The 2009 World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine (WCDEM) started off with a speech by the Hon. Stephen Point, the first Aboriginal Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

Mr. Point emphasized the wisdom of the elders, and noted that he was repeatedly being warned that we are entering a time of increasing disasters.

A 1st Nations song and dance was also performed for the attendees.

Dr. Jonathan Patz gave a plenary talk on Health and Climate Change, pointing out that America and Canada were consumers of the largest amount of resources in the world, and therefore also had a responsibility to tackle the upcoming challenges of climate change.