive Association of BC 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
Brian Cant, 4VI; Hannah Parish, Airbnb; 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. This moderated panel discussion will explore it from all 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.

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, BC Parks; Craig Paulson, BC Parks; Alfiya Battalova, Royal Roads University; Tanelle Bolt, RAD Society; 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 to equip attendees with practical insights and strategies to advance accessibility and inclusion across 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; Melanie Wigglesworth, Fernie Trails Alliance; Andrea Kortello, Wolverine Watch; 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 – like wolverine and grizzly bears – and discuss strategies they can apply in their own backyards.

Why work with academia: Proving snowmobiling makes rural communities better places to live
Amber Lane, BC Snowmobile Federation; Farhad Moghimehfar, Vancouver Island University; and others
We can learn a lot from academia. In this two-part session, attendees will discover why partnering with researchers can bring huge benefits to their organizations and then dive into the specifics of an ongoing collaboration between the BC Snowmobile Federation and Vancouver Island University. The session will open with a conversation about how recreation organizations can partner with academic institutions to strengthen research, data collection, and evidence-based decision-making. With that base, the session will transition to an example of a research project that is helping BCSF show that access to snowmobiling is fundamental to the social and psychological health of rural B.C. communities.

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.

• Alltrails trail notes: Private-public partnerships (John Ribes): More than an app, AllTrails’ greatest potential lies in its ability to provide actionable data that supports those who build, maintain, and steward trails. Learn how to unlock the app’s potential.

• Section 57 best practices (Noelle Kekulla): Improve your Section 57 application process with advice on best practices from a Recreation Officer.

• Build it and who will come? (Peter Holton): 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.

Stronger together
These presentations show that collaboration and cooperation can deliver better experiences for everyone.

• Slow and say hello (Sharon Pickthorne): Learn about the four-word slogan that is the emerging best practice for safe and friendly interactions with horses on multi-use trails.

• The trail forward: Invasive species management (Gail Wallin): Recreation users are an important player in preventing the spread of invasive species and this presentation will show how any organization can get involved.

• On the same trails (Brad Harrison): The members of the Backcountry Lodges of BC Association and the public not only coexist, they want the same things. This presentation will show how they have worked together towards mutual benefits.

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): 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): 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 (Ali Banting): 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.

• People powered (Sean Easton): 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): 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, 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 funding: Recreation assets as engines of tourism growth
Dawn Rueckl, Ministry of Tourism; Erica Hummel, Destination BC; other speakers TBA
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 in Nakusp 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; 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.

Community sharing sessions

2:15-3.15 PM

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

Building membership: three different approaches that work
Rachelle Tomm, Four Wheel Drive Association of BC; Kristen Silfvenius, Alpine Club of Canada-Columbia Mountain Section; Lilly Woodbury, Surfriders Foundation
Volunteer recruitment and retention are challenges for many organizations, but not all. In this session, we’ll hear how three organizations are growing their membership with simple, repeatable strategies. Representatives from the Alpine Club of Canada - Columbia Mountains, the Surfrider Foundation, and Four Wheel Drive Association of BC will share what is working to recruit, retain, and empower members.

Raising the next generation of outdoor recreation leaders
Andrew Stagemann, Capilano University + others
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.

The future of resource access roads
Moderator: John Hawkings. Panel: Curtis Pawliuk, Valemount & Area Recreation Association; Nadine Reynolds, Yellowstone to Yukon; others TBA)
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; 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 the grey areas, provide background on the different technology, ongoing work by ORCBC, motorized recreation advocates and others, and facilitate a discussion on how to integrate these new devices with existing land use planning and user groups

Plenary and wrap-up

3:30-4:30 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
Moderated byRaymond Belmonte, BC Parks Foundation
Getting outside should be simple and fun. But for many British Columbians, significant barriers exist that prevent them from participating in outdoor recreation. Our panelists will share how they have addressed and removed these barriers to allow more people into the outdoors. From tackling knowledge gaps and language barriers to working with communities with physical and developmental disabilities, our panellists will describe real-world solutions that will empower you to contribute to an outdoor recreation sector that is more inclusive, accessible and welcoming for everyone. 

Before a farewell message from the ORCBC, we will invite Carinna Kenigsberg from Power To Be to deliver a keynote speech outlining her “audacious goal”. She believes that with creative partnerships and concerted effort, the outdoor recreation community can make British Columbia the most accessible and welcoming place to recreate in the country, and maybe even the world.

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.