SESSION 1A
Connecting Data, Reporting, and Action in Watershed Management

This session demonstrates how integrated data systems are improving watershed planning, reporting, and implementation. Presentations track the evolution of watershed report cards and introduce tools like the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Watershed Reporting Hub Suite, which connects monitoring data, implementation tracking, and public-facing platforms. Case studies will also highlight integrated watershed management approaches that align policy, science, and community engagement across complex urban watersheds. Together, these tools illustrate how closing the loop between data, decisions, and action supports adaptive watershed management.

SESSION 1B
Strengthening Capacity and Service Excellence in Planning

This session highlights how organizations are adapting to increasing demand and shifting expectations in planning and regulatory services. Presentations showcase initiatives to improve service delivery, including advancements in content management systems, in-house technical capabilities, and updated provincial guidance. Speakers will also explore workforce development challenges, including building the next generation of planners and supporting succession planning. Together, the session provides practical examples of how collaboration and innovation are strengthening capacity across sectors.

SESSION 1C
Addressing Water Resource Challenges Through Collaboration

This session explores collaborative approaches to managing complex water resource challenges. Presentations focus on municipal water budgeting, inter-agency agreements, and real-world case studies addressing competing water demands. Speakers will highlight both technical and governance challenges, as well as strategies for coordination across jurisdictions. The session provides practical insights into integrated water management under increasing pressure.

SESSION 1D
Advancing Ecological Connectivity Across Landscapes

Maintaining ecological connectivity is essential for supporting biodiversity and resilient ecosystems. This session introduces Ontario’s first coordinated Ecological Connectivity Strategy for the Greenbelt and beyond. Presentations will explore how functional linkages, priority corridors, and ecological bottlenecks were identified using evidence-based analysis. Panel discussions will examine implementation challenges and opportunities in rapidly urbanizing regions. The session provides practical insights into translating large-scale connectivity planning into actionable conservation outcomes.

SESSION 1E
Introduction to Practical Watershed Modeling Tools

This hands-on session introduces participants to practical watershed and flood modeling using the Personal Computer Storm Water Management Model (PCSWMM). Attendees will learn how to build, run, and interpret integrated 1D–2D models, with a focus on efficient workflows and real-world applications. The session includes guidance on generating clear flood mapping outputs suitable for reporting and communication. It also provides ongoing learning resources, including software access and technical exercises, to support skill development beyond the session.

SESSION 2A
Integrating Indigenous Perspectives in Environmental Decision-Making

Indigenous knowledge systems offer important insights into stewardship, ecosystem health, and valuation of nature. This session explores how these perspectives can complement and strengthen conventional planning approaches. Presenters will share practical examples and considerations for more inclusive decision-making with case examples from Indigenous conservation, Guardians programs, and watershed initiatives.

SESSION 2B
Integrating Ecology into Land Use Planning and Growth Management

Balancing growth with environmental protection remains a central challenge in land use planning. This session brings together perspectives on how ecological considerations can be more effectively embedded into planning decisions. Presentations examine variability in Environmental Impact Study quality and the implications for “no negative impact” determinations, particularly in the context of reduced Conservation Authority review roles. Speakers also introduce ecological urbanism as a framework to better integrate natural processes into city design and planning decisions. Additional insights explore how shifting population patterns are reshaping rural planning needs and infrastructure demands.

SESSION 2C
Regulatory Updates and Hazard Management in Practice

This session provides a detailed look at recent changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and associated regulations shaping hazard identification and permitting. The presentation will walk through new methodologies, including the disjunctive test for hazardous lands and updated interpretations of risk thresholds within permitting decisions. Attendees will gain insight into the legal standing of hazard mapping and the implications for development review and enforcement. Practical examples highlight how these changes are influencing real-world decision-making to protect life, safety, and property.

SESSION 2D
Advancing Biodiversity Conservation through Practice and Innovation

This session showcases applied approaches to advancing biodiversity through both policy and on-the-ground implementation. Presentations include updates on municipal Biodiversity Action Plans and practical techniques for designing and constructing species-specific habitats, such as snake hibernacula. Speakers will also explore implementation challenges, monitoring approaches, and opportunities for scaling efforts. The session provides actionable insights for practitioners working to improve ecological outcomes in diverse contexts.

SESSION 2E
Advancing Stormwater Modeling and Hydrologic Analysis

This session explores advanced tools and methods for understanding and managing complex urban hydrologic systems. Presentations include 3D visualization techniques to better interpret flow dynamics and identify system vulnerabilities, alongside modelling approaches used to prioritize retrofit opportunities. Speakers will also introduce the Effective Impervious Cover (EIC) framework for linking runoff reduction to watershed health and performance targets. These approaches demonstrate how improved modelling can support more informed planning, design, and risk management decisions.

SESSION 3A
Advancing Climate Resilience: Integrated Strategies for Biodiversity, Design, and Decision-Making

Innovative work across Ontario is demonstrating how integrated strategies can strengthen climate resilience and biodiversity outcomes in planning and design. This session highlights the Peel Biodiversity and Climate Change Strategy as a collaborative regional model for aligning governance, partnerships, and evidence to drive coordinated climate and biodiversity action. A Newmarket case study showcases how nature-based solutions can be quantified through modelling and spatial analysis to inform park design, reduce urban heat, and enhance carbon sequestration. The session concludes by situating these approaches within Ontario’s evolving planning context, including how the precautionary principle continues to support sound, risk-informed decisions under increasing uncertainty.

SESSION 3B
Integrating Agriculture into Conservation and Natural Asset Planning

Agricultural landscapes are critical to both environmental and economic systems but are often underrepresented in planning frameworks. This session highlights practical approaches for incorporating agricultural landscapes into conservation planning and natural asset management. Presentations explore how agricultural soils contribute to ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water regulation, and biodiversity connectivity. Tools like the Habitat and Biodiversity Assessment Tool (HBAT) and the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework will be demonstrated to support on-the-ground decision-making. Case studies illustrate how data, modelling, and stewardship practices can be integrated into municipal and watershed-level strategies.

SESSION 3C
Advancing Tools and Policy in Source Water Protection

This session highlights advancements in tools, policy, and science supporting source water protection. Presentations include the development of automated screening tools to support early-stage decision-making and reflections on the evolution of the Clean Water Act over the past 20 years. Speakers will also explore communication strategies and emerging opportunities for future program development. Together, these insights demonstrate how innovation is strengthening source water protection practices.

SESSION 3D
Adaptive Stewardship: From Invasive Species Management to Climate-Ready Restoration

This session presents integrated, adaptive approaches to ecosystem management under changing environmental conditions. Presentations include strategic frameworks for prioritizing invasive species control, the development of municipal invasive species plans, and climate-informed tree planting practices. Case studies highlight the use of data, monitoring, and phased implementation to support effective restoration. Together, these approaches demonstrate how adaptive stewardship can enhance resilience across landscapes.

SESSION 3E
Managing and Planning Stormwater Infrastructure Systems

This session explores approaches for assessing, managing, and planning municipal stormwater infrastructure. Presentations include large-scale condition assessment programs, integrated 1D–2D floodplain modelling, and field performance monitoring of treatment devices. Case studies highlight how data-driven approaches can inform maintenance, capital planning, and regulatory updates. These examples demonstrate how municipalities can build more resilient and efficient stormwater systems.