News Release #1 - EPICC Forum 2008
For Immediate Release
Dated: Feb 20, 2008
Volcanic eruptions, chemical spills, eco-terrorism, a major earthquake.
Major catastrophic events could be a reality for British Columbia. In the past several months alone the province has experienced lengthy closures of major highways, flooding caused by ice jams, an arson bombing, even threats causing lockdowns for students and faculty at BC’s largest university. These events are real and business, large or small, is directly affected.
Unless businesses are ready to re-open within a week of a natural, or deliberate, catastrophe, surveys show 90 percent will be out of business – permanently. That’s why “continuity of business is everybody’s business”, the theme of EPICC Forum 2008, being held from February 25 to 27 at the Delta Airport Hotel, 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC.
Over three days starting Monday, February 25th international and Canadian experts, along with practitioners from here in British Columbia, will speak on a wide variety of issues ranging from flood control management, to urban business skyscraper fires, to employee health in emergencies, to planning for a pandemic.
For detailed information on three days of EPICC Forum 2008 topics and presenters go to www.epiccforum.org. To find out more about EPICC – the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council - go to www.epicc.org.
Your media contact at EPICC Forum 2008 is Cam Cathcart. Call him to arrange coverage and interviews before and during the conference at 604 682 5453, Cell 604 617 4221, or at cccathcart@shaw.ca
News Release #2 – EPICC Forum 2008
For Immediate Release
Dated: Feb 22 08
Challenging BC business and industry to survive and stay in business after a natural or criminal emergency event.
In the past several months BC has experienced disruptive winter closures of major highways, floods caused by an ice jam at Prince George, an arson bombing in Vancouver, and lockdowns for students and faculty at UBC’. These events are real, and business - large or small, is directly affected.
From Monday, February 25 to 27 at the Delta Airport Hotel in Richmond, EPICC Forum 2008 will feature international and Canadian experts and panelists, tackling issues such as flood control management, urban business skyscraper fires, employee health in emergencies, and the need to plan for a pandemic, among others.
Glen Magel, Chair of EPICC, says the forum’s objective is to “encourage BC’s industrial and commercial enterprises to begin planning emergency preparedness and business continuity now”, and to “share these plans with municipal and provincial emergency authorities”.
Surveys show that unless business and industry is ready to re-open within a week of a natural, or criminally caused catastrophe, 90 percent will be out of business. Permanently. The message is simple: plan and prepare now because when emergencies happen, and you’re not ready, it’s too late.
The theme of the EPICC Forum 2008 is “continuity of business is everybody’s business”. For detailed information on the three-day program at EPICC Forum 2008 topics and presenters go to www.epiccforum.org. For more about EPICC, the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council, go to www.epicc.org.
Your media contact at EPICC Forum 2008 is Cam Cathcart. Call him to arrange coverage and interviews before and during the conference at 604 682 5453, Cell 604 617 4221, or at cccathcart@shaw.ca
Media Advisory #1 - EPICC Forum 2008
Dated: Feb 25, 2008
What: 13th Annual EPICC Forum 2008
When: February 25 to 27
Where: Delta Airport Hotel (3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond)
Major emergency events are a reality for British Columbia. For example, a rockslide has closed the Fraser Canyon Highway today. This follows winter closures of the Coquihalla that disrupted BC commerce. An ice jam in Prince George caused long-term flooding most of the past several months. And, a suspicious arson explosion closed businesses in Vancouver recently. These events are real, and business - large or small, is affected.
Surveys show that unless businesses are ready to re-open within a week of a major emergency or disaster, 90 percent will be out of business. Permanently. It is why business has to be disaster resilient. International and local experts will share experiences and lessons learned at the 3-day forum that will help BC businesses to plan and practice business continuity.
Highlights for Day 1 – Monday, February 25:
- At 8:45 am the forum kicks off with a keynote address by Bill Brugger, formerly with Microsoft. His message will be to show the value of business continuity planning in an organization, large or small.
