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2026 CRHNet Symposium 
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Assessing the Assessment: Finding the Method That Measures Up
Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
PIC 232
As Canadian communities navigate rising disasters and climate impacts, limited staff capacity, and growing expectations for transparent, defensible decision making, the need for fit-for-purpose risk assessment approaches has never been more pressing. Climate and disaster risks are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected. Local governments face pressure to assess risks with accuracy and confidence yet often struggle with too much information in some areas and not enough in others. This raises a fundamental question. What type of risk assessment is appropriate for the decision context, and how much information is actually required to support responsible action.
Risk assessment methods vary widely in assumptions, data needs, and application. Some approaches emphasize local knowledge and context. Others prioritize structured analysis and precision. Each offers strengths and limitations. This ninety-minute session invites participants to explore how these methods shape understanding and decision making.
Using a fictional community, participants are divided into groups and given either a traditional or systems based assessment. Through a structured worksheet, groups examine the type and depth of questions can they can answer, the decisions it can support, and the assumptions it relies on. This creates a reflective and applied learning experience where the focus is on evaluating the method itself rather than performing technical calculations.
A comparative dialogue follows, where insights, limitations, and implications are shared across groups. Together we explore how capacity, governance, consultant involvement, and organizational culture influence the selection and effectiveness of different approaches.
The session will highlight:
• When and how qualitative and quantitative methods can be leveraged
• How capacity and process design shape assessment results
• Practical strategies for integrating risk information into plans and operations
Speakers
KT

Kari Tyler

Principal, Kari Tyler Consulting
Kari Tyler (she/her) is a climate resilience consultant, facilitator, and educator who believes that change begins with conversation. Her work sits at the intersection of climate adaptation, adult learning, and community development. She blends scientific knowledge and relational... Read More →
avatar for Chad Pacholik

Chad Pacholik

Principal, Logic League Consulting Ltd
Chad Pacholik (he/him) is the Principal of Logic League Consulting Ltd and openly identifies as an Agent of Change. His practice explores the tension where disaster risk management, climate resilience, and strategic foresight meet. Chad centers people, imagination, and relationships... Read More →
Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am MDT
PIC 232 NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre
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