VICTORIA – To better protect people and improve community defences against climate change, the Province is providing funding to communities across British Columbia for disaster risk resilience and climate-adaptation projects.

“Climate change is no longer a future concern, it’s happening now and we’re seeing its impact all over British Columbia,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “Through disaster mitigation funding, our government is committed to helping communities become more resilient by empowering local governments to adapt to the changing climate and better protect themselves and their residents against future climate challenges.”

Sixty-five communities will receive approximately $56 million for 78 projects from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF) through the Disaster Risk Reduction – Climate Adaptation stream. This funding will help communities tackle current vulnerabilities, minimize the risk of future disasters and support communities to make informed decisions.

Funding includes approximately $1.2 million through the program’s October 2023 intake to tackle drought conditions in the Sunshine Coast Regional District by supporting the shíshálh Nation’s Lower Crown Reservoir project. The reservoir will capture water from Chapman Creek to improve access to water and increase water security for people living in the region.  

“We want to thank the Province for their support and funding to move the water security project for the Sunshine Coast along,” said Chief Lenora Joe, shíshálh Nation. “By working with our partners at the Sunshine Coast Regional District, we know we can make transformative change creating a better future for all residents. It is only through unifying our communities and working with partners like B.C., that we can tackle climate change and other significant challenges of our time.”

Other projects include:

• creating a green corridor by installing rain gardens, planting trees and native plants around Tillicum Elementary school in Saanich to reduce heat, help mitigate flooding and cut carbon emissions for the entire Tillicum community;
• designing disaster-risk and policy-assessment models in Gibsons to inform planning and policy around risks from climate-related issues such as flooding, erosion and salt-water intrusion to lessen future emergency costs and adapt to climate change;
• protecting essential wastewater infrastructure in the northern Village of Lumby by reinforcing riverbanks near the treatment lagoons to improve the longevity of flood mitigation and better serve the local area; and
• preventing soil erosion and protecting riverbanks in Vanderhoof by planting willow saplings along the Nechako River and Stoney Creek to reduce damage downstream, preserve nearby communities and protect the eco-sensitive area to safeguard water systems from climate-related threats.

The Province has invested $369 million into the CEPF since it was established in 2017. Approximately $279 million has been provided to local governments and First Nations through the CEPF for approximately 2,100 projects. This includes approximately $176 million to support disaster-mitigation and climate-adaptation projects.

The CEPF supports local governments and First Nations to better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from natural hazards in a changing climate in several categories. In addition to disaster-risk reduction and climate adaptation, other categories include:

• volunteer and composite fire department equipment and training;
• emergency operations centre equipment and training;
• public notification and evacuation-route planning;
• Indigenous cultural safety and cultural-humility training; and
• emergency support-services equipment and training.

The CEPF is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) on behalf of the Province.

Learn More:

For information about the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund, visit: https://www.ubcm.ca/cepf

For information about disaster and climate-risk reduction, visit ClimateReadyBC: https://www.ClimateReadyBC.ca

To learn about the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/BC-Adapts

Two backgrounders follow.

Silas White, mayor, Gibsons –

“The funding for Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund will support the town in developing reliable wildfire, flooding, wind and sea-level rise scenarios. This combination allows for a more precise risk assessment under different climate scenarios. The predictive model will incorporate knowledge gained from the town’s foundational studies and plans to assist with risk management.”

Roger Huston, director of public works and engineering, Village of Lumby –

“Lumby’s location at the confluence of three creeks has unfortunately made it vulnerable to severe flooding for decades. This funding provides a crucial opportunity for us to implement essential projects identified through comprehensive floodplain mapping and flood mitigation planning, such as one kilometre of flood protection for high-risk areas, safeguarding our community and ensuring the long-term resilience of our homes and businesses.”

Kevin Moutray, mayor, District of Vanderhoof –

“With this funding, the District of Vanderhoof will plant trees along the riverbank to reduce soil erosion which protect the environment, local biodiversity and the community.”

Trish Mandewo, president, Union of B.C. Municipalities –

“Local governments are looking ahead to what the changing climate means for public infrastructure. As climate events become more severe and more frequent, adaptation projects are needed to ensure our communities can withstand future disasters. This funding will help local governments whether they are assessing the changing risk, determining the adaptation needed or carrying out the work.”

