Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Option to attend Sunday Afternoon Dam Safety 101 Technical Tour to Lake Major Dam. Please indicate interest and we will reach out to you to confirm as space permits.

Price

$610; includes breakfast (7:30AM - 8:30AM), coffee breaks, and lunch (12:00PM - 1:00PM)

Audience

This workshop will interest managers and operators of dams, and their engineering consultants, who are involved in developing Public Safety Management Plans, decision-making related to the implementation of physical and operational control measures and managing incidents. The workshop will also benefit staff engaged in the day-to-day maintenance of public safety at dams, as well as Communications Officers responsible for educating the public on hazards associated with dams and their operation.

Details

CDA’s Guidelines for Public Safety Around Dams represent the most comprehensive guidance available to dam owner’s, consultants and regulators on the process to identify risks to public safety and means to mitigate through physical and operational controls.

As part of this year’s conference, we will be offering a 1-Day workshop, focused on the management of public safety, based on the methodologies presented in CDA’s 2011 Guidelines for Public Safety Around Dams. Participants will have the option to join the Dam Safety 101 Technical Tour the afternoon of the following day.

Saturday, October 24 is the standard CDA training package for Public Safety Around Dams and will cover:

• Canadian Context of Public Safety Around Dams
• Development of an Owner’s Public Safety Management Plan
• Risk Controls
• Incident Reporting and Management

Sunday, October 25 - Option to join DS101 Field Trip

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price

$610; includes breakfast (7:30AM – 8:30AM), coffee breaks, and lunch (12:00PM – 1:00PM)

Audience

The workshop is aimed at dam owners, consultants and regulators who want to gain a better understanding of good practice as described in the CDA’s Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Reviews. 

Details

The Canadian Dam Association (CDA) published Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Reviews in 2016, to bring together knowledge from over 20 years of practice since the term “Dam Safety Review” (DSR) was introduced in Dam Safety Guidelines first published by the Canadian Dam Safety Association in 1995. The concept of periodic and systematic review is now widely accepted as an important part of dam safety programs in Canada and elsewhere in the world. This Bulletin is a result of extensive work and consultation by a CDA working group, and it is intended to supplement the guidance that was included in the CDA Dam Safety Guidelines.

This workshop present the concepts and processes developed in the CDA’s Technical Bulletin: Dam Safety Reviews. Participants will develop an understanding of the following:

• DSR process as described in the CDA technical bulletin
• Roles and expectations of the dam owner and review engineer
• How a safety statement can be made and supported

Attendees work through exercises to better understand how to scope a DSR, what information is required to assess the safety of a dam, how to approach the hazard-failure mode-control aspect of a safety analysis, and how to present the findings in a manner that supports decision-making by the dam owner.

Printed course material is provided for attendees to use during the workshop and keep for future reference. Tools and samples are included. Exercises are completed in small groups, allowing for significant discussion and peer learning among workshop participants.

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price

$610; includes breakfast (7:30 AM – 8:30 AM), coffee breaks, and lunch (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

Audience

Owners, consultants, regulators interested in RIDM 

Details

Morning session - What is RIDM?

This workshop presents the development of the draft Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM) guidance document for Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) and provides hands-on experience with RIDM tools and methodologies. The morning session focuses on the theoretical framework, development process, key principles of RIDM and summaries of recent industry publications on the subject.

Afternoon session - Scenarios

The afternoon session offers interactive exercises and discussions to apply RIDM concepts to real-world TSF scenarios.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the distinction between Standards-Based Engineering (SBE), Risk-Informed Design (RID), and Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM)
• Comprehend RIDM as a comprehensive framework (toolbox), not a prescription
• Learn about the development process and key components of the draft RIDM guidance document
• Apply RIDM tools to TSF decision-making scenarios
• Practice behavioral science techniques for improving decision quality
• Identify implementation challenges and solutions for organizations adopting RIDM.

Time

8:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Price

$340; includes breakfast (7:30 AM - 8:30 AM) and coffee break

Overview

Contribute to the development of CDA's emerging dike safety guidance while exploring risk-informed management, operations, maintenance, and regulatory consideratins.

Audience

Owners, operators, regulators, and consultants involved in flood protection infrastructure

Details

The CDA Dam Safety Committee’s Dikes and Levees Working Group is leading the development of a technical guidance documentation for dike safety. The documentation is intended to address gaps in current Canadian practice by adapting relevant elements of the CDA Dam Safety Guidelines and other dike-focused guidance, and by incorporating dike-specific technical, operational, and regulatory considerations to support consistent, risk-informed dike management across jurisdictions.

