Name: When Information Is Infrastructure: Rethinking Communications in an Era of Cascading Risk
Start: 2026-05-14T09:45:00-0600
End: 2026-05-14T10:00:00-0600

2026 CRHNet Symposium

When Information Is Infrastructure: Rethinking Communications in an Era of Cascading Risk

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:45am - 10:00am MDT

PIC 232

Canada’s disaster risk environment is evolving faster than many of our governance structures, planning models, and communication systems were designed to handle. Wildfires, floods, cyber incidents, public health emergencies, infrastructure disruptions, and societal pressures increasingly intersect to create compounding and cascading impacts across communities. In this context, communication must be understood as a core operational capacity within disaster risk reduction.

Internal information coordination impacts external communication, and when it is delayed, fragmented, or inconsistent, it results in heightened risk, making it difficult to establish and sustain public trust.

This session draws on recent Canadian and international events to explore the interconnected nature of contemporary emergencies and the role of communication in shaping risk perception, decision-making, and collective action. It also examines misinformation and digital disruption as emerging hazards that directly influence vulnerability and resilience.

Grounded in the theme of “Living the Lessons: From Impact to Insight,” this presentation synthesizes evidence, practitioner experience, and behavioural research to outline a forward-looking framework for 2026 and beyond. Participants will gain practical, scalable approaches they can adapt to their own organizations, including methods to strengthen internal information flow, improve cross-system message alignment, pre-bunk misinformation, and activate trusted networks to support community-level resilience. The session aims to strengthen linkages among research, policy, and practice to advance DRR outcomes across Canada.

Speakers

Shawna Bruce

Director/Owner, M.D. Bruce & Associates Ltd.

Shawna Bruce, CD, MA (DEM), is a national thought leader in risk and crisis communications with over 40 years of experience across the Canadian Armed Forces, industry, and emergency management. She works with municipalities, industry partners, and First Nations communities to strengthen... Read More →

Final CRHNet Shawna Bruce pptx

Thursday May 14, 2026 9:45am - 10:00am MDT
PIC 232 NAIT Productivity and Innovation Centre

Insight Talk

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2026 CRHNet Symposium

Shawna Bruce

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2026 CRHNet Symposium

Shawna Bruce

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