2026 ORCBC Conference Agenda

Session types

The agenda continues to take shape, and additional speakers and session details will be announced shortly. What is already clear is the range of opportunities for learning, connection, and collaboration across British Columbia’s outdoor recreation community.

Keynote and plenary sessions will explore big-picture trends and shared priorities shaping outdoor recreation and community well-being.

Concurrent sessions, including panels, workshops, and TED-style talks, will provide practical tools, case studies, and peer learning across a range of sector topics.

Roundtable discussions will offer facilitated small-group conversations focused on shared challenges and solutions.

Optional outdoor activities and social events create space for networking, relationship-building, and having fun together.

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Optional pre-conference workshops (TBA)

9:00 AM–4:00 PM (TRU/off-site)

Registration + expo

4:00–6:00 PM (rotunda)

Welcome reception

6:00-9:00 PM (Horticultural gardens, TRU)

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Registration and breakfast

7:00–8:00 aM (Grand hall)

Opening session

8:00–9:45 aM (grand hall)

• Welcome

• Keynote

• Panel: From Trails to Trust, facilitated by Peter Larose.

Refreshments

9:45-10 am

Breakout session

10:00-10:45 am

• Presentation: Electric recreation (Rocky Blondin)

• Presentation: Trail project delivery (Tyler Wilkes)

• Presentation: Making fishing more accessible (Matt Jenkins and Mike Gass)

• Waivers & Insurance

Refreshments

10:45-11 am

Breakout session

11 am-12 pm

• TED Panel

• Working with motorized groups (Kristin Parsons)

• Fireside chat: Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas

• How to align outdoor recreation with Tourism (Dawn Rueckl and Erica Hummel, Destination BC)

Lunch and keynote (Mark Angelo)

12-1 pm (Grand hall)

Breakout session

1-2 pm

• Regenerative tourism and the “Thanksgiving Back” campaign (CJ Blye)

• Working with private landowners (Mosaic Forest Management)

• How to work with academia, and a current collaboration example with BC Snowmobile Federation.

• Sharing the Trails - Shuswap Trails Roundtable (Jen Bellhouse, Shuswap Trails Alliance, Brian Pratt, Four Wheel Drive Association of BC and Linda Buchanan, Back Country Horsemen of BC)

Refreshments

2-2:15 PM

Community sharing sessions

2:15-3:15 pm

Organized outdoor activities (TBA)

3:15-6 pm (off-site)

Conference dinner & celebration

7:00 pm (Grand Hall)

Friday, May 22, 2026

Breakfast

7:00–8:00 aM (Grand hall)

Plenary session

8:00–8:45 PM (grand hall)

Responsible recreation panel

Break

8:45-9 am

Breakout session

9:00-10:30 am

• Panel: Making trails more accessible

• TED session

• Workshop: From Problems to Solutions

• Workshop: Tracks & Trails

Break

10:30-11 am

Breakout session

11 am-12 pm

• TED presentations

Lunch

12-1 pm (Grand hall)

Breakout session

1-2 pm

• Innovative funding

• Benefits of community forests

• Sustainable gear

• Ktunaxa cumulative effects

Break

2-2:15 PM

Community sharing sessions

2:15-3.15 pm

• Facilitated discussion: Building membership

• Next generation of outdoor leaders

• Fireside chat: The future of resource roads

Break

3:15-3:30 pm

Plenary and wrap-up

3:30-4:30 PM (grand hall)

ORCBC Annual General Meeting (for members)

4:30-5:30 PM

Conference partners

The Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia gratefully acknowledges the contributions of our conference supporters.

This conference is made possible through the generous support of the Province of British Columbia.