Dean Murdock, mayor, District of Saanich –

“These funds will bring many benefits to Saanich residents in an area identified as highly vulnerable to extreme heat events. Planting more trees will provide shade and cooler neighbourhoods as well as absorb stormwater that prevents people’s homes from flooding and reduces the likelihood of more costly infrastructure replacement. Additionally, partnering with the Greater Victoria School District 61 on this project supports our community and actively engages students in climate action.”

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is administered through the Union of BC Municipalities, and funds projects that support local governments and First Nations to better prepare for disasters and reduce risks from hazards in a changing climate.

Local governments and First Nations throughout British Columbia will receive a total of approximately $56 million from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund as follows.

Funding is divided into three categories:

• Category 1 (C1): Foundational activities (risk mapping, risk assessments, planning)
• Category 2 (C2): Non-structural activities (land use planning, community education, purchase of eligible equipment)
• Category 3 (C3): Small-scale structural activities

100 Mile House – C1: Bridge Creek drought assessment

Amount: $97,289

Abbotsford – C1: Sumas River watershed technical assessment study

Amount: $149,977

Alert Bay – C1: Cormorant Island disaster risk reduction study

Regional partner: Namgis First Nation

Amount: $89,002

Barriere – C1: Flood mitigation plan

Amount: $150,000

Bowen island – C1: Watershed and hydraulic capacity analysis for community culverts

Amount: $111,200

Capital Regional District – C1: Climate adaptation risk assessment; C2: Community drought level awareness signage

Amount: $200,000

Chilliwack – C1: Creek drainage pump station upgrade preliminary design

Amount: $150,000

Cowichan Tribes – C2: Mobile flood protection equipment to protect infrastructure, cultural sites and residential buildings.

Amount: $150,000

Duncan – C1: Cowichan River rotary park dike upgrade and erosion mitigation design; C3: Cowichan River in-stream works

Amount: $436,000

East Kootenay Regional District – C1: Hazards, risks and vulnerability analysis

Regional partners; ?akisqnuk First Nation, ?aq'am, Canal Flats, Cranbrook, Elkford, Invermere, Kimberley, Radium Hot Springs, Shuswap Band, Sparwood, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it

Amount: $1.1 million

Fernie – C1: Community hazard risk analysis

Amount: $85,000

Fruitvale – C1: Beaver Creek flood management plan

Amount: $150,000

Gibsons – C1: Predictive model for community resilience; C2: Framework for risk and policy assessments

Amount: $300,000

Golden – C2: Community misting and water bottle refill stations

Amount: $21,500

Grand Forks – C3: Kettle River industrial dike mitigation program

Amount: $1.6 million

Harrison Hot Springs – C3: Harrison Lake waterfront flood protection dike upgrade

Amount: $5 million

Invermere – C3: Paddy Ryan lake middle dam spillway upgrades

Amount: $2.4 million

Kitimat-Stikine Regional District – C3: Zimagotitz River bank armoring and New Remo Dike extension and remediation

Amount: $2.4 million

Lake Country – C3: Beaver Lake intake tower replacement

Amount: $4.5 million

Langford – C2: Extreme heat emergency misters

Amount: $48,000

Langley Township – C3: Salmon River Dyke improvements

Amount: $5.0 million

Lil’wat Nation (Mount Currie) – C2: Hydrometeorological station on Birkenhead River

Amount: $149,969

Logan Lake – C1: Floodplain mapping

Amount: $150,000

Lumby – C1: Shuswap Avenue Bridge improvements; C3: Bessette Creek bank protection

Amount: $1.9 million

Malahat Nation – C3: Shoreline Erosion mitigation

Amount: $ 2.2 million

McBride – C1: Alternate water source feasibility study

Amount: $146,302

Merritt – C1: Preliminary planning and design for Kengard Well upgrades

Amount: $150,000

Nakusp – C1: Risk assessment and mapping

Amount: $150,000

Nazko First Nation: C1: Community cooling centre design and building

Amount: $142,513

North Okanagan Regional District – C2: Weather stations to monitor regional drought and wildfire conditions

Amount: $68,638

North Vancouver District -C3: Whey-ah-Wichen/ Cates Park shoreline restoration

Amount: $4.8 million

Oak Bay – C1: McNeill Bay coastal erosion mitigation project

Amount: $150,000

Oliver – C1: Infrastructure improvements along Wolfcub Creek

Amount: $150,000

Peachland – C2: Peachland Lake Dam and Glen Lake Dam risk analysis

Amount: $150,000

Penticton – C2: Public cooling infrastructure; C3: Downtown Penticton drinking/cooling station

