Events

This webinar will review IPE's insurance programs and value-added services to complement your clients' unique coverage needs.

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 the Speakers

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.

Jonathan de Vries, Shillington McCall LLP 
Jonathan de Vries is a partner and trial and appellate lawyer at Shillington McCall LLP. His practice areas encompass a wide range of municipal and public agency liability issues, including road authority liability, building code liability, misfeasance claims and economic torts. He holds a PhD in law from the University of Western Ontario, with a dissertation on public agency liability in Canadian law. Jonathan has written extensively on municipal liability, insurance law, and litigation issues, with many of his works being published in peer-reviewed journals and cited by courts and legal scholars. He is a regular speaker on these same issues to legal, academic, and industry audiences.

Jonathan obtained his Juris Doctor in 2005, and then obtained Master of Laws with a specialization in international civil litigation in 2006. He was called to the Bar of Ontario in 2007. Jonathan has appeared as counsel before the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court, the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and various tribunals. Beyond his litigation work, Jonathan also handles coverage matters for insurance clients, often involving specialized policies or complex losses.

Jonathan is a member of the Canadian Defence Lawyers Association and the Middlesex Law Association.

 

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.

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. 

Click here to catch-up on past sessions.

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.

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. 

 

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.

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.

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. 

Click here to catch-up on past sessions.