Participants will be introduced to the Working Group’s progress and the proposed guidance development approach, including the initial outline, preliminary content, and guiding philosophy (risk-informed, practical, and implementable across Canadian jurisdictions). The workshop will then use facilitated exercises to apply key concepts to realistic scenarios and test applicability for different roles (owners, regulators, practitioners). Structured discussion will be used to collect feedback on priorities, clarity, usability, and implementation challenges to inform the next draft.

Time

1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Price

$135; includes lunch (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM), coffee break

Overview

Develop professional skills through sessions on networking, conference participation, career planning, mentorship, coaching, and industry career pathways.

Audience

Students and early-career professionals from industry, consulting, and regulatory organizations

Details

Description: 
This course will focus on career development skills, rather than technical skills, and will feature real-world insights from diverse industry leaders on topics such as: how to attend and get the most out of a conference, building foundational career development competencies, how to seek out and achieve success from mentorship and coaching, and will outline different career opportunities within the industry. Each component of the course will include advice from personal experiences compiled from the team of course contributors. Breakout sessions and icebreakers will be included to promote social interaction, networking, and encourage participants to put new skills into action in the moment.

Preliminary Agenda:

• Introduction and Opening Remarks
• Conference 101 - How to attend and get the most out of a conference
  Icebreaker
• Career Development - Building foundational career development competencies
• Mentorship/Coaching - How to seek out and achieve success from mentorship and coaching
  Icebreaker / Breakout Session

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price

$610; includes breakfast (7:30AM – 8:30AM), coffee breaks, lunch (12:00PM – 1:00PM), and bus transport

Overview

An introductory workshop covering key principles of dam safety, followed by a site visit to Halifax Water's Lake Major Dam to connect theory with real-world operations.

Audience

Industry newcomers, owners, regulators, university students

Details

Morning session - Classroom

Workshop provides a broad understanding of Canadian Dam Safety Guidelines for the most common types of dams:

• Introduction & Nova Scotia Dam Safety Context
• Geotechnical
• Structural
• Hydraulic
• Public Safety
• Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning (EPRP)
• Dam Operations and Maintenance

Workshop provides an in-field experience for attendees to make connections between CDA guidelines and operations at a modern dam.

Afternoon session – Technical Tour

Participants will travel to Lake Major Dam, constructed in 2019, and operated and maintained by Halifax Water. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the dam and appurtenant structures and apply their knowledge from the morning demonstration session. The concrete dam features a 20m-wide Labyrinth Spillway, sluiceway, a concrete pool and weir fishway with a viewing window and height-variable weirs, and an adjacent earthen saddle dam.

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price

$470; includes breakfast (7:30 AM – 8:30 AM), coffee breaks, and lunch (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

Overview

Learn risk-informed and objectives-based approaches to Tailings Storage Facility closure planning, design, and long-term stability through guidance, tools, and case studies.

Audience

The workshop is geared towards professionals who are involved in the design or oversight of mining dams throughout their various phases, such as professional engineers, dam owners, dam regulators and any others interested in understanding more about TSF closure and risk based vs. objectives based closure. 

Details

The Canadian Dam Association (CDA) provides technical guidance on the design, construction, operation, and closure aspects of dams in Canada. Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) also require specific and detailed guidance for effective and successful closure of the TSF. To address this need, a working group was established and directed to develop a Technical Bulletin on closure.

A tailings dam or the TSF’s closure configuration must achieve long term physical, chemical, ecological, and social stability. Additionally, there needs to be sustainable, environmentally appropriate after use with closure planning accounting for the end land use of the TSF. The ultimate goal of closure should be to create a sustainable landscape where catastrophic failure modes have been eliminated and/or where the risks associated with the structure are judged to be low enough for both community acceptance and the environment. Closure risks should be identified and integrated from the outset when determining the options for tailings storage, process selection and tailings technology. Closure plans should be continuously revisited as operational knowledge evolves, ensuring that the plans are updated and aligned with current understanding.

This half- day workshop will describe the process and phases of closure with considerations that need to be made. Participants will be introduced to the two methods to consider for closure: a risk based (using Risk Informed Closure Design - RICD) and an objectives based (using regulations or other standard). Guidance and tools to assist with the various stages of closure will be presented along with case studies. The learning objectives of this workshop will be for the participants to understanding the definitions and associated implications related to closure. Guidance for passive closure will also be presented and discussed. This workshop will give participants a greater comprehension of proposed considerations for physical stability to achieve successful closure planning and design.

Following the morning session, there will be an open discussion session in the afternoon for workshop participants and other stakeholders to discuss questions they may have on the concepts learned or delve a little more deeper into relevant topics of importance. Participants will also have the opportunity to provide feedback to be considered in the development of the draft Closure Bulletin.

