The Canadian Live Music Association is pleased to announce a full day of Raising the Bar sessions designed to give live music industry stakeholders the tools to ensure that every music space is a safe place.

“Raising the Bar, with thanks to Creative BC and our many sponsors, affords us the opportunity for us to come together as the live music industry – to learn, to connect and to effect change. Making every live music space a safe place is our goal and leveraging best practices, tools and training offered through Raising the Bar will help us to reach it… on behalf of our fans, our artists and our industry.” - Erin Benjamin, President & CEO, Canadian Live Music Association

When: Monday, May 27, 2019

Time: 9 am - 5 pm

Where: The Imperial, Vancouver, BC

Cost: $114.66 (includes lunch, taxes and fees)

50% Discount for Canadian Live Music Association Members: $59.58 (includes fees)

(contact Victoria Shepherd to take advantage of this discount)

Not a member? Join today!

The day's curated programming, tailored to the live music sector, will include best practices advice and practical scenarios from leading industry experts:

9:00 am Keynote Speaker

Kerslake Arena Attack Review, Dr. Hugh Deeming

Hugh Deeming is a UK based research consultant, whose principal research interests include the concept of multi-agency interoperability during emergency response and recovery. In September 2017 Hugh was invited to join the panel of Lord Kerslake’s review of the preparedness for and response to the Manchester Arena attack which had occurred on May 22nd that year.

10:15 am Real-Time Risk Assessment: Transferable Lessons

Learning from experience is perhaps the best way to develop and evolve strategies to ensure the safety of our audience and colleagues. This panel will discuss the various risks we’re exposed to in the Canadian live music industry, and share experience based ‘best practices’.

Panelists:

Aaron Billesberger, Manager of Special Projects and Training, Guard Tech Security Co.

Paul Runnals, Partner & Senior VP Creative & Production, Brand Live Group

Frank Dodich, Manager of Special Event Public Safety, City of Vancouver

Barry Wilding, Consultant, Wilding & Associates

Sheila Turris, Chief Clinical Officer, Odyssey Medical Inc.

11:30 am An Integrated Approach to Harm Reduction: Proactive Shifts Towards Health

Our industry experts will be discussing the latest developments in festival health, including a focus on increased departmental integration to ensure best outcomes. These proactive approaches address various considerations pertaining to both physical and mental health.

Panelists:

Dr. Adam Lund, Medical Director, Odyssey Medical Inc.

Colin Mathie, Director of Health and Safety, Live Nation

Nimkish Younging, Patron, Nimbus School of Recording

Shana Jamani Lund, RN, MN, Festival Mental Health, Douglas College

12:30 pm LUNCH

1:30 pm The Evolution of Cannabis Legalization: Next Steps

Canada’s live music industry is poised to be a global leader in developing best practices and identifying opportunities of legalization while maintaining the highest level for safety for our patrons. Our expert speakers will discuss the various considerations based on the current and upcoming changes to this landscape.

Panelists:

Kirk Tousaw, Founder, Legal Counsel, Tousaw Law

Rielle Caplet, Director, Implementation and Partnership, BC Centre on Substance Abuse

Dr. Sean Wormsbecker, Event Medical Director, 420 Vancouver

Dr. Terry Lake, VP, Corporate and Social Responsibility, HEXO

Samantha Slattery, Producer, Raising The Bar

2:45 pm Working Safe & Staying Vigilant

The live music industry can be a challenging place to work, from the physical and mental demands to the dynamic environments and their inherent dangers. These experienced and insightful speakers will share where we’re most vulnerable and strategies to maintain safe workplaces.

Panelists:

Jim Brett, International Representative, IATSE

Don Parman, Manager, Performing Arts Programs and Services, ActSafe Safety Association

Sean Clark, Head Rigger, Riggit Services Inc.

4:00 pm Respectful Workplaces: Practical Changes

Natasha Tony, Principal & CEO, Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Natasha Tony is Principal and CEO of Elevate Inclusion Strategies, a consulting company which focuses on issues management and systemic conflict resolution. To this end, Elevate develops and implements diversity initiatives and respectful workplace programs for client organizations.

Stakeholders in the live music industry are encouraged to attend; however, sessions are open to all those who are interested.

For more information, please contact:

Victoria Shepherd, Director of Operations

Canadian Live Music Association

647.502.3364

About the Canadian Live Music Association:

The Canadian Live Music Association represents concert promoters, festivals, talent agencies, venues, clubs, arenas, performing arts centres, ticketing companies, other organizations and suppliers to live music from across Canada. Its mission is to entrench the economic, social and cultural value of live music – creating the conditions for concerts to thrive, from coast to coast to coast.

About Raising The Bar:

Raising the Bar is a first-of-its-kind, national training program brought to you by the Canadian Live Music Association and produced by industry veteran Samantha Slattery. It provides hands-on training and education to live music industry professionals to ensure safer spaces, harm reduction and event safety in Canada’s live music industry.