Legislation at the local, provincial/territorial, and federal government levels, along with industry and professional standards, direct or guide the practice of disaster and emergency management in Canada, and similarly around the world. The establishment and the actions of the 'lead agency' in a major emergency or disaster are important to ensure a coordinated and effective response to an event that often involves multi-jurisdictional and multi-organizational stakeholders. Students will gain knowledge and understanding of the common legislative frameworks, standards, and best practices that guide the development of disaster and emergency management programs, plans, and training, and enable collaboration across sectors and geographical/political boundaries. This foundational course will provide students with a basic understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to increasingly complex disaster and emergency events that generally need to involve many different stakeholders.