TRU
Adventure Studies
How to Apply
   
Adventure Studies Menu
 > TRU Home > Adventure Studies > Faculty and Staff > Jon Heshka
Section Menu

Jon Heshka

Associate Professor
BSc, BA, BEd, MEd, LLM
Email: jheshka@tru.ca

Jon Heshka headshot 

Summary

Jon Heshka is a professor specializing in risk management and legal liability of extreme and adventure sport. Jon has been at TRU since 2002 and served as Associate Dean of Law from 2013-2017. He’s co-authored a university textbook, written nine book chapters, more than 80 articles, and presented at 40+ conferences worldwide. He’s been published in journals including the International Journal of Sport and Society, and Sport and the Law Journal, as well as newspapers including The Globe and Mail, the National Post, and The Guardian.

Jon’s consultancy includes co-authoring the 2003 Public Avalanche Safety Program Review for the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the 2019 Risk Assessment Review and Recommendations of RSTBC's Mountain Bike Risk Management for Recreation Sites and Trails BC, the 2021 Post-Critical Incident Management Plan for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides, and contributing to the risk management chapter in the ACMG’s guiding manual.

Jon has been widely quoted and interviewed including on CBC’s The Fifth Estate and NPR (National Public Radio), in Time and Maclean’s magazines, and many newspapers. He’s also worked as an expert witness in Canada, the United States, and Europe in matters relating to adventure sports risk management.


Experience

Jon's trajectory to TRU has been a bit unorthodox. His eclectic background includes stints playing semi-pro volleyball in Brazil, driving a taxi in Lake Louise, and researching wolves in the Rockies. He’s worked as a climbing guide, climbed and led expeditions from Alaska to Argentina, Tajikistan to the Tetons, and many points in between. He trained and coordinated search and rescue for seven years for the BC Ministry of Attorney General / Justice Institute of BC and has performed mountain rescues above 15,000 feet on three continents. Jon has also worked with Denali Mountain Rescue in Alaska and was a Canadian representative to the International Commission of Alpine Rescue for two years.

He guided with Outward Bound and Canada West Mountain School, instructed fall protection and emergency response with a global Fortune 100 company to a myriad of clients including Golden Gate Bridge and AT&T, worked in senior management with Petzl America directing its Rescue & Rope Access Division, and continues to consult on risk reduction strategies and tourism development to the public and private sectors.

He has been on the board of directors with Tourism Kamloops and the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association. Jon was also a member of the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts’ BC Recreation Trails Strategy Advisory Committee and is currently the Alternate Chair of Outward Bound Canada’s National Safety Committee.

Jon has played an active role in academic administration and governance which includes four years as Associate Dean of Law, and time as Vice-Chair of Senate (sitting alongside the university president who is Chair), Chair of TRU’s Educational Programs Committee, Chair of the Faculty of Adventure, Culinary Arts and Tourism’s Faculty Council, and have been an active member of (almost too) many committees to think about including TRU’s Academic Planning and Priorities Committee, the MBA Steering Committee, and many others.

He won the Governor General’s Academic Medal en route to earning degrees in zoology, political studies, education and law. His research interests and areas of expertise of specialization include sports law, the liability of adventure and extreme sport, regulation and risk management of extreme sport, and outdoor pursuits risk management.

Scholarship and Conferences

Jon has co-authored a university textbook entitled Managing Risk: Systems Planning for Outdoor Adventure Programs which represents the next generation of thinking about risk and adventure. He’s also written nine book chapters including “The Legal Context for Outdoor Recreation” in Risk Management in the Outdoors published by Cambridge University Press, “The Law of Adventure Tourism” in Hospitality and Tourism Law in Canada, and “Risk management for guides and adventure business” in the Routledge International Handbook of Adventure Tourism.  His 80+ articles have been published in several journals as well as eleven newspapers and two climbing magazines.

