As part of the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Americas (RP17), anevent called the Public Forum will be held at various sites across Canada and North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

What’s the Public Forum?

Unique to the Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas (RP17), the Public Forum provides a selection of targeted results oriented workshops that are open to everyone, including the public. These sessions will allow individuals to participate in meaningful dialogue on DRR at the hemispheric andglobal level, which will be reflected as part of the results of the RP17.

The themes for the Public Forum include:

• • Climate Change Impacts, Health and DRR;

• • Indigenous community and DRR;

• • Gender equality, Human Rights and DRR;

• • DRR and resilience;

• • Community based DRR;

• • Role of Civil Society

• • Sustainable Development, financial costs and DRR;

• • Private/Public Collaboration; and

• • Science and technology solutions.

Participating and attending a Public Forum in your area

Members of the public are invited to attend workshops in their region to participate in meaningful dialogue on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) that will be reflected as part of the results of the RP17.

By engaging the public through the Public Forum, this will facilitate collaborative relationships across academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, government and the general public.

How to participate?

Please view the map below to identify the Public Forum closest to you and visit the links provided to find the necessary information tailored toward each session.

Should you not be able to attend a Public Forum, we welcome you to view the Regional Platform via webcast or to follow the conversation on Twitter by using #SendaiAmericas.

Public Forums include:

Université du Québec à Montréal – UQAM

SH-4800 - Salle polyvalente du pavillon Sherbrooke 200 rue Sherbrooke Ouest Montréal, Québec H2X 3P2 Date: March 7-8, 2017

Workshop’s focus: Disaster Risk Reduction

For additional information on this Public Forum visit the following website.

Concordia University, hosted by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Hall Building, H-767

7141 Rue Sherbrooke Ouest

Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6

Session 1:

Time: Monday, March 6, 2017 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Workshop’s focus: Panel discussion from the UN Regional Platform and Indigenous experts on disaster risk reduction

Session 2:

Time: Monday, March 6, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Workshop’s focus: Film Screening of Indigenous Disaster Evacuee Stories

Additional information on this Public Forum to come.

Brandon University

270 18th St, R7A 6A9

Brandon, Manitoba

Location: TBD

Time: Tuesday, March 7, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Workshop’s focus: Table top exercise to understand disaster risk - Emergency management and career (TBD)

Additional information on this Public Forum to come.

Laurentian University

Virtual Public Forum

Time: March 7 to 9, 2017

Workshop’s focus: Canadian Disaster Risk Management

To participate in the virtual Public Forum please click here.

York University

CSI Annex, Centre for Social Innovation

720 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON, M5S2R4  

Time: Wednesday, March 8, 2017 – 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Workshop’s focus: DRR and Resilience / DRR and Youth Engagement: Stimulating a Resilient Community

For additional information on this Public Forum please click here.

Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Shaw Theatre, Main Campus

11762 106 St NW, T5G 2R1

Edmonton, Alberta

Time: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Workshop’s focus: Disaster Risk Reduction in Alberta, including successes in resiliency building and unrealized opportunities

For additional information on this Public Forum please click here.

Natural Resources Canada’s Geological Survey of Canada

Science World 1455 Quebec Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 3Z7

Time: March 29-31, 2017

Workshop’s focus:Discussions on reducing earthquake and flood risks in the Georgia Basin

For additional information on this Public Forum please visit the following website.

University of Popayan, Colombia

Location: TBD

Time: TBD

Workshop’s focus: TBD

Additional information on this Public Forum to come.

Hosting a Public Forum

Interested organizations such as academia, private and public sectors, and non-governmental organizations are invited to participate by hosting a Public Forum in their region on March 7-8 2017. Hosting entails providing 1-3 rooms that would be suitable to accommodate 50-100 persons each as well as joining the planning committee in shaping the agenda for your event. Hosting a Public Forum in your area provides your organization with the opportunity to be recognized as a contributor to the results obtained during RP17 and to be featured as a Host of a Public Forum on the RP17 WEBSITE.

If you are interested in participating as a Host and/or presenter, or if you have any questions regarding your participation, please contact, via email, the RP17 SECRETARIAT.