- At 10:30 am a panel featuring major players from BC Hydro, the BC government and Maple Ridge outline measures taken to mitigate flooding during the 2007 Fraser River Freshet and review steps to lessen the threat in 2008.
- At 1:30 pm four simultaneous workshops get underway. 1) Crisis Management; 2) Tabletop Exercises for Business; 3) All-Hazards Approach to Recovery; 4) Developing a Foundation for Business Resilience.
Note: For detailed information on EPICC Forum 2008 topics and presenters go to www.epiccforum.org. To find out more about EPICC – the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council - go to www.epicc.org. Your media contact at EPICC Forum 2008 is Cam Cathcart at 604 617 4221 or cccathcart@shaw.ca. He can arrange coverage and interviews. The EPICC Media Room is located in the Boeing Room off the main hotel lobby. Free hotel parking passes are available.
“Continuity of Business is Everybody’s Business”
Media Advisory #2 – EPICC Forum 2008
For Immediate Release
Dated: Feb 26, 2008
What: 13th Annual EPICC Forum 2008
When: February 26 & 27
Where: Delta Airport Hotel (3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond)
Do terrorists threaten BC’s tourism industry?
As memories of the 9/11 2001 terrorist attacks fade, an indifferent public appears to have little concern about possible future threats. If terrorism is mentioned, is tourism considered?
Today, February 26th, a leading US expert in the field of tourism security, Dr. Peter Tarlow, will explore how the tourism industry in North America receives special targeting from terrorists and is in need of special forms of protection.
Dr. Tarlow will present his views during the luncheon address at EPICC Forum 2008 starting at 12 Noon at the Delta Airport Hotel in Richmond. His topic: The Changing Face of Tourism Security in Times of Terrorism and Crime.
Other Highlights on Tuesday, February 26:
- At 10:00 am Jack Smith reviews lessons learned from the LaSalle Bank fire, the worst high-rise office fire in Chicago’s history that caused 50-million dollars damage and affected 3-thousand employees. But because of business continuity planning, critical operations began the next day and bank clients were not impacted.
- At 3:30 pm John Fowler will describe the workings of ChicagoFIRST, formed 5 years ago as a private-public partnership to develop plans for business continuity and security in times of disaster or crisis. ChicagoFIRST was in operation when the LaSalle Bank fire occurred.
For detailed information on EPICC Forum 2008 topics and presenters go to www.epiccforum.org. To find out more about EPICC – the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council - go to www.epicc.org. Your media contact at EPICC Forum 2008 is Cam Cathcart at 604 617 4221. He can arrange coverage and interviews. Note: A clean-feed patch board is available for the luncheon address.
“Continuity of Business is Everybody’s Business”
Media Advisory #3 – EPICC Forum 2008
For Immediate Release
Dated: Feb 27 08
What: EPICC Forum 2008
When: Final Day Today - February 27
Where: Delta Airport Hotel (3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond)
A pandemic of a new, contagious strain of flu is on the horizon.
- While the precise timing of the next pandemic is uncertain, it is expected. The impact will be significant because experts predict this next worldwide outbreak of a new and very contagious strain of influenza could affect between 25 and 35 percent of the population. Pandemic planning is the main theme of today’s EPICC Forum 2008 panel starting at 9:00 am. Panel members will outline what is different about this flu pandemic threat, which could have a major impact on health care and the economy.
Dealing with “emotional terrorists” in the workplace
- At 12 Noon, the emotional health of employees is the topic of a luncheon presentation by Dr. Vali Hawkins-Mitchell who discusses “emotional continuity”, the new hot-button term for a stable work environment and the bottom line. She will outline how employees need to be protected from “emotional terrorists” who cause workplace disruption and violence or a raging gossip chain.
For detailed information on EPICC Forum 2008 topics and presenters go to www.epiccforum.org. To find out more about EPICC – the Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council - go to www.epicc.org. Your media contact at EPICC Forum 2008 is Cam Cathcart at 604 617 4221. He can arrange coverage and interviews with presenters. Note: A clean-feed patch board is available for the pandemic panel and the luncheon presentation.
“Continuity of Business is Everybody’s Business”