Events

Get ready to dive into an informative session as we explore hidden cybersecurity risks embedded in everyday actions with Frank Fazio of CySat Security. From the seemingly innocuous act of charging your phone at a public station to the sophisticated manipulation of AI-generated content, this webinar will provide insight into how routine behaviors can be exploited by cybercriminals.  

Frank will emphasize real-world examples, particularly relevant to municipalities and community service organizations, and offers practical strategies to fortify personal and organizational security. 

With a strong focus on practical application, this webinar will equip you with the tools you need to boost security at both the individual and organizational levels.  

 

Pending CE Accreditation for our broker partners. 
 

Meet Frank Fazio

Frank Fazio is the founder of CySAT Security and a highly respected thought leader and educator with more than 30 years’ experience in the information technology field. He is certified in Incident Response and Advanced Forensics and his cybersecurity expertise is regularly sought out by organizations in the broader public sector. Frank has delivered numerous training sessions to municipalities and related organizations, including the Ontario Media Relations Officers Network, the Municipal Information Systems Association, the Federation of PEI Municipalities and AMO, amongst others. His practice is uniquely focused on equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge they need to protect themselves online and the critical assets of the organizations they represent.

This series of webinar presentations will bring together industry experts to discuss pressing issues on all manner of municipal liability exposures.  From legal experts discussing the importance of a Municipal Alcohol Policy, to seasoned Building Code professionals addressing how to face problems with open permits, we will interview these specialists to provide the most cutting-edge advice and viewpoints on specific liability exposures that matter to you and your municipality.  We will be fielding questions from the audience, so use this unique opportunity to get your questions answered by industry professionals. 

MAPping Your Liquor Host Liability

Municipalities routinely manage risks tied to road maintenance or slip-and-fall incidents, but alcohol service presents a different, and often overlooked, liability exposure. 

Whether it’s a beer garden, a wine tasting event, or serving alcohol in a municipally owned facility, the risks are real and potentially costly. This session will explore the hidden liability challenges municipalities face when alcohol is involved, and how to manage those risks effectively.  

Tracy Eso is joined by Cynthia Aoki, Partner, Clyde & Co. Canada LLP, to share insights on: 

• The importance of a Municipal Alcohol Policy and how that policy affects community partnerships. 
• Cases and legislation across the country that impact liquor host liability.  
• Areas where liability exposures are often missed and require attention. 
• How contractual risk transfer factors into alcohol service in municipal and community activities. 

 

Meet Tracy Eso

Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Manager, Intact Public Entities 
With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Tracy has created risk management and claims solutions for a myriad of clients and continues to champion the belief that the best risk management practices can be determined by closely examining past claims experiences. Tracy is passionate about delivering unique customer service solutions within the risk management and risk transfer space. Tracy is an instructor for the Insurance Institute of Canada teaching future insurance professionals in the industry. She has spoken at several conferences on topics ranging from Insurance Fraud to Liability Claims.

Meet Cynthia Aoki

Cynthia Aoki, Partner, Clyde & Co Canada LLP

Cynthia Aoki has over 15 years of experience handling complex commercial litigation claims, including personal injury claims involving commercial hosts, school boards, and municipalities.  Cynthia represents domestic and international clients across Canada and the United States. She has appeared before all levels of court in Alberta and Ontario. 

The 2025 Fall Workshop takes place from October 19-21 (Sunday to Tuesday) at the picturesque Queens Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It includes a mix of keynote speakers, educational sessions, quick hits, and sponsored sessions--all aimed at giving CAOs, DCAOs, and Aspiring CAOs the tools they need to be more effective. Plus we have optional events on Sunday afternoon and an offsite dinner+ tour on Monday evening.

Does your organization have a communication plan in place in the event of a cyber incident? Kathryn Kolaczek of Alchemy Communications Inc. is here to help you understand how to develop a practical, effective communications strategy for cyber emergencies.   

Clear, timely communication is essential, not just to address the immediate situation, but to maintain public trust and protect your organization’s reputation.   

This webinar will walk you through:  
 

• How to plan ahead  
• Crafting consistent messaging  
• Coordinating with teams  
• Managing media relations  
• Maintaining your current strategy through regular exercises and reviews.   

This webinar is pending CE Accreditation for our broker partners.
 

Meet Kathryn Kolaczek

Kathryn Kolaczek is an entrepreneur and communications strategist who helps other entrepreneurs and brands grow robust revenue growth by creating conversations in communities that matter.

Alchemy Communications is a full service Public Relations firm specializing in traditional and social media strategy and integration, and strategic communications management, including crisis communications. Kathryn earned her PR and social media stripes at The Mompreneur Magazine where she served as the company's CEO and used PR as the main marketing tool for the growing company. 