Jon has supervised two students who won the Travel and Tourism Research Association's (TTRA) National Gordon Taylor Future Researcher's Award, and supervised two students who were each awarded $5000 by TRU’s Comprehensive University Enhancement Fund for their Research Learning Courses. He was an associate editor with the International Journal of Sport and Society and has peer reviewed articles for journals such as the UBC Law Review, the Canadian Labour and Employment Law Journal, the Journal of the Legal Aspects of Sport, and the Lakehead Law Journal. He has also been interviewed or quoted more than 60 times in the media including CBC's the fifth estate, CBC Newsworld, Global News, the National Post, and The Vancouver Sun.

He has presented at more than 40 conferences worldwide including the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, Risk Management Conference for Outdoor Education in Canada, Tourism Educators Conference, World Association for Sport Management Conference, Sports & Recreation Law Association Conference, British Association for Sport and Law Conference, the US National Conference on Law and Higher Education, and the Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education.

Jon consults with all levels of government and the private sector, having written over 40 consultancy reports. They include co-authoring the 2003 Public Avalanche Safety Program Review for the BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the 2019 Risk Assessment Review and Recommendations of RSTBC's Mountain Bike Risk Management for Recreation Sites and Trails BC and the 2021 Post-Critical Incident Management Plan for the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. He has also worked as an expert witness in Canada, the United States, and Europe in matters relating to adventure sport risk management. Jon has also consulted with many other clients including the Government of the Northwest Territories, US National Parks Service, and the Calgary Board of Education.

Other Highlights
  • Backpacking in Yoho and the Italian Dolomites with Tegan and climbing in Yosemite and on Yamnuska with Brock
  • Climbing Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Eiger in four-and-a-half days at age 55
  • Climbing in the Soviet Pamirs and South America with Mike
  • Competing at Ironman Canada and Ironman Coeur d'Alene with Dave
  • “Stupidnicity” — cycling 1400 km in four days then running a marathon with Terry
 Publications
Books
  1. Jackson, J. & Heshka J. (2021). Managing Risk- Systems Planning for Outdoor Adventure Programs. Algonquin Thompson Publishing, Ottawa, ON. 
  2. Jackson, J. & Heshka J. (2010). Managing Risk – Systems Planning for Outdoor Adventure Programs. Ottawa, DBI.
Book Chapters
  1. Heshka, J. (2025). Risk Management for Guides and Adventure Businesses. In G. Pomfret & C. Cater (Eds.), International Handbook of Adventure Tourism, Routledge.
  2. Heshka, J. and Statham, G. (2025). Managing Death in the Mountains. In B. E. Menaker & J. J. Zhang (Eds.), Crisis Management in Sport, Routledge.
  3. Heshka, J. (2023). Legal liability in Canada. In S. Priest, S. Ritchie & H. Ghadery (Eds). Outdoor Learning in Canada. Open Resource Textbook
  4. Heshka, J. (2022). Applying Legal Principles to Recreation and Adventure Sport (Chapter 11) in Legal Aspects of Sports and Recreation, Emond Publishing, Toronto, ON.
  5. Heshka, J. (2021). The Law of Adventure Tourism (Chapter 7) in Hospitality and Tourism Law in Canada, Edmond Publishing, Toronto, ON.
  6. Heshka, J. (2017) Therapeutic Use Exemptions in Sport. Steroids and Doping in Sports. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO.
  7. Heshka, J. and Anderson J. (2017) Concussion, employers’ duties and the law: The U.K. & Ireland with comparative perspective from the U.S. and Canada. Sports Law Yearbook 2016/17. British Association for Sport and Law.
  8. Heshka, J. (2016). Legal Issues in Extreme Sport. In F. Feletti (Ed), Extreme Sports Medicine. Springer International Publishing AG
  9. Ainsworth, A & Heshka, J. (2011). The Legal Context for Outdoor Recreation. In T. Dickson & T. Gray (Eds.), Risk management in the outdoors: A whole of organization approach for education, sport and recreation. (43-68). Port Melbourne: Cambridge University Press.
Articles

  1. Heshka, J. (2025). NCAA Rule Change Seismically Shifts Hockey Landscape. Sports Litigation Alert, January 19, 2025, Vol. 22, Issue 1.

