Updates

Latest Updates and News

Deer-01

RFQ – Water Safety & Rescue Awareness Training (Indigenous Instructors)

Send Complete Submissions by February 15, 2026

IAMC–TMX Emergency Management Subcommittee (EMSC)
Issued by Cando (Contracting Lead)
Issue Date
: January 16, 2026
Closing Date: February 15, 2026
Contact: Russ Nelson
Email: russ@iamc.ca

1. Background

The IAMC–TMX Emergency Management Subcommittee (EMSC) is seeking Indigenous-led instructors or Indigenous professional training teams to deliver awareness‑level water safety, swift water rescue, and ice water rescue instruction to Indigenous communities along the Trans Mountain corridor.

Training will support:

  • Community safety and risk mitigation
  • Skills relevant for work (including pipeline work), recreation safety, and career readiness with emergency or responder agencies
  • Family-inclusive learning environments for adults, youth, and multigenerational groups

The program must begin delivery February 2026, with an agreement in place no later than the end of January. Delivery will continue on an on‑demand basis throughout 2026.

2. Scope of Work

2.1 Training Delivery

The contractor will deliver awareness‑level (non‑technical, no in‑water immersion) training sessions covering:

  • Water safety fundamentals
  • Swift water hazard awareness
  • Ice safety and ice rescue awareness
  • Scene safety, risk assessment, and safe positioning
  • PPE basics and emergency communication/activation
  • Weather/seasonal hazard considerations
  • Culturally safe approaches to teaching adult and youth learners

Sessions will be:

  • On-site in participating Indigenous communities
  • A blend of classroom (indoor or outdoor lecture) and supervised outdoor demonstrations
  • Delivered in English, with cultural awareness, respect for community protocols, and Indigenous knowledge integration
  • Family-inclusive, with safety planning central to sessions involving youth or multigenerational groups

2.2 Train-the-Instructor (TTI)

Contractor must also deliver a Train-the-Instructor (awareness facilitator) stream that equips communities to carry on future awareness‑level training independently.

2.3 Equipment & Logistics

  • Contractor provides all training equipment and demonstration materials.
  • Classroom/meeting space will be negotiated directly between contractor and host community.

2.4 Reporting Requirements

The contractor must provide to the IAMC EMSC EM Program Manager Russ Nelson:

  • Participant list (adults & youth)
  • Certificates of attendance (or formal certifications if applicable)
  • A brief outcomes summary after each session
  • Incident reporting:
    • Any safety incident during training must be reported immediately
    • EMSC will review the incident before additional sessions proceed

2.5 Safety

  • Emphasis on awareness only — no in-water immersion or technical rescue requirements.
  • Outdoor demonstration safety planning is mandatory.

3. Qualifications

Minimum Required:

  • Indigenous instructor(s) or Indigenous‑led training team
  • Practical experience teaching:
    • Water safety
    • Swift water rescue awareness
    • Ice rescue awareness
  • Demonstrated understanding of Indigenous cultural values and community protocols
  • Ability to teach mixed adult/youth and family‑inclusive groups
  • Must carry minimum $2M commercial general liability insurance
  • Must meet applicable WCB requirements in their province/territory

4. Submission Requirements (max 10 pages)

  1. Instructor/team bios & Indigenous affiliation
  2. Relevant credentials & training certifications
  3. Detailed training plan
    • Session structure
    • Outdoor demonstration approach
    • Safety planning for multigenerational groups
  4. Train‑the‑Instructor approach
  5. Availability beginning January 2026
  6. Travel model (regions you can serve, barriers, seasonal considerations)
  7. Curriculum outline & materials description
  8. Insurance & WCB confirmation
  9. Pricing: per-session rate, day rate, travel costs, materials costs
  10. Two references from similar training or emergency management instruction

5. Evaluation Criteria

CriterionWeight
Indigenous leadership & cultural safety20%
Instructor credentials & experience20%
Suitability and clarity of training plan20%
Quality of Train‑the‑Instructor component15%
Availability beginning January 202615%
Price & value10%

A minimum two‑person evaluation committee will review submissions (one from Cando, one from EMSC), per PRD requirements.

6. Contract Details

  • Contract value (NTE): Up to $60,000
  • Term: January–December 2026
  • Payment: Monthly invoicing with session reports
  • Contracting Entity: Cando (on behalf of Indigenous Caucus / EMSC)
  • Procurement path: RFQ; Indigenous providers prioritized

7. Submission Instructions

Send complete submissions to:

Email: russ@iamc.ca
Subject: RFQ – Water Safety & Rescue Awareness Training (Indigenous Instructors)