Since that time, Kathryn has created and executed on crisis communications strategies for brands managing national and international product recalls, board governance issues, employee injuries and death as well as environmental crises. In times of brand stress, Kathryn serves to create and clarify the key messages, control the conversation, and offer support to media and communities in need of accurate and timely information.

IPE is partnering with leading industry experts Alex Bugeye and Bud Kneller from Frontline Commercial Vehicle Solutions Inc. to bring you a practical, solutions-focused session on improving fleet compliance within the transportation sector. Designed specifically for municipal professionals, this session dives into the root causes of CVOR non-compliance and offers actionable strategies to address performance issues before they escalate. 

Learn how your municipality can strengthen their safety programs by implementing effective policies, leveraging technology, enhancing training programs, and maintaining strong record management practices to improve overall CVOR performance and operational safety. 

Whether you're managing a small fleet or a large operation, this session will equip you and your team with the tools to boost safety, accountability, and CVOR performance. 
 

Meet Sud Malhotra

Sud Malhotra, Fleet Solutions Specialist, Intact Public Entities
With over seven years’ experience in the transportation industry, Sud has held various roles including Safety & Compliance Manager, and Fleet Manager. Sud began his career in the insurance industry in 2021 with Intact Insurance before transitioning to IPE a year later. As part of the Risk Management Department, Sud ensures IPE’s Municipal & Public Administration and Community Service Organization clients remain proactive and compliant with regional and provincial guidelines as they pertain to fleet and road safety. To advance his industry knowledge and expertise, Sud has received instructor training from the Ontario Safety League and holds a Commercial Driver’s License. He also completed his CRM Certificate from the University of Toronto. As an active promoter of road safety, Sud participates as a member of various industry related organizations including PMTC and the Fleet Safety Council.
 

Meet Alex Bugeya

Alex Bugeya, President, Frontline Commercial Vehicle Solutions Inc.
Prior to Frontline, Alex spent 13+ years with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) including time spent as an enforcement officer, facility auditor, provincial audit administrator, and provincial training administrator in the Carrier Enforcement Program Office.  Alex’s experience includes being a former certified Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) instructor as well as a former provincial trainer for many courses including hours of service and daily vehicle inspections.  Since leaving the MTO, Alex has maintained his involvement with CVSA where he is the Secretary for the North American Inspector’s Championship committee and works as an instructor for their Canadian Industry Roadside Inspection courses. 
 

Meet Bud Kneller

Bud Kneller, Vice President, Eastern Operations, Frontline Commercial Vehicle Solutions Inc.
Prior to Frontline, Bud spent 20+ years with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) including time spent as an enforcement officer, facility auditor, and provincial training support administrator in the Carrier Enforcement Program Office.  Bud’s experience includes being a former certified Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) instructor as well as a former provincial trainer for courses including cargo securement.  Since leaving the MTO, Bud has maintained his involvement with CVSA where he works as an instructor for their Canadian Industry Roadside Inspection courses. 

 

Children’s Aid Societies hold a profound responsibility to protect the sensitive personal information of children and families. In today’s hyper-connected world, where workflows and communication channels intersect with advanced cyber risks, safeguarding this data is a critical priority.

Risk transfer is one of the most important components of an effective risk management strategy. Contractual risk transfer is so important that IPE has created this webinar series to highlight how best to effectively transfer risk using contracts and agreements. In each session, we will tackle the unique challenges of partnering with non-profits, contractors, or other municipalities and pinpoint the necessary steps to do it right.
 

Boundary Road Agreements

When municipalities share a boundary, responsibility for the roads that run along or across it can quickly become unclear without a formal agreement. A well-structured boundary road agreement is not just a tool for operational clarity—it’s a critical risk management instrument. In this next session of the Transferring Risk Intentionally Series, we’ll focus on how municipalities can use boundary road agreements to define obligations, allocate risk, and avoid costly disputes. 

IPE's Jaden Hodgins and Tracy Eso will guide you through the key considerations of these inter-municipal agreements, including: 

• Defining maintenance, repair, and capital responsibilities. 
• Assigning liability in the event of a claim. 
• The role of indemnification and insurance clauses. 
• Coordinating with minimum maintenance standards. 
• The risks of informal or outdated arrangements. 

Using real-world examples and claim scenarios, this session will help you understand how to draft and maintain boundary road agreements that hold up under legal scrutiny and align with day-to-day operational needs. Whether you're drafting a new agreement or reviewing an existing one, this session is a must if you're responsible for managing shared infrastructure or reducing your municipality’s liability. 

Event Details:

Date: Thursday, November 20th
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Register Now
 

Catch-up on past sessions:

Lease Agreements

Lease and rental agreements are as varied as the properties they govern: from large warehouses to open fields, to skate-sharpening booths at a rec facility.  Effectively transferring risk to the tenant of the space, or in some cases, the landlord, is a foundational responsibility that must be factored into any rental agreement. In this latest session in the Transferring Risk Intentionally series, Tracy Eso will address the importance of: 

• Hold-harmless and indemnity language
• Liability for leasehold improvements 
• Tenant’s legal liability 
• The persistent hazard of handshake agreements
• Waivers of subrogation 

View the recording here.