  2. Heshka, J. (2024). Wishful Waivers – A climbing guide is being sued. This is a first. Gripped, 26(4), 10-11.
  3. Heshka, J. & Priest, S. (May 2, 2024). The promise and perils of waivers: What you should understand before signing. Vancouver Sun.
  4. Heshka, J. (March 22, 2024). Antitrust Lawsuit Assails Junior Hockey System. Sports Litigation Alert.
  5. Jackson, J. & Heshka, J. (October 2023). Mountain Bike Trail Difficulty Rating Systems: Persistent issues and potential resolution. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Adventure Risk Research Symposium. pp. 16-23.
  6. Heshka, J. (2022). Understanding Climber Behaviour in Climbing Gyms. In Dallat, C., & Jackson, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th Annual Adventure Risk Research Symposium.
  7. Heshka, J. & Moore, G. (November 21, 2022). Reduce Incidents By Understanding Why Climbers Make Mistakes. CWA Blog – Resources for Indoor Climbing Professionals.
  8. Heshka, J. (2022). Mount Everest guide cleared of charges of fraud and breach of contract. Sports Litigation Alert, March 2022, Vol. 3, Issue 3. pp. 2-3.
  9. Heshka, J. (2021). Enforceability of waivers in adventure sport in British Columbia since 1990. In Dallat, C., & Jackson, J. (Eds.), Adventure Risk Research Symposium, Proceedings 2019-2021. Algonquin Thompson.
  10. Heshka, J. (2021). Even in extreme sport, court accords primacy of primary assumption of risk. Sports Litigation Alert, November 2021, Vol. 18, Issue 22. pp. 1-3 (and Concussion Litigation Reporter, November 2021, Vol. 10 Issue 5. pp. 6-7.
  11. Heshka, J. (2021). Injuries sustained to a minor from metal cleats fall within the ballpark of inherent risks. Sports Litigation Alert, June 2021, Vol. 15, Issue 17.
  12. Heshka, J. (2021). Who’s At Fault When 21 Ultramarathoners Die in a Race? Sports Facilities and the Law, July-August 2021, Vol. 6, Issue 1. pp. 1-10.
  13. Heshka, J. (2021). Does Climbing Need More Rules? A rational approach. Gripped magazine, February/March 2021. pp. 12-13.
  14. Heshka, J. (2021). Mount Everest guide sued for fraud and breach of contract. Sports Litigation Alert, January 2021, Vol. 18, Issue 2.
  15. Heshka, J. (2021). Sexual Assualt and Days of Reckoning in Sport. Sports Litigation Alert, January 2021, Vol. 18, Issue 1. 
  16. Heshka, J. (2020). Canadian Hockey League class action settlement on thin ice. November, 2020, Sports Litigation Alert, November 2020, Vol. 17, Issue 22. 
  17. Heshka, J. (2020). Waivers: Not worth the paper they're written on? The enforceability of waivers in adventure sport in British Columnia since 1980. Risk Research Synposium Proceedings, October 19, 2020. pp. 5-10. 
  18. Heshka, J. (2020). Former NFL linebacker sued for $15 million for tackling 16-year-old player. Concussion Litigation Reporter, October 2020, Vol. 9, No. 4
  19. Heshka, J. (2020). It's time for action on regulation climbing and hiking in the Rockies. Calgary Herald, 1 August 2020. 
  20. Heshka, J. (2020). Canadian Hockey League Hazing Class Action Lawsuit. Professional Sports the Law, July- August, Vol. 11, Issue 3. 
  21. Heshka, J. (2019). Soccer Player Sues Opponent, Associations over Concussion. Concussion Litigation Reporter, November 2019, Vol. 8, No. 6