Amount: $172,785

Pitt Meadows: C2: Water Monitoring for drainage and irrigation study

Amount: $93,000

Port Edward – C1: Risk assessment and risk mapping

Amount: $150,000

Qualicum Beach – C1: Little Qualicum River riverbank stabilization assessment

Amount: $125,000

Quesnel – C1: Dragon Lake Dam planning

Amount: $84,500

Saanich – C3: Green Infrastructure and climate resiliency demonstration project, Tillicum Elementary School

Amount: $396,865

Salmon Arm: C1: Climate hazard risk vulnerability assessment and resilience plan

Amount: $150,000

Seabird Island Band – C1: Community adaptive heat mapping: enhancing climate resiliency

Amount: $150,000

Sema:th First Nation (Sumas) – C1: Sema:th Lake flood risk assessment

Amount: $149,897

shíshálh Nation (Sechelt) – C3: Sunshine Coast water security project

Regional partners: Gibsons, Sechelt, Sunshine Coast Regional District

Amount: $5 million

shíshálh Nation (Sechelt) – C1 and C2: Pre-construction – Lower Crown Reservoir Early Works

Regional partners: Gibsons, Sechelt, Sunshine Coast Regional District (October 2023 intake)

Amount: $1.17 million

Silverton – C1: Silverton Creek bank and dike improvements

Amount: $92,500

Snuneymuxw First Nation – C1: Flood risk assessment and mapping

Amount: $ 150,000

Squamish Nation – C1: Cheakamus River hazard and flood risk mapping

Amount: $150,000

Squamish - Lillooet Regional District – C2: Monitoring Mt. Meager for volcanic activity

Amount: $149,500

Stewart – C1: Bear River dike planning and approvals

Amount: $150,000

Strathcona Regional District – C1: Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations Aerial Imaging; administration and wages to assist First Nations’ projects; Homalco Willow Creek Restoration consultant; Walters Island breakwater condition assessment and aerial imaging. C2: Community disaster awareness education assistant; Cortes Island firefighting tanks public education art; C3: Cortes Island school wetland restoration

Regional partners: Campbell River, Gold River, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/ Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Tahsis, Xwemalhkwu (Homalco)

Amount: $810,486

Stz’uminus First Nation (Chemainus) – C2: Portable air conditioners for on-reserve homes and community buildings

Amount: $149,600

Sun Peaks – C1: Hazard and risk assessment of slopes below 7 Mile Road

Amount: $135,300

Surrey – C3: Upper serpentine 60th avenue drainage pump station project

Amount: $5 million

Taylor – C1: Climate change adaptation plan

Amount: $150,000

Tofino – C1: Mackenzie Creek restoration project

Amount: $150,000

Tsal’alh (Seton Lake) – C1: Flood hazard mitigation, site investigation and design

Amount: $150,000

Tsartlip First Nation – C1: ȾIKEL Land restoration design plan, C2: ȾIKEL Policy framework, temporary mitigation, flood monitoring equipment

Regional partners: Tseycum First Nation

Amount: $300,000

Vancouver – C1: Citywide slope risk assessment and mapping; C2: Coastal adaptation and flood management policy

Amount: $300,000

Vanderhoof – C3: Riverbank erosion mitigation project along Nechako River and Stoney Creek

Amount: $53,453

Victoria – C1: Gorge coastal flood adaptation strategy; C3: HVAC installation for community cooling centres

Amount: $817,500

We Wai Kai Nation (Cape Mudge) – C1: Sea level rise, coastal erosion and groundwater management for Quadra Island and We Wai Kai First Nation

Amount: $150,000

Wells – C1: Disaster risk reduction planning; C3: Lowhee Creek water management project

Regional partners: Lhtako Dene Nation

Amount: $5.3 million

West Kelowna – C1: Post-wildfire drainage design for flood mitigation around McDougall Creek

Amount: $150,000

Whistler – C1: Strategic climate risk and resilience assessment for the Resort Municipality of Whistler

Amount: $50,000

Williams Lake – C1: Hazard and vulnerability risk assessment; C3: Fairview Drive emergency booster station

Amount: $1.2 million