Successful Special Events

In the first webinar of the “Transferring Risk Intentionally” series we look at the challenges that municipalities face when organizing special events. From pop-up markets, to parades, though they enliven and bolster community spirit, they can also create unique hazards and unexpected risks that a municipality must address. Oftentimes, dealing with non-profit organizers or community groups adds complexity to the planning of these celebrations. In this 60-minute session, we will review the importance of formalized procedures and agreements with Tracy Eso, from the Risk Management Department of IPE. The session will discuss:

• When to retain responsibility or transfer it over to an organizer and how to do it properly.
• Essential components of the agreement: why a handshake will not do! 
• What Additional Insured status means to the municipality and to the organizer.
• Why incident reports still matter.

View the recording here.
 

Securing Safe Roads and Trails

In the second webinar of the “Transferring Risk Intentionally” series we discuss how roads and trailways are one of the most significant areas of responsibility for a municipality.  Understanding ways those exposures can be effectively mitigated by the use of contracts as well as partnerships will be the topic of this informative session with IPE’s own Brian Anderson, Roads Specialist and Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Specialist.  In this 60-minute session Tracy and Brian will discuss: 

• Partnerships with neighbouring communities, non-profit organizations, or private property owners to ensure that risk exposures on trails are properly managed.
• Managing responsibilities with third-party contractors who build or provide maintenance services on municipal roadways. 
• Encroachments and easements – managing the interplay between public responsibilities and private property.
• Optimal procedures for assuming new roads and infrastructure.

View the recording here.

Shared Services and Mutual Agreements

Municipalities across our country share services with neighbouring communities and upper-tier municipalities in order to function effectively and within budget. The agreements between parties are often dated and not properly documented. In this next session of our Transferring Risk Intentionally series, Tracy Eso will address the pitfalls of these sometimes historical agreements which are used for: 

• Shared emergency services 
• Building code inspections 
• Maintenance services 
• Historical arrangements that become “grand-fathered” 

We will discuss the important considerations when arranging shared services and discuss claims studies to review the way these agreements perform in a claims scenario. 

View the recording here.

Meet Tracy Eso

Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Specialist, Intact Public Entities 
With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Tracy has created risk management and claims solutions for a myriad of clients and continues to champion the belief that the best risk management practices can be determined by closely examining past claims experiences. Tracy is passionate about delivering unique customer service solutions within the risk management and risk transfer space. Tracy is an instructor for the Insurance Institute of Canada teaching future insurance professionals in the industry. She has spoken at several conferences on topics ranging from Insurance Fraud to Liability Claims.

 

Risk comes in many forms: premises risk, business risk, and the significant risk of legal liability.  Waivers and contracts can be effective tools to protect against an organization’s liability exposures, but they are not foolproof. This is especially true if those documents are not written clearly or administered correctly.
 
We’ve helped countless clients with contract and waiver reviews, and now we’re bringing that know-how straight to you. Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Specialist will discuss the most common uses of contractual risk transfer and the elements that must be addressed to ensure its effectiveness.

 

This webinar is pending CE Accreditation for our broker partners. 
 

Meet Tracy Eso

Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Manager, Intact Public Entities 
With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Tracy has created risk management and claims solutions for a myriad of clients and continues to champion the belief that the best risk management practices can be determined by closely examining past claims experiences. Tracy is passionate about delivering unique customer service solutions within the risk management and risk transfer space. Tracy is an instructor for the Insurance Institute of Canada teaching future insurance professionals in the industry. She has spoken at several conferences on topics ranging from Insurance Fraud to Liability Claims.

Elected officials play a critical role in shaping community growth, but with that influence comes risk. This fast-paced webinar will dive into the intersection of zoning, planning, and municipal accountability, offering practical insights on how to support building officials while making informed, legally sound decisions. You’ll learn how municipalities can face liability when land deals or development plans fall through and what you need to watch for to protect your municipality. 

Come prepared with your questions and leave with knowledge you can put to work right away. 
 

Meet Tracy Eso

Tracy Eso, Risk Assessment and Solutions Manager, Intact Public Entities 
With over 20 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Tracy has created risk management and claims solutions for a myriad of clients and continues to champion the belief that the best risk management practices can be determined by closely examining past claims experiences. Tracy is passionate about delivering unique customer service solutions within the risk management and risk transfer space. Tracy is an instructor for the Insurance Institute of Canada teaching future insurance professionals in the industry. She has spoken at several conferences on topics ranging from Insurance Fraud to Liability Claims.