  22. Heshka, J. (2019). Immovable Object vs Unstoppable Force: Concussions and the Fourteenth Amendment. Sports Litigation Alert, September 13, 2019 (reprinted in Legal Issues in High School Athletics, September-October 2019). 
  23. Heshka, J. (2019). Hard Row to How in Boxing Negligence Case: Hague v City of Edmonton, et al. Concussion Defense Reporter, Summer 2019.
  24. Heshka, J. (2018). CFL concussion case stopped at the goal line by the Supreme Court. Sports Litigation Alert, Vol. 15, Issue 8.
  25. Heshka, J. (2018). Examining the Legal Consequences of a Research Study that Shows CFL Players Hiding Concussion Symptoms. Professional Sports and the Law, 8 (6), 13. (reprinted in Sports Litigation Alert, Vol 15, Issue 3). 
  26. Heshka, J. and Jackson, J. (2017). Alpine sports danger has been taken too far. The Vancouver Sun, December 17, p. A13
  27. Heshka, J. (2017). Hockey Enforcer unsuccessful at District Court, Appeals to Seventh Circuit. Concussion Litigation Reporter, October 2017 Vol. 6 No. 4 (reprinted in Sports Litigation Alert, Vol. 14, Issue 19).
  28. Heshka, J. (2016). Benching head shots in the NHL. Winnipeg Free Press, December 20, A11.
  29. Heshka, J. (2016). Sport needs to do better on doping. Winnipeg Free Press, October 5, A7.
  30. Heshka, J. (2016). Hockey Fighter Derek Boogaard runs aground on §301 of the LMRA. Professional Sports and the Law, 6 (6), 5, 12.
  31. Heshka, J. (2015). The CFL, Concussions, and a $200 Million Court Case. LawNow, September/October 2015 (40-1)
  32. Heshka, J. (2015). Sports Law Expert Takes Closer Look at $200 Million CFL Concussion Lawsuit. Professional Sports and the Law, 6 (3), 1, 17-19.
  33. Heshka, J. and Jackson, J. (2015). The Roles of Experience, Participation Rates and Judgement in the Injury Rates of Weekend Warriors. Canadian Journal of Surgery, Can J Surg. 2015 Feb; 58(1): E1–E2.
  34. Heshka, J. (2014). A dangerous-offender designation for hockey. National Post, November 5, p. A12.
  35. Heshka, J. (2014). Former Canadian Football Player Has a Hard Road to Hoe in Concussion Lawsuit. Sports Litigation Alert, 11 (16).
  36. Heshka, J. (2014). Backstrom case: Code non-signatories at the Olympics.  World Sports Law Report, 12(3), 6-7.
  37. Heshka, J. (2014). NHL concussion lawsuit and lessons for contact sports.  World Sports Law Report, 12 (1), 11-13.
  38. Heshka, J. (2013). Children need play, not bubble wrap. The Vancouver Sun, December 4.
  39. Heshka, J. (2013). Canadian Football Player Sues University over Concussion. Sports Litigation Alert, 2, (5).
  40. Heshka, J. and Lines, K. (2013). A Proposed New Approach to Regulating Brain Injuries in Sport. International Journal of Sport and Society, 3(4), 141-152.
  41. Heshka, J. and Lines, K. (2013). Boogeyman’s Posthumous Distinction. Professional Sports and the Law, 10 (11).
  42. Heshka, J. (2013). Risk. The Avalanche Journal, 36.
  43. Lines, K. and Heshka, J. (2013). Doping: The thinking behind USADA’s ‘reasoned decision’: analysis. World Sports Law Report, 11 (1).
  44. Heshka, J. (2013). Risk is part of adventure experience. The Vancouver Sun, January 7, A11.
  45. Hackney, H. and Heshka, J. (2013). Deciphering the Drew Tate Concussion Controversy. Concussion Litigation Reporter, 1 (7).
