It was the largest conference in 13 years, with more than 400 attendees representing 62 unique entities from around B.C.
The Network of Emergency Support Services Teams (NESST) Conference took place in Kamloops from April 17-19, and brought together representatives from 13 First Nations and Indigenous governments, 10 regional districts, 21 municipalities and communities, as well as NGOs, provincial agencies, and private-sector partners.
Organized and funded by the NESST Society, the conference is held in a different community each year with the premise of bringing together emergency support service (ESS) volunteers, emergency management personnel, Indigenous/First Nations representatives, and emergency response organizations to build connections and share knowledge of how to work together during a disaster in a way that is respectful, supportive and collaborative.
This year, Kamloops was the host city, which provided an opportunity to showcase not only the diverse landscape, industry and culture of the Thompson-Nicola but also tour multiple agencies, such as the City of Kamloops, the Provincial Wildfire Centre, Central Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre and the Regional District of the Thompson-Nicola.
NESST was organized and collaborated with Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Emergency Preparedness, as the conference had a strong commitment to Indigenous partnership and cultural learning. The Ministry of Emergency Preparedness was also a partner in the conference.
Programming for the event included keynote sessions, leadership meetings, exhibitor booths, live graphic recording, therapy dog wellness supports, guided tours, and three cultural dine-around events hosted at local venues.
NESST vice president Jillian Zielinski said the conference allows for those involved in ESS to see how other communities and programs work within the province, from recruitment to training to compassionate care and relationship building.
“It’s a great way to see how other communities handle emergencies, because there isn’t just one way to support evacuees in times of need,” she said.
In the last few years, many residents around the province have been faced with significant disasters such as wildfires, flooding, and landslides.
ESS volunteers need to respond effectively to these disasters, and the NESST conference provides multiple training and exercise opportunities to prepare them.
The Northern Emergency Support Services Training (NESST) Conference hosted its inaugural event in 2013 in Burns Lake with 50 ESS volunteers in attendance.
Each year, this number continues to grow, with Kamloops now hosting the largest NESST Conference yet, in 2026, with more than 900 tickets sold. While the event took place at multiple venues in the city, most workshops took place at Thompson Rivers University.