Northwest Response Forum 2027

11/03/2025

06/13/2025

The Ministry of Natural Resources is advising that the Implementation Orders that had been in place around wildland fires Kenora 20 and Kenora 32 have been revoked, effective June 13 at 1:00a.m. CST.

All evacuation and restricted access orders have been removed from the Kenora District. All travel and use of roads and lakes in this area previously identified are available. All use and occupation of Crown Land previously identified is now available. Residents of Rice Lake may return to their properties.

Wildland fire suppression activities are ongoing on Kenora 20 and Kenora 32 but public safety relating to these fires is no longer a concern.

06/13/2025

The Restricted Fire Zone (RFZ) previously in place for the zones 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 has been revoked, effective Friday, June 13.

The Ministry of Natural Resources would like to thank Ontarians and visitors for doing their part to help prevent wildland fires and keep communities safe. Please continue to use extreme caution and follow Ontario’s Outdoor Fires Regulations when having an outdoor fire. https://www.ontario.ca/page/outdoor-fire-restrictions.

The province will continue to assess wildland fire hazard conditions and an RFZ designation may be reinstated in higher risk areas if the fire hazard and fire activity warrants.

06/08/2025

Wildfires and evacuations are occurring across Canada, and in our own back yard. Thank you to those who are supporting in so many ways; on the front lines, at airport hubs, in evacuations centres, in EOCs, and so much more.

To those who have been displaced, our thoughts are with you and we hope you can return home safely as soon as possible.

05/15/2025

Due to high to extreme forest fire hazard conditions and to reduce the number of human-caused fires, the Ministry of Natural Resources will be implementing a Restricted Fire Zone for a portion of the Northwest Region (zones 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 ) effective Friday, May 16 at 12:01 am local time.

The area impacted will be from the Southwest corner of the USA, Manitoba and Ontario border, North along the Manitoba border to West of the midway point of Weeskayjahk Ohtahzhoganeeng Provincial Park, East to North of Wabakimi Provincial Park, South along the Western border of Wabakimi Provincial Park to the Eastern border of Quetico Provincial Park until the USA border, then back West along the USA/Canada border to the Manitoba Border. Outdoor fires will be banned. Portable gas stoves may still be used BUT must be handled with extreme care. More details and a precise boundary of the Restricted Fire Zone in effect will be shared shortly, please consult the interactive fire map at Ontario.ca/fireupdates. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X .

05/14/2025

For real time updates about wildland fires (size, status and location) visit our interactive fire map: ontario.ca/fireupdates

Perimeters are posted for some fires over 40 hectares, zoom in until the perimeter appears. Once a new perimeter is mapped, it shows on the map at midnight.

04/11/2025

And just like that, NWRF 2025 is over! We are so grateful for all who took the time to join us this week and we hope everyone came away with something you can share with your teams to build emergency management capacity for your communities and groups. It was incredible to hear the conversations that were happening and to see so many new faces!

To our generous sponsors, incredible speakers and trade show vendors, we are so grateful for your support and could not do this without you.

Partnerships are key to all aspects of emergency management and the dedicated team who worked so hard to bring you this event exemplifies what working together can do! I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of you for the hard work and dedication you bring to this event and am humbled by the support you have all shown me throughout these last two years of planning.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone involved with the Forum and we will see you again in 2027!

Sharon Bak
Chair

04/10/2025

Day 3, and that’s a wrap!

Today we had the Thunder Bay Food Strategy, Ministry of Natural Resources, Indigenous Services Canada, and Team Rubicon on the agenda! What an awesome way to finish a great week of learning and networking.

See you all in 2027!

04/10/2025

Day 2 📸

So many awesome speakers today! We started with MNR, got very close to home with Alec Simpson, we heard from Patricia Martel, , ARES, O.P.P Cyber-Fraud, FireSmart, Jeff Donaldson, Jason Brolund (live from out west!) and ended our wonderful day with Steve Fraser and a little mental health reset.

Lunch was served by and we thank the many staff at the DRTC for their wonderful hospitality!

We cannot wait to see you on day #3!

04/09/2025

Day 1 was so much fun! We opened up the event with some key partners from the City of Dryden, and then we heard from Matthew Pegg, Canadian Red Cross, Hydro One, Emergency Management Ontario, and Bak Emergency Management.

This was all followed by a nice dinner, and some good musical entertainment!

We cannot wait to see you for Day 2! Let’s be

04/08/2025

Our trade show is up and running! ABC Fire and Safety has joined us once again, be sure to pop in and say hi 👋

04/08/2025

We were honoured to support an open house for public safety personnel and their families tonight! Thanks to Sharon Bak of Boots On The Ground - Peer Support for First Responders for sharing all about the supports they offer.

Special guest, Matthew Pegg, COO of Warrior Health, provided everyone with the exciting things that they are rolling out for the mental health needs of PSP and their families! We are so honoured to have you here Matt!