  46. Heshka, J. (2012). Hockey Violence and the Long Arm of the Law. Sports Litigation Alert, 9 (22).
  47. Heshka, J. (2012). BC Government cancels $40 million stadium naming rights deal. Professional Sports and the Law, 3 (1), 19 (reprinted in Sports Litigation Alert, 9 (5)).
  48. Heshka, J. & Jackson, J. (2012) Sarah Burke: Real risk in extreme sports world. The Vancouver Sun, February 1, A15.
  49. Heshka, J. (2012). Brain Injuries: A shot across the NHL’s bow. LawNow, January/February 2012, 35-36.
  50. Heshka, J. (2011, November 10). Should what happens on the ice, stay on the ice? The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/nov/10/ice-hockey-legal-sport-network
  51. Lines, K. & Heshka J. (2011). Off duty: An analysis of Grimes v Hawkins. Solicitors Journal, 155(38), 14-15.
  52. Heshka, J. (2011). Risk and Responsibility. Gripped, 13(5), 28-29. http://gripped.com/2011/10/sections/articles/risk-and-responsibility/
  53. Heshka, J. (2011). Battle of the beers: Labatt v. NHL and Molson Coors. Sports Litigation Alert, 8(19).
  54. Lines, K. & Heshka, J. (2011). Cross-disciplinary studies in sports and law. Global Sports Law and Taxation Reports, 2(3).
  55. Heshka. J. (2011, August 2). A (head) shot across the NHL’s bow? The Globe and Mail, p. A13. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/a-head-shot-across-the-nhls-bow/article2114845/
  56. Heshka, J. (2011). Concussions are a Headache for the NHL and NFL. Sports Litigation Alert, 8(7).
  57. Heshka, J. (2011). Family Alleges Negligence after Man Dies on Zip-line. Sports Litigation Alert, 8(6).
  58. Heshka, J. (2011, March 6). Violence on the ice is getting out of control. Edmonton Journal, p. A13.
  59. Lines, K & Heshka, J. (2011). Bump in the Night [analysis of Barnes v. The Scout Association [2010] EWCA Civ 1476]. Solicitors Journal, 155(2), 8-9.
  60. Heshka J. & Lines K. (2010). Assessing the Competency of Sport to Regulate Technology. International Journal of Sport and Society 1(3), 1-14.
  61. Heshka, J. (2010, November 25). Kids should not be extreme adventurers. Cañada Valley Sun (LA Times newspaper).
  62. Lines, K. & Heshka J. (2010). Advertising: Ambush marketing: FIFA’s rights protection programme. World Sports Law Report, 8(8), 4-6.
  63. Heshka, J. (2010, June 19) University has punished the innocent. Waterloo Region Record, p. A15. https://www.guelphmercury.com/opinion/university-has-punished-the-innocent/article_ad2d8b26-6554-5cc3-bded-71bdefd7795a.html
  64. Lines, K. & Heshka, J. (2010). A good sport: The ruling in Uren emphasises the courts’ determination to protect the freedom to choose whether to participate in sports with an acceptable level of risk. Solicitors Journal, 154(6), 13.
  65. Heshka, J. (2010, February 23). Why ski helmets alone don't prevent injuries. Windsor Star, p. A6.
  66. Heshka, J. (2010, February 10). Ski helmets alone aren't enough. Ottawa Citizen, p. A17.
  67. Heshka, J. (2010, February 1). Rules and Rogues – VANOC’s approach to ambush marketers may keep the lawyers happy but the strategy is backfiring. Marketing, p. 37.
  68. Heshka, J. (2009). The Criminality of Doping in Sport. International Sports Law Review Pandektis 8(1-2), 118-129.
