CatIQ Connect 2026
February 2 - 4, 2026 | Marriott Downtown Toronto
February 2, 2026 | All times Eastern Standard
5:00 pm
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6:30 pm
Opening Cocktail
Opening Cocktail at the ICLR Toronto Climate Resilience Centre where attendees can register for an in-depth tour focusing on resilience strategies for (a) wildfire, (b) flood, or (c) high wind/hail.
Session Sponsor
February 3, 2026 | All times Eastern Standard
8:00 am
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7:00 pm
Registration Open
Say hello and pick up your badge at the registration desk.
8:00 am
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8:45 am
Breakfast
Fuel up for a day of catastrophe content!
8:45 am
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9:00 am
Welcome Address
9:00 am
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9:15 am
Opening Remarks
9:15 am
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9:45 am
2025 CATs and Stats
The conference will begin with an overview of the catastrophes that occurred in 2025. This comprehensive review will include a chronology and description of the year’s events, insured loss estimates, and a bigger picture look at how 2025 stacks up against previous years. Provided by CatIQ.
9:45 am
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10:45 am
Is Canada embracing adaptation with sufficient speed, breadth and vision?
Is adaptation playing second fiddle to mitigation in Canada? And, if so, what might be the consequences to a lopsided approach on the climate file? Join Dr. Blair Feltmate in conversation with Mike Pedersen as we consider the question: Is Canada embracing adaptation with sufficient speed, breadth, and vision to ensure the well-being of its citizens, businesses, and cultural institutions for decades to come?
10:45 am
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11:15 am
Networking Break
Session Sponsor
11:15 am
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12:15 pm
Building Resilience: A Conversation with DMA Jeffery Hutchinson
Join DMA Jeffery Hutchinson for a candid fireside chat on the federal government’s work to build resilience and strengthen emergency management across Canada. This session will explore key areas of mutual interest, including disaster recovery, tools to help empower Canadians understand their catastrophe exposure, the latest on the national flood insurance program, and other initiatives aimed at improving preparedness and resilience. With catastrophic risk on the rise, this is an opportunity to hear firsthand about how government and industry can collaborate to protect Canadians and communities.
Speaker
Jeffery Hutchinson
Associate Deputy Minister (Emergency Management)
Public Safety Canada
12:15 pm
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1:00 pm
Buffet Lunch
1:00 pm
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1:45 pm
Keynote Address
Earthquake Insurance: A Reality Check
A can’t-miss conversation with two of Canada’s risk and resilience powerhouses as they weigh in on the stark realities of the earthquake insurance landscape.
Concurrent Session A
2:00 pm
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2:50 pm
In Case of Emergency!
Show off your preparedness proficiency and test your catastrophe competence at the 4th Annual CatIQ Connect After Lunch Quiz Show. Join us for your chance to win in this lively, interactive session.
Speaker
Shawna Peddle
Associate Vice-President, Sustainability, Sustainability & Citizenship
The Co-operators Group
Speaker
Monica Vaswani
Warning Preparedness Meteorologist
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)
Concurrent Session B
2:00 pm
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2:50 pm
Proactive Engagement with Communities for Resilient Outcomes
Speaker
Morgan Rice
Climate Adaptation Specialist, Climate and Environment, Planning and Development Services
City of Calgary
Afternoon Concurrent Session A
2:50 pm
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3:35 pm
Earthquake Scenarios
What do we know about the earthquake insurance gap in Canada, and how do we stack up against the rest of the world? This insightful session will build upon the the earlier keynote, diving into the latest work from Natural Resources Canada and Cotality on earthquake risks at the national and regional levels, including a look at disaster response outcomes for recent quakes around the world.
Speaker
Dr. Tiegan Hobbs
Seismic Risk Scientist, Geological Survey of Canada
Natural Resources Canada
Concurrent Session B
2:50 pm
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3:35 pm
From Forecast to Fallout: How AI Is Reshaping Catastrophe Risk Management
As catastrophe losses intensify and volatility becomes the new normal, AI is no longer an experiment—it is a critical decision-making tool. This panel explores how P&C insurers are using AI across forecasting, underwriting, claims, and data analytics to anticipate catastrophe risk, respond faster during events, and protect capital while maintaining trust and fairness. Industry leaders will discuss where AI is delivering real value today, where human judgment remains essential, and what capabilities insurers must have in place to remain competitive heading into 2026.
3:35 pm
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4:05 pm
Networking Break
Session Sponsor
4:05 pm
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5:05 pm
Wildfire perspectives: Journeys from evacuation to recovery
The 2025 wildfire season was the largest response in the history of the Canadian Red Cross, with team supporting evacuees for more than 130 consecutive days. Wildfire impacts may seem similar, but the journey of evacuation to recovery differs from place to place and event to event. It changes based on fire behaviour, context, who is impacted and where they went. Looking at case studies of the 2024 wildfire in Jasper, as well as the 2025 responses in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Newfoundland & Labrador, this session will explore critical insights, learnings and recommendations to strengthen Canada’s response for future events.
Speaker
Melanie Soler
Vice President, Emergency Management
Canadian Red Cross
5:05 pm
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5:30 pm
Student Delegate Presentations
See up-and-coming research from the Canadian CAT community as our 2026 Student Delegate Program winners share short presentations on their work. Also join us for the poster session, taking place immediately following these presentations during the cocktail hour.
