CCEM Strategies turns 10 tomorrow! As we approach this important milestone, we’re taking a moment to reflect — on where we started, where we are, and where we’re headed. Ten years ago, a vision took shape: to make an impact in the communities we serve, by producing industry-leading programs and initiatives. That vision became CCEM. Since then, we’ve experienced much change and growth but our core values have remained the same. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us, partnered with us, and trusted us along the way. We invite you to reflect back on our journey with us.
Then: The origin of CCEM
CCEM’s founding directors, Christine and Diane, first worked together on planning of the 2010 Olympics before continuing their careers at FortisBC. There, they developed emergency and continuity plans across a range of complex systems, including natural gas transmission, LNG, electric utilities, and hydroelectric dams. During this time, the emergency management department was supported by several external consultants. Working alongside these consultants, Christine and Diane recognized an opportunity in the industry. So, over a glass of wine (merlot is the CCEM colour for a reason!) Christine and Diane saw a clear opportunity to raise the bar in emergency management consulting.
In 2015, Christine and Diane officially established CCEM, a consulting firm that would be known for producing high-quality work tailored emergency and continuity management solutions. With thanks to their strong sector relationships and industry expertise, CCEM gained early traction. The first win, was securing a major contract on the largest project in Canada at the time, an agreement finalized during a phone call while Christine happened to be playing mini golf at Disney World! CCEM was publicly launched at the EPBC Conference in October 2015, hosting a wine and cheese event that reflected the firms values and welcoming spirit. A year later, CCEM had contracts with three major clients, opened their first office, and hired four people. This steady and stable growth continued for the next 10 years.
From the beginning CCEM was shaped not just by opportunity but by purpose. As the company took shape, so too did the core values. Over that glass of wine (and no doubt many others) CCEM’s principles of Excellence, Enhancement, Client-Focused, and Care were developed and cemented as the core of who CCEM is. Curated in 2015, they have underpinned all our work throughout the decade and central to our leading approach. We consider these foundational values as:
Excellence: We are committed to delivering high-quality, polished work. Every detail matters — and our focus on precision and professionalism ensures a final product we’re proud to stand behind.
Enhancement: We respect where our clients are and what they’ve built. Our role is to strengthen and enhance existing programs, not to replace them. We supplement, support, and hand-over so our clients can be independent.
Client-Focused: We are responsive, communicative, and flexible. Every client is unique, and we tailor our approach to fit their specific goals and context. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution — we celebrate difference and design with that in mind.
Care: At the heart of everything we do is care — for our clients and for the communities they serve. We believe that strong relationships are the foundation of strong outcomes.
Now: Milestones and Lessons
Over the past decade, CCEM has grown from two people into a broader team of professionals with diverse backgrounds across the emergency and continuity management field. This growth has gone hand in hand with a steady expansion in the scope and reach of our work. We support clients across North America, including local, regional, provincial and federal government partners and agencies, Indigenous groups, and organizations in the energy, transportation and logistics, and hospitality sectors. Our projects span a wide range of services including emergency, continuity, and crisis management planning and advisory support, training and exercise development and delivery, strategic engagement and facilitation, program and management system analysis and development, risk, gap, and capacity assessments, and legislative/regulatory analysis and compliance.
Complementing our project history, CCEM has become a Women Business Enterprises (WBE) certified firm, reflecting that CCEM is recognized as a business that is at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by women. CCEM Strategies Ltd. always was and always will be proud to be 100% female owned. Our leadership team also brings expertise and longstanding contributions to the field. Over the years, CCEM’s Directors have actively represented the company on key industry boards and committees. Diane presently serves on the Board of the BC Association for Emergency Managers (BCAEM) as the Treasurer, and Christine holds leadership roles as Chair for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Z1600 Emergency and continuity management systems technical committee and Vice Chair for CSA Z246.2 Preparedness and response for petroleum and natural gas industry systems technical committee. They have also shared their knowledge through conferences, including the Vancouver Board of Trade, the International Oil Spill Conference, Insurance Brokers of BC, and Infonex Canadian Business Continuity and Emergency Management.
You don’t work for over a decade in emergency management without picking up some hard-earned lessons along the way. When we asked our team to reflect on what they’ve learned, three key insights came up again and again:
Relationships are the foundation for resilience: Strong partnerships, collaboration, and trust are at the heart of emergency management. Relationships built through consistent training, exercises, and engagement lay the groundwork for a smooth and coordinated response when emergencies occur.
Preparedness is a continuous cycle—and it’s different for every organization: Preparedness isn’t a checklist, it’s a continuous cycle of planning, training, and learning. The most effective programs are grounded in local knowledge and tailored to the unique risks and needs of each organization.
Flexibility is essential: Emergencies are unpredictable, and the ability to adapt quickly and confidently often determines the outcome. Flexibility is essential and built through preparation, trust in systems, and empowered teams.
Next: The future of CCEM
While the field continues to evolve, not everything needs to change. Our commitment to being a client-focused, relationship-based firm remains at the heart of who we are. We will continue to prioritize quality over scale and maintaining the flexibility to adapt to each client’s unique needs.
This approach also gives us the space to take on unique and complex projects, work closely with our clients, and continue setting a new standard on what leading practice looks like in emergency and continuity management. We remain committed to raising the bar on emergency, continuity and crisis management in Canada and will continue to support the development and enhancement of key standards. We will never lose our passion for promoting organizational and community resilience and look forward to supporting our clients in efforts to increase their capacity to manage emergent events. Drawing on our depth of experience and professional expertise, we will continue to pursue meaningful solutions for the organizations we have the privilege to support.
As we celebrate this milestone, we remain as committed as ever to supporting industries and communities increase preparedness and resilience, one client and one project at a time. Happy Birthday CCEM – cheers to the next 10 years!