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price

$610; includes breakfast (7:30 AM 8:30 AM), coffee breaks, and lunch (12:00 PM – 1:00 PM)

Overview

A comprehensive introduction to fish passage design, combining biological, hydraulic, environmental, and engineering considerations for dams and water control structures.

Audience

Design engineers, aquatic biologists, dam owners, regulators involved in the design and/or permitting of dams where fish passage is a requirement

Details

Objective
Provide participants with current and relevant information on state-of-practice for fishway design, as it pertains to dam design and rehabilitation. Brings together aspects of engineering and environmental designs

Agenda

• Overview of Regulatory Context
• Biological considerations for design of fish passage structures
• Fish Passage Design Process

Description

The need to provide effective upstream fish passage has become increasingly recognized by Canadian regulators and dam owners as an essential component in the planning of new dams, hydraulic structures, and the rehabilitation of aging infrastructure. As pressures on aquatic ecosystems intensify and awareness of habitat connectivity grows, the design of fish passage facilities has evolved into a multidisciplinary effort that requires close integration between biological science and engineering practice. Ensuring that structures support natural migration patterns while meeting operational and regulatory requirements demands a comprehensive and collaborative design approach.

This full day workshop offers participants a detailed introduction to the fundamental principles, methods, and considerations involved in the development of upstream fish passage systems. Key biological concepts, such as species-specific swimming performance, behavioural tendencies, and migratory timing, will be presented alongside engineering and hydrological requirements that influence the selection and configuration of fishways. The workshop will also provide an overview of watershed processes, flow regimes, and hydraulic characteristics that are critical to the successful design and long-term performance of fish passage structures.

Fish Passage 101 builds upon and expands the nature-like fishway workshop delivered at the 2025 CDA Conference. Based on participant feedback, this updated workshop now covers the full range of commonly used fishway types. Interactive breakout sessions will provide opportunities for hands-on learning, enabling participants to develop conceptual designs using an example scenario, evaluate design options, and gain practical experience with the design of a typical fishway.

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Price

$610; includes breakfast (7:30 AM - 8:30 AM), coffee breaks, and lunch (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM)

Overview

Explore the principles, tools, and practical application of Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM) for Tailings Storage Facilities through case studies and hands-on exercises.

Audience

Dam owners and operators of hydropower and mining facilities, and the consultants who provide services to the owners, will find this workshop particularly valuable. Regulators, emergency managers and communications professionals in communities that are potentially affected by a dam emergency will be interested in learning how they can work together with dam owners to enhance community resilience. The workshop is intended to meet requirements for continuing professional development.

Details

CDA has published Technical Bulletin: Emergency Management for Dam Safety (2019) to provide guidance to the dam community for emergency preparedness and management of dam emergencies. The bulletin supplements Dam Safety Guidelines (CDA 2013) and serves the needs of owners, community first responders, and those who regulate dam safety. 

The Bulletin outlines strategies to enhance the understanding of hazards posed by a dam, as well as options available to reduce the risk exposure and vulnerability of stakeholders, thereby building community resilience. The Bulletin is intended to address aspects of emergency management that go beyond simply planning and response - those additional aspects being prevention, mitigation, and recovery. Engaging communities leads to more advanced, and often more effective, ways to manage residual risks posed by dams and their operation. 

This workshop outlines the process presented in the Technical Bulletin: Emergency Management for Dam Safety, including risk assessment, maintenance of readiness, response, and recovery. In addition, the workshop provides an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the dam owner and stakeholders, focusing on the importance of community engagement and the ways to promote community resilience. 

Tools and examples of good practices are presented for preparing and maintaining Dam Emergency Plans and inundation maps, and determining activation levels for emergency response. The workshop is interactive with small group discussions and exercises that use a case study to illustrate key points.

Time

1:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Price

$340; includes lunch (12:00 PM 1:00 PM) and coffee break

Overview

Participants will discuss key methodologies introduced in prior CDA workshops and explore recent advancements in practical application and ranking of failure modes. The session is discussion based and includes breakout groups where participants will work through example applications to support practical understanding and provide feedback on the evolving bulletin.

Audience

The workshop is aimed at dam owners, consultants and regulators who want to gain a better understanding of the draft Part 1 technical bulletin on Failure Modes Analyses and the ongoing development of ranking techniques.

Details

A CDA Working Group has developed a draft Technical Bulletin – Failure Modes Analysis which details the identification and analysis of failure modes and failure mechanisms. The bulletin adapts a systems and functional analysis approach informed by established methods such as FMEA and PFMEA.

This workshop will present and discuss the current draft, beginning with a review of the general methodologies introduced in prior CDA Conference workshops. It will then highlight advancements made over the past year—particularly related to practical applications and the ranking of failure modes. 

The session will be discussion-based and include breakout groups that will work through example applications.