Conference Speakers
Cultural Speakers
Cultural practices, beliefs, and norms play a very important role not only in delivering health care to clients and patients, but also in how that health care is received and what outcomes are possible. Diversity within those beliefs and practices, and as a result of available resources or social economic/demographic circumstances, must be fully understood in order for health care professionals to provide the best care possible no matter where they are in the world, or what culture they are practicing within.
At GOLD Perinatal Care, we understand the importance of Culture and Diversity in health care, and we are working hard to bring you speakers and presentations from around the world that will help you understand the patients and clients you are working with. Discovering how health care is provided and received in other countries and cultures around the world can have a positive impact on our own professional practice. Given that culture is defined by much more than political borders, GOLD Perinatal Care invites speakers to share their knowledge and expertise about perinatal health care from a geographically-based focus or a people-group focus from within a particular set of beliefs, lifestyle or minority. This year, our Culture and Diversity speakers will be presenting on:
Dr. Speakers Full Name
Speaker Credentials
Annet Mulder first became interested in breastfeeding in the year 2000, when she became a mother for the first time. During and because of her own breastfeeding experiences, in 2002 she became a volunteer with the Dutch breastfeeding Organization and in 2008 sat for and passed the exam administered by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, she now
Annet Mulder first became interested in breastfeeding in the year 2000, when she became a mother for the first time. During and because of her own breastfeeding experiences, in 2002 she became a volunteer with the Dutch breastfeeding Organization text text text text more name mulder first became interested in breastfeeding in the year 2000, when she became.
Dr. Speakers Full Name
Speaker Credentials
Speakers (49)
Following that exposure, Amanda expressed interest in developing a FireSmart education kit for K-12, which was completed in April of 2019. Ultimately though Amanda’s time with BCWS and her background in education, she has realized her passion lies within public education, prevention of wildfire and building resilient communities. Amanda is excited to share her passion and knowledge with workshop participants to help foster and grow the FireSmart message across BC and ultimately Canada.
My name is Mark Dyer and I’m a Prevention Specialist with the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).
I made my start with BCWS in 2005 when I attained my first fire fighting job in Fort Nelson. I worked in Fort Nelson fighting fires in the summers while attending post secondary education in the Yukon, Alaska and Northern BC during the winters. After graduating from school, I took a promotion with BCWS and moved to Prince George.
Currently, I work at the Prince George Fire Centre with my primary job functions being dedicated to the wildfire prevention and suppression efforts. Some of those items include coordinating local FireSmart activities and writing fire prevention plans, coordinating regional level prescribed fire projects, preforming as fire operations officer and acting an a LFR Instructor.
Over my career I have seen firsthand the devastation wildfires can have on homes and communities all over North America. I’m a firm believer that implementing FireSmart initiatives where you live is the best way to protect the places and the people you care about.
Matt has been a member of BC Wildfire for the past 15 years, beginning his career as a crew member on the Williams Lake BCWS unit crew in 2007. His experiences fighting wildfire throughout BC and other provinces, in both wilderness and interface environments, has helped shape his approach to prevention. The 2017 and 2018 wildfire season made a significant impact on him, where he saw firsthand how Firesmart measures can impact and protect a community.
He is currently a wildfire assistant in Quesnel where he is very active in promoting Firesmart within the various communities of that jurisdiction. He has also played a significant role in the promotion of Firesmart and fire prevention throughout the Cariboo Fire centre for several years. He has done this by participating in a wide variety of Firesmart initiatives, giving presentations to communities and schools, participating in info-booths and working with the city of Quesnel to fuel manage critical infrastructure. He has also liaised with industry professionals to ensure the dissemination of fuel management objectives, tactics and information.
Matt spends the winter months between fire seasons travelling and volunteering with various NGO’s assisting refugees around the world.
Don Mortimer (Fireline Consulting - Rossland BC) brings over 35 years of operational fire suppression & management experience to the team. Don is one of Western Canada’s most well-known interface fire protection specialists and has worked with a variety of agencies to develop and launch numerous initiatives. These include development of the FireSmart program, the BC OFC Structure Protection program and a number of specialized training courses for interface fire responders (S-115, S-215 and ICS training).
Don has worked with fire service teams to produce WUI fire tactical response plans for several municipalities (Banff, Jasper, Windemere/Fairmont and Invermere). Don has worked with emergency professionals to develop CWPPs in all three Kootenay regional districts and also works with private interests in developing wildfire protection plans for lodges, resorts and other holdings.
Don has been closely involved in the development of both the original 2012 FireSmart Canada Community Recognition Program and its current update replacement - the 2020 Neighbourhood Recognition Program. Don has delivered multiple Local FireSmart Representative workshops - training over 1,000 fire professionals in eight provinces / territories to work as Local FireSmart Representatives serving wildfire-vulnerable neighbourhoods in their respective communities. Don works with several municipalities in BC and Alberta’s FireSmart Programs and functions as the Local FireSmart Representative for over a dozen active FireSmart Committees in various neighbourhoods.
Welcome to the Local FireSmart Representative (LFR) Workshop. My name is Brenden Mercer and I work for First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS) as a Forest Fuel Management Liaison.
Upon starting at FNESS I became an LFR and a Registered Forest Tech (RFT) through the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP). During my time at FNESS, I have assisted a number of few First Nations communities with all aspects of the FireSmart Canada Neighborhood Recognition Program. Additionally, I have assisted many First Nations Communities with applying for FireSmart related funding through the current Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) Program and the previous Strategic Wildfire Prevention Initiative (SWPI) program. Through that experience, I have helped to facilitate numerous LFR workshops over the past couple of years.
Aside from my work at FNESS, I am currently in the process of completing a Master’s degree in Environmental Practice through Royal Roads University. During my spare time I enjoy being active by running, working out at the gym and hiking among many other activities.
My name is Quentin Nelson, a Forest Fuel Management Liaison with First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of BC (FNESS), where I have been since 2019 and I am currently a Forester in Training (FIT). In 2018, I took the Local FireSmart Representative training and became a certified LFR. I have a Forestry Diploma and most recently in 2019, I completed my bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Science. I work and live in Kamloops, BC.
In my current role with FNESS, one of my duties is to be an advocate for FireSmart, which is something I wholeheartedly believe in - at the end of this workshop, I hope you do too. What tends to work for me when I am engaging with our First Nations communities on the road is to conduct a Neighbourhood Wildfire Hazard Assessment to help jump-start their FireSmart path. This creates opportunity for our communities to apply into the Community Resiliency Investment (CRI) program to pursue funding to carry out an array of FireSmart activities so they can work towards achieving greater neighbourhood resilience in the event of a wildfire. As of January 7, 2021, I became the FireSmart Canada Provincial Liaison for First Nation communities in BC. Long-term, I would love to see every single neighbourhood adopt FireSmart principles and work towards becoming FireSmart recognized.
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions at all!
