Vicente earns national recognition for disaster response research

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management. 

Oscar Vicente’s lifelong love of learning has earned him six post-secondary degrees so far. His pursuit of knowledge most recently brought him to Royal Roads University for the Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management, making it his seventh credential when he graduates in spring 2026.  

“I love learning, and I love sharing knowledge with others,” says Vicente. “I think that the true value of knowledge is being able to help others with or share that knowledge you have with people.” 

For sharing knowledge that will help many communities, Vicente was awarded the Disaster Recovery Institute of Canada’s 2025 Student Award and Scholarship. The award recognizes a scholarly work that furthers awareness in the business continuity, disaster recovery or emergency management sectors.  

Vicente’s master’s research project evaluates Canada’s Emergency Management Act and proposes solutions to address its shortcomings, particularly around disaster response in remote and Indigenous communities affected by disasters such as flooding and wildfires.    

“A lot of these remote communities had to uproot and move to different places, and it seemed unorganized or chaotic,” Vicente says. “It's something that happens almost annually, so [governments] should have a well-oiled machine here. But then I started digging and I saw that with remote and Indigenous communities, it’s more complicated than just sending in federal aid.”  

“It's not just money,” he says. “It's training, it’s communication…it’s collaborating with the different elements, be it the three levels of government and Indigenous governments, NGOs or private sector. It's co-ordinating our resources to get the maximum effect out of it... jurisdictional bureaucracy is what slows things down sometimes.” 

Vicente brings a depth of knowledge to his research. He volunteers with Emergency Management Ontario, delivering public education and preparedness initiatives, and serves on the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Emergency Management. 

His academic background covers everything from political science – prompted by his love of high school debate – to education, an area he completed a PhD in. Once he completes the MADEM program next year, he plans to start a master’s in administrative law at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. 

An Ontario certified teacher himself, Vicente says his devotion to learning comes from growing up the son of Portuguese immigrants who valued education. 

This award adds to a growing list of honours for Vicente, including the Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal in 2024 and a King Charles III Coronation Medal received earlier this year.    

Learn more about the Master of Arts in Disaster and Emergency Management.