2026 SPIAO Conference
May 24th-26th JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka - 1050 Paignton House Road, Minett, ON
2026 SPIAO Conference Agenda
Sunday, May 24th, 2026
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Registration
Wine, Coffee & Snacks
5:00 p.m. – 5:10 p.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
5:10 p.m. – 6:10 p.m. Roles, Rewards and Risk When Relying on a Volunteer Workforce
Presented by: Tracy Eso – Intact Public Entities
Description: Volunteers are often the key to success in the public sector. Their work brings value to every facet of our communities, but “employing” volunteers brings unique risk exposures, especially to cash-strapped schools and municipalities, that can hardly afford costly and time-consuming litigation.
In this sixty-minute session, Tracy Eso from Intact Public Entities will discuss the labour implications of a volunteer workforce: the training implications and requirements, the effective use of processes and procedures, and how employment practices may (or may not), apply to your volunteer force.
The session will cover:
- How insurance can (or should), respond to different claim scenarios.
- How WSIB could respond when a volunteer is injured “on the job.”
- What safeguards to put in place when dealing with municipal organizations for special events or initiatives in the community.
- How creating a comprehensive volunteer management strategy can close gaps and actually serve to attract more volunteers when done right.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Cocktails followed by dinner at 7:00 pm
8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Hospitality Suite & Team Building Activity
Monday, May 25th, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Announcements & 1st Pay or Deny
9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Claims Best Practices
Facilitated by: Donna Pasto – Niagara Region
Panel: Mike Lucchetta – Premier Adjusting Services
Paula Miljan – Risk & Claims Analyst, Niagara Region
Traci DeCaro – Supervisor Risk & Claims, Simcoe County Municipalities Insurance Pool
Susan Kirkwood – Senior Claims Examiner, QBE Insurance
Description: An inside look into public sector claims through the lens of our SPIAO selected claims professionals. This panel will immerse you in challenges, hard-earned insights, strategies, real stories, proven approaches to effective claims management and the reality behind the files.
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Coffee Break & Networking
11:15 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. 2nd Pay or Deny
11:20 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Reverse Engineering the Successful Defence of a Claim
Presented by: Ian Gold – Thomas Gold Pettingill LLP
Sean Murtha – Thomas Gold Pettingill LLP
Description: Ian and Sean will provide tips and advice on how to best position your organization (whether it be a municipality or a School Board) to successfully investigate and defend a claim.
They will discuss the following:
- The importance of proper recordkeeping and document retention, and how this ultimately impacts the defence of an action (using recent caselaw examples)
- Meeting with and taking statements from witnesses
- Best practices for the proper use of technology in the course of investigating a claim, and
- The retention and direction of third party experts.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Networking
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Year in Review – Evolving Liability Risks for Public Entities
Presented by: Iain Peck – Stieber Berlach
Andrea LeDrew – Stieber Berlach
Description: Over the past year, Ontario courts have continued to refine — and in some instances narrow — the scope of liability protections available to municipalities and other public entities. From roadway and infrastructure claims to building code oversight and police liability, recent decisions signal meaningful developments in how courts are assessing statutory defences, institutional negligence, and long-tail exposure.
This session will provide a focused review of leading decisions from the past year affecting municipalities, school boards, Crown corporations, and other public entities with particular attention to the practical implications for insurers and risk professionals.
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Grab and Go Snacks and Drinks
2:45 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Networking
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Cocktails followed by dinner at 7:15 pm
8:30 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. Entertainment and Hospitality Suite
Tuesday, May 26th, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Breakfast & Networking
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Announcements & 3rd Pay or Deny
9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bicycles and Liability
Presented by: Barry Cox – Boghosian + Allen LLP
Description: This presentation examines what we can do to avoid liability in bicycle-related claims, and how to best investigate and defend claims when they do occur.
We will take a look at topics such as:
- Minimum Maintenance Standards and bike lanes;
- Liability arising from the use of e-bikes, pedal assist bikes and e-scooters (including uninsured motorist considerations);
- Occupiers’ liability for bike paths and trails, including:
- the differing standards of “reasonableness” under s. 3(1) Occupiers’ Liability Act and “reckless disregard” for “nature trails” as defined under s.4(1) of the Occupiers’ Liability Act) – this is a topic that extends beyond cycling and bike paths;
- a discussion of the case Campbell v. Bruce County (2015) MPLR (5th) 192
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Coffee Break & Networking
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Hidden Environmental Risks In Buildings; You Might be Surprised How We Can Help You Identify Them & Reduce Your Exposure When a Loss Occurs
Presented by: Bob Phipps – First Response (FRE)
Description: Public sector entities are no strangers when it comes to building leases or ownership. Whether it be small or large, public entities are always utilizing their space to offer their consumers various services. From time to time, decisions are made about those spaces. New acquisitions, significant renovations or building changes can be decided. Once layers start to be peeled back… surprise, various environmental hazards have now been discovered. From asbestos to lead, buildings can show their true form. FRE will take us through some of these hidden environmental risks so that risk and insurance professionals can help assist when these deadly exposures are revealed. We will explore some methods as to how to identify and help reduce these exposures, especially when a loss or claim occurs.
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch & Conference Adjournment