Virtual
The Hidden Costs of Generosity: Potential Issues with Accepting Private "Gifts"
November 17, 2026
•
11:00 a.m.
-
12:00 p.m. ET
Municipalities are often offered “gifts” and donations—from artwork to playground equipment. While free items can be appealing, they can also create safety, compliance, and liability issues. In this one-hour session for elected officials, we’ll ask “What could go wrong?” and how to accept donations successfully while avoiding common traps, including:
- Equipment that doesn’t meet current standards
- Public artwork that becomes unsafe or inappropriate
- Donated real estate with hidden hazards
We will discuss how elected officials can best respond when well-meaning donors wish to enrich the community with their donations and how creating a process for properly accepting gifts can protect the municipality from future liability and avoid costly removal or disposal of unwanted “gifts.”
Speaker Information
Tracy Eso
Tracy Eso is a Risk Assessment & Solutions Specialist with Intact Public Entities, recognized for her wide-ranging expertise in risk management, including climate resilience, nature-based solutions (NbS), contractual risk transfer, and emergency preparedness.
Tracy supports both municipalities and community service organizations by researching emerging risks, developing best-practice solutions, and delivering tailored presentations to councils, staff, and boards. She is known for her ability to dive deeply into client issues, providing practical advice with an enthusiasm that is only outmatched by her knowledge.
Her expertise spans climate adaptation, contractual risk transfer, coastal erosion, wildfire risk, and recreation facility safety. She has contributed to provincial and regional working groups, including the Great Lakes Coastal Resilience Group, the Insurance Sector Advisory Group on Nature-based Solutions, and the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA) Research & Development Committee.
Tracy is also a frequent speaker at conferences across Canada, including the national CRIMS conference, SPIAO, and numerous municipal forums. She keeps closely connected to clients and industry partners, maintaining strong relationships that allow her to stay ahead of the issues that municipalities and community service organizations are facing.
Committed to lifelong learning, Tracy recently completed a micro-credential at Royal Roads University and actively pursues professional development opportunities, passing those insights on to clients. She holds the CIP, CRM, and ACI designations. In addition to her technical expertise, Tracy is widely regarded as a mentor and leader, helping to strengthen both the Risk Management team and the clients she serves.
- Equipment that doesn’t meet current standards
- Public artwork that becomes unsafe or inappropriate
- Donated real estate with hidden hazards
We will discuss how elected officials can best respond when well-meaning donors wish to enrich the community with their donations and how creating a process for properly accepting gifts can protect the municipality from future liability and avoid costly removal or disposal of unwanted “gifts.”
Speaker Information
Tracy Eso
Tracy Eso is a Risk Assessment & Solutions Specialist with Intact Public Entities, recognized for her wide-ranging expertise in risk management, including climate resilience, nature-based solutions (NbS), contractual risk transfer, and emergency preparedness.
Tracy supports both municipalities and community service organizations by researching emerging risks, developing best-practice solutions, and delivering tailored presentations to councils, staff, and boards. She is known for her ability to dive deeply into client issues, providing practical advice with an enthusiasm that is only outmatched by her knowledge.
Her expertise spans climate adaptation, contractual risk transfer, coastal erosion, wildfire risk, and recreation facility safety. She has contributed to provincial and regional working groups, including the Great Lakes Coastal Resilience Group, the Insurance Sector Advisory Group on Nature-based Solutions, and the Ontario Recreation Facilities Association (ORFA) Research & Development Committee.
Tracy is also a frequent speaker at conferences across Canada, including the national CRIMS conference, SPIAO, and numerous municipal forums. She keeps closely connected to clients and industry partners, maintaining strong relationships that allow her to stay ahead of the issues that municipalities and community service organizations are facing.
Committed to lifelong learning, Tracy recently completed a micro-credential at Royal Roads University and actively pursues professional development opportunities, passing those insights on to clients. She holds the CIP, CRM, and ACI designations. In addition to her technical expertise, Tracy is widely regarded as a mentor and leader, helping to strengthen both the Risk Management team and the clients she serves.