Welcome to the 2026 Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit in Victoria, hosted on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples of the Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation. This year’s theme, Collective Action: Empowering Communities, reflects our shared commitment to working together for a safer, more resilient future.

With wildfire seasons starting sooner, lasting longer, and impacting more communities across the province, the need for fire resilience has never been greater. Prolonged heat, drought, and other climate change effects make year-round fire preparedness a critical priority. As another challenging wildfire season approaches, our ability to collaborate and share information will be essential to strengthening wildfire resilience and keeping our communities safe.

More than 700 firefighting professionals, FireSmart experts and Indigenous, municipal and community leaders will gather in Victoria to learn and share the latest research, technologies, and best practices, to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season. I encourage you to make the most of the valuable opportunities the Summit will provide to celebrate existing partnerships, build new connections, and learn from one another throughout the week.

On behalf of our Summit organizers and attendees, thank you to our host Nations, Songhees Nation and Xwsepsum Nation. I also want to thank our many partners and sponsors for their support of this year’s Summit, as well as the members of our Advisory, FireSmart BC and Training Groups for their tireless work.

On behalf of myself, the BC FireSmart Committee, and all of the staff who have worked to make this event happen, we hope your experience will be positive, inspiring and meaningful.

Thank you all for coming. Let’s get to work!

Rachel Woodhurst
Chair, BC FireSmart Committee