Speaker
Yao Li
Student Delegate
Western University
Speaker
Mark Empey
Student Delegate
University of Calgary
Session Sponsor
5:30 pm
Cocktail Reception
Mingle with your peers, view posters and chat with our student delegates, and try out this year’s signature cocktail as we wind down from a full day of catastrophe content.
Session Sponsor
February 4, 2026 | All times Eastern Standard
8:00 am
Registration Open
8:00 am
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8:45 am
Breakfast
8:45 am
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9:00 am
Fresh Perspectives: Challenge the Status Quo
9:00 am
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10:00 am
Fireside Chat with Superintendent Peter Routledge
Speaker
Peter Routledge
Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions
10:00 am
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10:25 am
Networking Break
Morning Concurrent Session A
10:25 am
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11:20 am
From Impact to Invoice: Navigating Post-CAT Claims Dynamics in 2026
Can the current Canadian claims business model continue? The claims life cycle in Canada has historically shied away from cash outs, but in the face of increasing CAT magnitude and frequency and decreasing resources, can that model be sustained? And should it? Let’s discuss the pros and cons of project management, pay outs, and paths in between in this deep dive into the future of claims management.
Speaker
Alena Kharkavets
Director and Head of Claims, North America, Insurance Consulting and Technology
Willis Towers Watson
Morning Concurrent Session B
10:25 am
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11:20 am
Insurance 2.0: Innovative parametric insurance solutions
Parametric insurance has been the tip of the spear in the alternative risk solutions universe. This session will explore the recent evolution and transformation of parametric insurance solutions into a vital financial & operational risk management tool with significant benefits for both insureds and insurers. We’ll cover examples across perils, regions, industries, beneficiaries, and use cases; address common myths & misperceptions about parametric insurance; and lift the curtain on an extensive array of its applications to make individuals, businesses and society at large more resilient.
Speaker
Jerry Skees
Director
Global Centre on Disaster Risk and Poverty
Speaker
Youssef Baki
Senior Client Manager and Structurer-Vice President Public Sector Solutions and Alternative Risk Transfer
Swiss Re Corporate Solutions
11:20 am
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11:45 am
Quantifying the Impacts: Flooding and Mental Health
Preparing for the human impact of catastrophes is, intuitively, an important component of disaster readiness, but one that is typically harder to track than factors like construction and material costs. This session will detail the findings of a first-of-its-kind study directly relating trends in mental health service usage to the aftermath of Canadian flooding events.
11:45 am
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12:30 pm
How A New Mental Model, Humor and Culture Can Protect Homes & Communities From Wildfire
Wildfires don’t destroy communities because of flames alone—they become disasters when embers reach homes that aren’t prepared to resist ignition. When vulnerable homes ignite, they spread fire to each other and turn neighborhoods into fuel.
Most wildfire messaging is fear-based, technical, or focused far from the home, leaving people unclear about what actually matters. This talk reframes wildfire risk using clear mental models, familiar metaphors, and trusted cultural touchstones—hockey, home design, and humor—to make preparedness feel normal, practical, and achievable.
By showing how small, common-sense actions around the home can stop embers before they become flames, support fire response and reduce risk, we can shift culture from fighting fire to living with it—and help Canadians see themselves as part of the solution, before the next fire comes.
Speaker
Ralph Bloemers
Director of Fire Safe Communities
Green Oregon
12:30 pm
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1:15 pm
Buffet Lunch
1:15 pm
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2:00 pm
Inclusive Resilience: Opportunities and Obstacles
Exploring community-based CAT insurance and its potential to address equity issues and protection gaps with innovative solutions.
Speaker
Derek Cook
Director
Canadian Poverty Institute at Ambrose University
Concurrent Session A
2:15 pm
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3:10 pm
When Incentives Meet Human Nature: The Social Science of Risk Mitigation
Join us to examine the psychology, perception, and practical barriers behind the stubbornly low uptake of risk reduction programs.
Moderator
Shauna Mamini
VP Property Portfolio and Exposure Management, Personal Insurance
Aviva Canada
Concurrent Session B
2:15 pm
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3:10 pm
Sharper Models for Sharper Risks
See what’s new for the Canadian market in CAT models as the leading model providers offer updates on recent developments in flood models and other valuable tools.
3:15 pm
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4:15 pm
The Post-Smokey Era: Communicating Risk in the 21st Century
Communication is key but, in an increasingly noisy world, how do you make sure your message is getting through? And how can the risk reduction and resilience community connect with younger generations? This panel explores innovative communication strategies and best practices to engage with your audience, with the ultimate goal of building capacity for effective risk reduction and mitigation.
4:15 pm
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4:30 pm
2026 CATs: The Forecast Says?
After two record-breaking years, 2025 saw a bit of relief for CATs in Canada. Will that trend continue in 2026? This session will give a quick overview on clues as to what Mother Nature could bring for the rest of the year, including a look at current ENSO conditions.
4:30 pm
Closing Remarks
Don’t Miss Out, Register today for CatIQ Connect!
If you have any questions, please contact us at connectcontact@catiq.com.