IAMC-TMX

Facebook

Now that the Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline is operating, what’s changed for the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC-TMX)? With more oil moving through the system, the stakes have gone up, and IAMC-TMX’s role is more important than ever. Before the expansion, the amount of oil running from Edmonton, AB to the shipping terminals in Burnaby, BC was enough to fill roughly one oil tanker each week. The extra capacity created by the expansion resulted in a significant jump, increasing marine traffic to several tankers per week through coastal waters. For as long as the pipeline exists, including through operations and eventual decommissioning, the IAMC‑TMX provides a forum to ensure Indigenous voices remain part of oversight as conditions, risks, and priorities evolve. www.iamc.ca/indigenous-caucus-of-the-iamc-tmx-responds-to-trans-mountain-expansion-project-approval/ #IAMC #TMX #Operations #MarineShipping

6
2 Comments

Why were Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees (IAMC) created? IAMCs were created to increase Indigenous participation and trust in the oversight of large energy projects. The model was co‑developed alongside the TMX project approvals and during the construction and early operations of the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Program. It has been funded over multiple federal budgets to sustain operations across the project lifecycle. Read Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Evaluation on IAMCs here: https://natural-resources.canada.ca/sites/nrcan/files/pdf/IAMC_EN.pdf #IAMC #Policy #Oversight #Reconciliation

1
1 Comments

Indigenous Monitoring and IAMCs: How it Works Indigenous Monitors work alongside the Canada Energy Regulator and other federal partners to conduct inspections, participate in emergency exercises, and undertake compliance verification. They bring Indigenous knowledge to on-the-ground oversight. The work of Indigenous monitors is supported by the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC) which brings Indigenous leaders and federal partners together to advise regulators and ensure meaningful Indigenous oversight across all stages of major energy projects. Built on mutual respect and shared responsibility, IAMCs work collaboratively to protect environmental and Indigenous interests. Learn more: www.iamc.ca/im-program/ #IAMC #IndigenousMonitoring #CER #Stewardship

4

Participation Without Prejudice Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committees (IAMCs) operate on a “Participation Without Prejudice” basis. Joining an IAMC committee does not mean a community supports or opposes a project. It also does not affect the Crown’s duty to consult. IAMCs bring Indigenous leaders and federal partners together to advise regulators and support meaningful Indigenous involvement. Learn more at www.iamc.ca #IAMC #RightsRecognition #Reconciliation

What is an Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC)? An Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC) is a co-developed table that brings Indigenous leaders together with federal partners to advise regulators and support oversight of major energy projects. Built on mutual respect and shared responsibility, IAMCs work collaboratively to protect environmental and Indigenous interests. Today, there are two IAMCs: one for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) and one for the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Program. Both support meaningful Indigenous involvement throughout every stage of these projects. Learn more at www.iamc.ca and www.iamc-line3.com #IAMC #IndigenousCollaboration #EnergyOversight

2

The story of the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC) began with a powerful act of leadership. In June 2016, Chief Ernie Crey (Cheam) and Chief Aaron Sumexheltza (Lower Nicola) wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Premiers of B.C. and Alberta, calling for meaningful Indigenous involvement in the oversight of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX). That letter set the stage for a new model of collaboration and led to the co-development of the IAMC-TMX, to bring Indigenous and federal representatives together to advise regulators and support Indigenous participation in oversight of safety, environmental protection, and Indigenous interests along the pipeline and associated marine shipping routes. Learn about the IAMC-TMX: www.iamc.ca

6

Governance Update: IAMC‑TMX As the Trans Mountain Expansion Project has been operating, the Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee (IAMC‑TMX) is undertaking governance alignment to ensure its work is fully focused on operations‑phase oversight. IAMC‑TMX activities will be paused until June while the Indigenous Caucus strengthens governance, clarifies processes and roles, and prepares for long‑term oversight during operations. This pause is intentional and reflects the Committee’s commitment to strong governance, accountability, and Indigenous‑led oversight. Updates will be shared as this work progresses. #IAMC #Governance #IndigenousOversight #TMX

1

On March 29 and 30th, 2026, the SESC of the IAMC‑TMX hosted a Know Your Rights / Self Defence Workshop in Edmonton for Indigenous youth from First Nation and Métis communities across Alberta who are part of the TMX Crown Consultation process. The workshop focused on building agency, confidence, and practical self‑defence skills, starting with understanding personal rights and finding one’s voice, and moving into embodied safety skills grounded in real‑world experience. The training was delivered through an Indigenous lens, creating a supportive and culturally grounded space for learning and connection. We were honoured to welcome youth of all genders, ages 16–29, and grateful to everyone who participated and helped make this workshop meaningful and empowering. Learn more about the SESC: www.iamc.ca/socioeconomic-subcommittee/

3

Register Now for the IAMC‑TMX Victoria Regional Engagement (Mar 26) This session is open to Coastal Nations and any impacted Nation along the TMX corridor and shipping route that was unable to attend the previous regional engagement sessions. Your participation is important to ensuring all impacted Nations are heard as the IAMC‑TMX plans its next steps. Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort. Register here for Victoria Regionals: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/iamc-tmx-victoria-regional-engagement-session-tickets-1983914130570?aff=oddtdtcreator

4

Newsletter Subscription

If you would like to receive email notifications of the latest IAMC-TMX news updates, please sign up to our subscription service.