  69. Lines, K. & Heshka J. (2009). Ski Jumping through Olympic-sized hoops: An analysis of Sagen v. Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) for the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. International Sports Law Review 4, 92-99.
  70. Heshka, J. & Lines K. (2009). Swimming - Credibility Crisis or Tempest in a Teapot? Assessing FINA's competency to regulate high-tech swimsuits. Sport and the Law Journal 16(3), 15-25.
  71. Lines, K. & Heshka J. (2009). Gridiron Spirit - Cheerleading is a Contact Sport Declares the Supreme Court of Wisconsin in Noffke v. Bakke 2009 WI 10. Entertainment & Sports Lawyer 27(1), 1-33-35.
  72. Heshka, J. (2009, July 7). Critical analysis: Has swimming got the balance right? British Association for Sport and Law.
  73. Heshka, J. (2009, April 1). High Cost of Chasing Powder. Kamloops Daily News, p. B1.
  74. Lines, K. & Heshka, J. (2009). Carbon Fibre, Artificial Altitude & Biomechanics: The Place of Technology in Lex Sportiva. Proceedings of the Socio-Legal Studies Association 2009 Conference.
  75. Heshka, J. (2009, January 27). Barbarity Rules NHL. The Province, p. A16.
  76. Heshka, J. (2009, January 11). From Fights to Bites: Hockey Violence is Out of Control. Winnipeg Free Press, p. A11. http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/from_fights_to_bites.html
  77. Lines, K. & Heshka J. (2008). Falling in Line with the Law – Should adults who are injured after deliberately putting themselves at risk expect to be compensated? New Law Journal, 1026-1027.
  78. Heshka, J. (October 2008). Law of the Land - Redefining Climbing Liability. Rock and Ice Magazine, 172, 22.
  79. Heshka, J. (2007). How Tort Law Operates in Recreation, Sports & Field Trip Environments - Volenti in Higher Outdoor Education. Proceedings of The 28th Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education. Gulfport, Florida: Stetson University College of Law.
  80. Heshka, J., McLarty, S. & Statham G. (2007). Perspectives on the Standard of Care for Custodial Groups in Outdoor Pursuits. Proceedings of the 2007 Wilderness Risk Management Conference. Banff, AB: NOLS.
  81. Heshka, J. (2007). Assumption of Risk and Inherent Risk in Outdoor Education. Law Review Quarterly, 5-21.
  82. Heshka, J. (2006). Canada’s Legal Standard of Care for Outdoor Education. Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education 2005 Conference Proceedings, 221-242.
  83. Heshka, J. & Hood, R. (2006). Universities Collaborating with Communities. Proceedings from the Tourism Educators Conference. Victoria, BC.
  84. Hood, R. & Heshka, J. (2006). Tourism Students Consulting In The Community: Optimal Education Or Unrealistic Expectations? Conference Abstracts of the Western Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers Annual Meeting. Kamloops, BC: TRU.
  85. Heshka, J. (2006). Holding Strength of Climbing Ice Screws vs. Placement Angle. Thompson Rivers University Scholarly Activity Project Report, 44-47.
  86. Heshka, J. & Valade, G. (2004). Risk, Liability and Insurance of Nature-Based Tourism. Conference Summaries - Nature-Based Tourism. Ottawa, ON: Queen's Printer.
  87. Heshka, J. & Stewart-Patterson, I. (2004). Holding Strength of Ice Screws vs. Placement Angle. Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, 8.
 Conferences
Selected Conference Presentations

