Mark Pendergraft, chair, Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen –

“Building local capacity is essential to the success of the Emergency Support Services (ESS) program. The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund helps ensure ESS volunteers have the essential resources needed to support the community during emergencies.”

Wilson Williams (Sxwíxwtn), spokesperson, Squamish Nation –

“This funding will help ensure our Nation has critical resources available if our people are facing an emergency situation. We applaud the provincial government for prioritizing this need. It will help our Nation to be ready to respond to any future crisis or emergency.”

Ross Siemens, mayor, City of Abbotsford –

“Last year, our Emergency Support Services team supported 585 residents through 25 fire-related events alone. During an emergency, the demand for lodging is high and space is limited. This grant will support the City of Abbotsford in obtaining cots, blankets, pillows and generators to provide safe, dry group lodging for up to 100 evacuees and is readily available for those in need during an emergency.”

Ken Popove, mayor, City of Chilliwack –

“Over the last few years, as B.C. has weathered forest fires, atmospheric rivers and other natural disasters, the City of Chilliwack and our emergency support services volunteers have played a prominent role in supporting evacuees from both here at home and across the province. This funding will enable us to purchase much-needed equipment and supplies that will make an important difference to our volunteers and emergency support services in Chilliwack.”

Susan Clovechok, vice-chair, East Kootenay Regional District –

“When floods, fires or other emergencies cause people to evacuate, our local Emergency Support Services volunteers are there to provide support and short-term assistance to anyone in the East Kootenay. They are a critical component of our emergency response system when it comes to assisting displaced residents, and this funding will ensure that they have the tools necessary to provide the best support possible. We are grateful for this funding as it will mean our team is well-equipped to support with emergency response throughout the region and residents can be even more confident in our ability to assist in the event of evacuation.”

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is administered through the Union of British Columbia Municipalities and funds projects that strengthen the resilience of local governments and First Nations in responding to and preparing for natural disasters and climate change.

Local governments and First Nations throughout British Columbia will receive more than $2.2 million in provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Funds as follows:

Abbotsford – Group Lodging Kit
Total approved funding: $29,335.13

Adams Lake Indian Band – ESS Development
Total approved funding: $30,000
 

Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District – Regional: Expanding ESS Preparedness to the Long Beach EA and Strengthening the ESS Programs in Bamfield and the Alberni Valley
Regional Partners: Port Alberni
Total approved funding: $60,000

Bowen Island – Group Lodging and Pet Services 5.0
Total approved funding: $29,900

Bulkley-Nechako Regional District – Regional: ESS Exercise and Equipment Acquisition
Regional Partners: Houston and Granisle
Total approved funding: $89,238.46

Burns Lake – ESS Team Development
Total approved funding: $29,684

Capital Regional District – Electoral Area Evacuee Registration and Assistance Team
Total approved funding: $18,000

Central Kootenay Regional District – ESS Program Capacity Building and Modernization
Total approved funding: $30,000

Chetwynd – Emergency Support Purchases
Total approved funding: $17,471.94

Chilliwack – ESS Modernization and Reception Centre Supplies
Total approved funding: $28,000

Comox Valley Regional District – Hosting with Humility: Hosting Ourselves
Total approved funding: $25,000

Cowichan Tribes – 2023 ESS Modernization
Total approved funding: $30,000

Cowichan Valley Regional District – Regional: ESS 2023 Rapid Deployment Project
Regional Partners: Ladysmith, Duncan, North Cowichan, Lake Cowichan
Total approved funding: $96,150

Daajing Giids – ESS Storage and Supplies
Total approved funding: $29,965

Dawson Creek – Regional: ESS Recruitment and Regionalization
Regional Partners: Pouce Coupe
Total approved funding: $40,533.57

East Kootenay Regional District – Regional: East Kootenay ESS Capacity Building Project
Regional Partners: Cranbrook, Fernie, Invermere, Canal Flats
Total approved funding: $149,907

Fraser Valley Regional District – ESS Group Lodging Security Implementation
Total approved funding: $30,000

Hudson's Hope – ESS Mobility
Total approved funding: $13,980

Kamloops – 2023 ESS Training, Supplies and Equipment Modernization
Total approved funding: $30,000

Kent – Kent Harrison ESS Resources Revitalization
Total approved funding: $29,972.84

Kitselas First Nation – Support Supply Project
Total approved funding: $30,000

Langley City – ESS Serving the Community
Total approved funding: $29,864.94

Leq’á:mel First Nation – ESS Development Project
Total approved funding: $30,000

Lower Nicola Indian Band – Program Support 2023
Total approved funding: $30,000

McLeod Lake Indian Band – ESS Mobile Reception Centre
Total approved funding: $28,359.40

Merritt – ESS Capacity Building
Total approved funding: $28,391.81

Metchosin – Backup Facilities and Resources
Total approved funding: $30,000

Mission – ESS Team Safety Initiative
Total approved funding: $29,232

Mount Waddington Regional District – Critical Incident Stress Management
Total approved funding: $30,000

New Westminster – Modernization of New Westminster’s ESS
Total approved funding: $19,090.50

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen – Regional: 2023 ESS Capacity Building
Regional partners: Summerland, Princeton, Oliver, Keremeos
Total approved funding: $117,000

Penticton – ESS 2023
Total approved funding: $25,500

Port Alice – ESS Food Supply
Total approved funding: $16,000

Port Coquitlam – ESS Recruitment, Training and Resources
Total approved funding: $26,190.71

Port Moody – Capacity, Care and Containers
Total approved funding: $23,343.24

Prince Rupert – ESS Capacity and Resourcing Support                       
Total approved funding: $3,892

Saanich – Modernization Project 2023
Total approved funding: $24,613.25

Saulteau First Nations – ESS Mobile Storage
Total approved funding: $30,000

Semá:th First Nation – Development Project
Total approved funding: $30,000

Sidney – Reception Centre Mobile Response
Total approved funding: $30,000

Skwah First Nation – ESS Development Project
Total approved funding: $30,000

Skwláx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw – ESS Development Project
Total approved funding: $30,000

Smithers - Regional: Bulkley ESS Transport, Security and Volunteer Safety Project
Regional partners: Telkwa
Total approved funding: $60,000

Squamish – ESS Operational Readiness Project
Total approved funding: $29,713

Squamish Nation – ESS Resilience Project
Total approved funding: $29,870.67

Strathcona Regional District – Regional: Hosting with Humility: Adapting the ESS structure to expand Host Community capacity
Regional partners: Campbell River, Ehattesaht First Nation, Homalco First Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Gold River, Sayward, Tahsis, Zeballos
Total approved funding: $294,630

T’it’q’et – ESS Training and Supply Project
Total approved funding: $30,000

Taylor – 2023 Taylor ESS - Training Project
Total approved funding: $20,000

Thompson-Nicola Regional District - ESS Capacity Building
Total approved funding: $28,500.40

Tsawwassen First Nation – ESS Trailer Supplies
Total approved funding: $28,803.29

Uchucklesaht Tribe – ESS Program Support 2023
Total approved funding: $29,953

Vancouver – ESS Equipment/Supplies for Equity Denied Groups
Total approved funding: $29,993.37

Victoria – Modernization Project 2023
Total approved funding: $26,145.39

We Wai Kai Nation – ESS Trailer
Total approved funding: $30,000

Whistler – ESS Preparedness Grant
Total approved funding: $17,749

White Rock – ESS Modernization Equipment
Total approved funding: $30,000

Williams Lake – Building City of Williams Lake ESS Capacity
Total approved funding: $19,221.72