News & Updates
Stay informed about upcoming conferences, industry news, and important updates from IEPMA.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: 2026 AGM Date Change & Call for Board Nominations
The meeting will now take place on Thursday, February 5th, 2026. Time: 12:00 PM PST | (1:00 PM MST)
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IEPMA Of Western Canada's 2026 Conference - Full Agenda
Complete schedule and speaker lineup for IEPMA Of Western Canada's 2026 Conference
📅 Event Agenda
Welcome to the 2026 Conference
Opening welcome remarks from IEPMA President Cam St Jean
Cam has over 10 years of experience in pest control and plant management. He currently serves as the IEPMA of Western Canada President, Owner/Operator of Kootenay Lawn Doctor Inc., and is a Ministry of Environment certified trainer and examination invigilator.
Continuing Education Credit Updates and Information
Updates and information on CEC credits and requirements
Phil has over 8 years as a Certified Pesticide Applicator throughout the East Kootenay Region. He currently holds both the Landscape and Industrial Vegetation Applicators Certificates. He has specialized in Tree, Invasive, and Insect applications throughout his time in the industry.
Managing Insect And Mite Pests Of Fruit Tree Crops
Identification, biology, behaviour, and damage associated with the common insect and mite pests of fruit tree crops. Raymond will then address the plant protection/pest management strategies, including scouting/monitoring, physical, pesticidal, and biological that can be implemented to keep insect and mite pests below plant damaging and yield reducing levels.
Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd is a Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticultural Entomology/Plant Protection in the Department of Entomology at Kansas State University. He has an extension (70%) and research (30%) appointment at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS). His research and extension program involves pest management in greenhouses, nurseries, landscapes, turfgrass, conservatories, interiorscapes, Christmas trees, vegetables, and fruits. He is the extension specialist in horticultural entomology for the state of Kansas with a major clientele that includes homeowners, master gardeners, and professional and commercial operators. Dr. Cloyd has published over 70 scientific refereed publications and over 400 trade journals on topics related to pest management/plant protection. In addition, he has authored or co-authored numerous books, including 'Pests and Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials', 'IPM for Gardeners', 'Plant Protection: Managing Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests', and 'Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests', along with book chapters, manuals, PICT or pocket guides, and extension-related publications. Dr. Raymond is a frequent speaker at state, national, and international conferences and seminars.
Compliance Updates & Landscape Sector Review
Alexis will provide the latest updates from the Compliance and Environmental Enforcement Branch. She will outline the Ministry’s priority-based inspection methodology and provide a focused review of the landscape sector, including common non-compliance issues and complaints. Alexis will also provide guidance on authorization renewals and information on local enforcement contacts.
Alexis Friesen is an Integrated Pest Management Officer with the Ministry of Environment and Parks’ Compliance and Environmental Enforcement Branch. Alexis works in the Ministry’s Penticton Office and covers the Okanagan and Kootenay regions, where she conducts compliance inspections on authorized pesticide vendors and users to verify and enforce compliance with a wide range of standards under the IPM Act and Regulation.
Coffee/Personal Break
Health Canada Legislation Update
Regional Pesticide Officer Health Canada updates on current and upcoming legislation
Deanna Pasquale is a Regional Pesticide Officer with Health Canada’s Pesticide Compliance Program. Deanna holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. With five years of experience in the Pesticide Compliance Program, Deanna currently works in the Kelowna office, alongside colleague Laura Feeny, conducting compliance and enforcement activities related to pesticide regulation. Outside of work, Deanna enjoys spending time with family and participating in CrossFit.
Preventing Inadvertent Exposure to Pesticide
Steven will discuss how to prevent inadvertent exposure to pesticides. He will also provide us with updates on current WorkSafe BC legislation affecting the horticulture and agriculture sectors.
Steven has been working as a prevention officer in the field services division of WorkSafeBC for over 16 years, primarily in the horticulture, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. His geographic region includes the central and southern Okanagan, Similkameen, Boundary, and the East and West Kootenays. His background includes over 10 years in landscape horticulture maintenance and custom pesticide application and 15 years of sales and distribution of agricultural and horticultural supplies.
Lunch Break
Reducing Your Environmental Impact Using IPM
New systems are being researched on putting together IPM techniques as a recipe whereas you may be able to reduce, eliminate or apply chemical pesticides less often. The PMRA system for qualifying reduced risk pesticides is examined. Another other rating system looked at comes out of Quebec called the Quebec Pesticide Risk Indicator and another from the USA called the Environmental Impact Quotient. Methods are discussed on how applicators can lower their environmental impact by cultural, biological and choosing pesticides with lower environmental impact.
Tim Garner is the owner of Professional Development Solutions. Tim was an instructor for 25 years at Fairview College in northwest Alberta. Tim taught in the areas of pesticides, weeds, soils and surveying in both a turfgrass management and agriculture technology diploma program. Tim is a Professional Agrologist with the Alberta Institute of Agrologists in Alberta. Tim holds a BSc. Ag from the University of Alberta, a Turfgrass diploma from Fairview College, an Alberta Journeyman Landscape Gardener Certificate and an Adult Instructor Diploma from Vancouver Community College. Tim is a certified pesticide applicator trainer in Alberta. Tim also maintains pesticide applicator’s licenses for agriculture, industrial and landscape in Alberta and an industrial pesticide applicator license of BC. Tim owns 14 quarters of land and grows hay, pasture and annual crops. Tim has also worked for 5 years for an agricultural chemical company in the early 80’s and upon leaving Fairview College started an industrial weed spraying company in the oilfield called Garner Vegetation Control. Over the last 20 years Tim has developed and delivered webinars live via the internet in the area of pesticide application and runs this venture under Professional Development Solutions.
Japanese Beetle Detection and Management
Japanese beetle was detected for the first time in Interior BC in Kamloops in 2024. This session will provide an overview of its identification, biology, damage, surveillance, and treatment and eradication efforts in British Columbia. Participants will also learn how to identify and report the spotted lanternfly, a high priority invasive insect pest that is not yet present in Canada but poses a significant risk.
Dr. Susanna Acheampong is an Entomologist with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. She specializes in invasive insect pest detection, identification, and management strategies for British Columbia.
Woodlot Management And Use Of Drone Technology
Use of drones is becoming increasingly popular in various industries. Sue will take us through the use of drone technology and what the future holds. Sue is excited to share her fascination with BC Woodlots, including experiences and why she wishes she had a drone in her forest management tool bag 30 years ago. Sue has more recently found that flying over the land with either her Piper Cherokee or her DJI Mini 2 drone is a lot more fun and time-efficient for monitoring.
Sue Jones is a Registered Professional Forester specializing in BC Woodlot Management. She started her forestry career as a summertime tree planter, travelling out from Ontario to British Columbia. She married her planting foreman, and in the late 1980's, they started a Silviculture Forest Consultant business together. Sue branched off into full woodlot management after the couple became licensees of two woodlots and she became a Professional Forester. She now manages 12 woodlots to various extents for other Woodlot Licensees in the Bulkley Valley, Northwest BC.