  1. ‘Outdoor Education and Recreation in North American Universities and Colleges’. Outdoor Sports Conference. Dali, Yunnan China (video recorded). 24 October 2024.

  2. ‘Risk and Crisis Communications Before and After a Critical Incident’. Wilderness Risk Management Conference 2023. Salt Lake City, OR. XX October 2024.
  3. ‘Why Personal Responsibility is Not Enough: From Insurance to Operations’. Spoke and moderated panel discussion with Garnet Moore and Will Jorgensen. Climbing Wall Association Summit 2024. Portland, OR. 16 May 2024.
  4. ‘Risk and Crisis Communications Pre-Trip & Post-Incident’. Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference 2023. Baltimore, MD. 1 November 2023.
  5. ‘Mountain Bike Trail Difficulty Rating Systems: Persistent issues and potential resolution’. Adventure Risk Research Symposium 2023. Portland, OR. 17 October 2023.
  6. ‘Risk and Crisis Communications Before and After a Critical Incident’. Wilderness Risk Management Conference 2023. Portland, OR. 18 October 2023.
  7. ‘Understanding Climber Behaviour in Climbing Gyms’. Wilderness Risk Management Conference 2022. Burlington, Vermont. 18 October 2022.
  8. ‘Climber Behaviour in Climbing Gyms and Their Degree of Care in Protecting Themselves’. European Association of Sport Management 2022 Conference. Innsbruck, Austria. 6 September 2022. 
  9. Climber behavior in climbing gyms and what gyms can do to keep them safe’. Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference 2022. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. 4 November 2022.
  10. ‘Panel Discussion on Sport Law Post Covid-19’. Panelists included Mark Dodds (State University of New York), Vesela Stoilova (Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia), Bara Strakova (Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia), and Adam Epstein (Central Michigan University). European Association of Sports Management Conference, 14 October 2021.
  11. ‘Risk Communication & Reducing our Exposure to Liability.’ International Association of Trampoline Parks Conference, 12 September 2021.
  12. 'Government Funding and COVID-19 Assistance for North American Trampline Parks' International Association of Trampoline Parks, 8 December 2020.
  13. 'Waivers: Not worth the paper they're written on? The enforceability of waivers in adventure sport in British Columbia since 1980.' Risk Research Synposium- Wilderness Risk Management Conference, 19 October 2020. 
  14. 'Risk Communication and Reducing Our Exposure to Liability' 7th Annual International Association of Trampoline Parks Conference (New Orleans, LA). 2019
  15. 'Risk Communication and the Four Stages of Risk Management' Climbing Wall Association Conference (Loveland, CO). 2019. 
  16. 'Risk Communication in Trampoline Parks' 10th International Conference on Sport & Society (Ryerson University, Toronto, ON). 2019.
  17. 'Risk Management in Search and Rescue' (presented to SAR, RCMP, BCAS, BC Coroner's Service, Whistler-Blackcomb, heli-ski businesses, and guides in Whistler, BC). 2018. 
  18. 'A Systems-Based Approach to Risk Management at Trampoline Parks.' 6th Annual International Association of Trampoline Parks Conference (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). 2018. 
  19. 'The Risks and Falls of Trampoline Parks.' Sports & Recreation Law Association Conference (San Antonio, TX). 2018.
  20. ‘Does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms apply to the adjudication of a doping dispute under Canada’s national anti-doping program?’ with Marshall Putnam. Tackling Doping in Sport 2017 Conference (London, England). 2017.
  21. ‘Too Fast, Too Furious – When should sports governing bodies be liable in negligence for the death of their athletes?’ with Kris Lines. Sports & Recreation Law Association Conference (Las Vegas, NV), 2017.
  22. ‘Risk, Negligence & Regulation in Extreme Sports.’ 2017 TRU Society of Law Students Conference (Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC), 2017.
  23. ‘Learned Hands or White Knuckles – Duty of Care in Extreme Sports’ with Kris Lines. Sports & Recreation Law Association Conference (New Orleans, LA). 2016.
