The Earthquake Engineering Research Institute – BC Chapter (EERI-BC) successfully hosted its 3rd Annual One-Day Symposium on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
This year’s theme, “Toward Resilience: Preparing for the Big One – Cascadia Megathrust Earthquake” brought together a diverse community of professionals, structural and geotechnical engineers, geoscientists, planners, government representatives, and academic researchers, who are at the forefront of advancing seismic design and infrastructure resilience in British Columbia.
The program featured a keynote lecture, invited talks, and a dynamic panel discussion with seasoned experts from academia and industry. Presentations covered critical topics such as dam safety, bridge design, earthquake early warning systems, and post-disaster response planning. With participation from representatives of more than 100 organizations, the symposium was both well-attended and well-received, underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in preparing for seismic risks in the region, considering the local effects.
Introduction to the 19th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (19WCEE) and the CAEES A highlight of the symposium was the introduction of the upcoming 19th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering (19WCEE), which will be held in Montreal in 2028, and the Canadian Association for Earthquake Engineering (CAEES)
This introduction was delivered by Dr. Jason Dowling, Treasurer of CAEES. His remarks provided the West Coast audience with valuable insights into CAEES’s mission, ongoing activities, and its leadership in advancing earthquake engineering practice and research across Canada. Dr. Dowling also highlighted the significance of the 19WCEE as a landmark international gathering, where Canadian expertise will be showcased alongside global innovations in seismic resilience. The symposium offered an excellent platform to engage a key audience, professionals who will play an important role in both contributing to and attending the 19WCEE.
To further strengthen connections, CAEES hosted a booth at the symposium under the auspices of EERI-BC, offering attendees the opportunity to learn more about the association’s initiatives and the upcoming world conference.
The success of the EERI-BC symposium reflects the growing momentum within Canada’s earthquake engineering community. With the 19WCEE on the horizon, CAEES looks forward to continuing its collaboration with partners across the country and internationally, ensuring that Canadian contributions to seismic resilience remain at the forefront of global practice.