  24. ‘Waivers.’ Alpine Club of Canada National Annual General Meeting (Banff, AB). 2015.
  25. Heshka, J. (2014). 'Risk Management and Liability in Competitive Extreme Mountain Sports.'  World Association for Sport Management Conference (Madrid, Spain).
  26. Heshka, J. (2014). 'Roam Right ... Navigating Outdoor Risk & the Legal System.'  Calgary Area Outdoor Council (Calgary, AB).
  27. Heshka, J. (2014).  'Concussions in Sports.' Body of Law: Is it time for a check-up? - 2014 TRU Society of Law Students Conference (Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC).
  28. Heshka, J. (2013). ‘Hockey, Concussions and the Law’ British Association for Sport and Law Conference (Leeds, UK).
  29. Heshka, J. (2012). ‘Risk Management and Liability in Competitive Extreme Mountain Sports’ Thinking Mountains 2012 – Interdisciplinary Mountain Studies Conference (University of Alberta, Edmonton).
  30. Heshka, J. (2012). ‘The concussion litigation crisis in American football’ British Association for Sport and Law Conference (Leicester, UK).
  31. Heshka, J. (2012). ‘Perspectives of risk in the outdoors - risk, adventure sports and the law’ British Mountaineering Council conference on risk, liability and outdoor adventure (Derbyshire, UK).
  32. Lines, K. and Heshka, J. (2012). ‘Regulating Violence in Violent Sports' Third International Conference on Sport and Society (Cambridge University, United Kingdom).
  33. DeMartini, A. & Heshka, J. (2012). Parkour across North America and university’s exposure to liability: Should schools be worried?’ 25th Annual Conference on Sport, Physical Activity, Recreation and Law (Greensboro, NC).
  34. Heshka, J. & Lines, K. (2011). Epidemic Levels of Sports Concussions Demands a Management Re-think. The 19th Conference of the European Association for Sport Management (Madrid, Spain).
  35. Lines, K. & Heshka, J. (2011). Technological Doping: Assessing the competency of sport to regulate technology. Tackling Doping in Sport 2011 Conference (London, UK).
  36. Lines, K. & Heshka, J. (2011). The Challenges of Regulating Technology in Winter Sport – Tilting the field of sport with technology. Winter Sports and Outdoor Life Conference (Telemark University College, Norway).
  37. Heshka, J. (2011). Risk Management – Systems Planning for Outdoor Recreation Programs. Western Canada Campus Recreation Conference 2011 (Kamloops, BC).
  38. Heshka, J. (2010). Technological Doping and Sport Integrity. British Association for Sport and Law Conference (Leicester, UK).
  39. Heshka, J. & Lines, K. (2010). Assessing the Competency of Sport to Regulate Technology. International Sport and Society Conference (Vancouver, BC).
  40. Heshka, J. (2008). Evolving Risk Management Practices in Canada. Wilderness Risk Management Conference (Jackson Hole, WY).
  41. Heshka, J. & Hoye, W.P. (2007). How Tort Law Operates in Recreation, Sports and Field Trip Environments. 28th Annual National Conference on Law and Higher Education (Clearwater Beach, FL).
  42. Heshka, J. (2007). Reflections on the Legal and Ethical Foundation of Outdoor Education. Risk Management Conference for Outdoor Education in Canada (Ottawa, ON).
  43. Heshka, J. (2007). Are Standards and Certification the Silver Bullet to Outdoor Education? Risk Management Conference for Outdoor Education in Canada (Ottawa, ON).
  44. Heshka, J., McLarty, S. & Statham, G. (2007). Perspectives on the Standard of Care for Custodial Groups in Outdoor Pursuits. Wilderness Risk Management Conference (Banff, AB).
  45. Heshka, J., Williamson, J. Cline, P. & Lee Tarter, S. (2005). Role of Standards, Certification & Accreditation in Outdoor Education. Wilderness Risk Management Conference (Snowbird, UT).
  46. Heshka, J. (2005). Canada’s Legal Standard of Care for Outdoor Education. Risk Management Conference for Outdoor Education in Canada (Ottawa, ON).
  47. Heshka, J. (2005). Canada's Outdoor Education Standards Dilemma. Canadian Association for the Practical Study of Law in Education (Regina, SK).
  48. Heshka, J. & Valade, G. (2004). Risk, Liability and Insurance of Nature-Based Tourism. Eco-North 2004 (Thunder Bay, ON).