Chief Jordan Spinks, T'eqt'aqtn'mux (Kanaka Bar Indian Band) –

“The funding awarded to the T'eqt'aqtn'mux (Kanaka Bar Indian Band) also known as The Crossing Place People, means a lot to our Nation. Not only will the new raw water reservoir help our community be safe in times of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, but it will also help our community further our goal in being more food self-sufficient. We will continue to grow and adapt to everything climate change throws our way. We are resilient! We are T’eqt’aqt’n!”

Jen Ford, president, Union of BC Municipalities –

“As a result of our changing environment, there is considerable work to be done to better understand the risks and prepare for emergencies. Provincial funding is essential for work, and I welcome the funding announced today. The projects undertaken in these communities provide another step towards mitigating local risks and improving emergency readiness.”

Shayla Spence, Chief and council secretary, Skeetchestn Indian Band –

“The major barrier that has been proven time and time again with emergency preparedness is fund resourcing and capacity. The Disaster Risk Reduction funding provides Skeetchestn Indian Band the opportunity to ensure the teams at hand as well as the community feels safe and secure with an executed plan, ahead of the potential disasters.”

Loyal Wooldridge, board chair, Regional District of Central Okanagan –

“Emergencies have intensified in the Central Okanagan, influenced by climate change. Disaster risk reduction is a critical factor to protecting people, property and the environment. Our top priority is to reduce risks by anticipating climate change impacts, minimizing hazards and planning sustainably. We're extremely grateful for the grant funding, it will greatly support efforts to build stronger, more resilient communities.”

Catherine Porter, councillor, Daylu Dena Council –

“The upcoming disaster-risk reduction climate adaptation plan holds significant importance for our northern community of Daylu Dena, where the impacts of climate change are already profoundly affecting us. We recognize the urgency of environmental preparedness and the importance of protecting our lands, homes and communities here in the North. By prioritizing an actionable climate adaptation plan, we ensure the long-term stability and resilience of our community, both environmentally and economically.”             

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

First Nations and local governments throughout British Columbia will receive more than $44 million in provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Funds 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

Abbotsford – C2: High Water Warning System
Total funding: $150,000

Adams Lake Indian Band – C1, C2: Disaster Risk Reduction Climate Adaptation Project
Total funding: $300,000

Barriere – C1: Leonie Dam Decommissioning Study
Total funding: $150,000

Cache Creek – C1: Sanitary System Improvement Design for Flood Mitigation
Total funding: $150,000

Central Okanagan Regional District – C1: Disaster Risk Reduction Integrated Planning Project
Total funding: $150,000

Clearwater – C3: Emergency Backup Power DLCC Well 1&3
Total funding: $148,050.60

Comox Valley Regional District – C3: Dyke Road Park Coastal Resilience through Green Shores
Total funding: $1,135,454

Cook’s Ferry Indian Band – C1, C2: Disaster Risk Reduction Projects for Cook’s Ferry
Total funding: $299,600

Coquitlam – C1: Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Analysis
Total funding: $150,000

Cowichan Valley Regional District – Regional: C2 Disaster Risk and Climate Adaptation - Public Awareness Projects
Regional partner: Duncan
Total funding: $226,250

Daylu Dena Council – C1: Disaster Risk Reduction Climate Adaptation Plan
Total funding: $149,643

Delta – C3: Boundary Bay Dike Improvements
Total funding: $2,000,000

East Kootenay Regional District – C1, C2: Fairmont Creek Debris Flow Hazard and Risk Assessment and Mitigation Options Update and Fairmont Hot Springs Development Guidance Project
Total funding: $210,000

Fernie – C3: Mountview Dike Phase 2 and Coal Creek Bin Wall Upgrades
Total funding: $1,980,300

Gibsons – C3: Eastern Foreshore Improvements
Total funding: $2,000,000

Grand Forks – C3: North Ruckle Floodplain Naturalization and Habitat Offset Project
Total funding: $1,765,858

Invermere – C1: Integrated Stormwater Plan
Total funding: $150,000

Kamloops – C3: Lower Springhill Creek Channel Stabilization
Total funding: $1,870,000

Kanaka Bar Indian Band – C3: Water servicing for climate adaptation and drought resiliency
Total funding: $1,707,188.80

Kent – C3: Chaplin Road Culvert Replacement
Total funding: $1,309,132

Kitimat – C1: Dike Extension: Feasibility Study
Total funding: $150,000

Kwadacha Nation – C1: Flood and Erosion Mitigation Planning
Total funding: $149,820

Langley Township – C3: 56 Avenue and 24200 Block Slope Stability
Total funding: $1,000,000

Leq’a:mel First Nation – C1: Flood, Erosion, and Stormwater Risk Gap Assessment and Holachten Drainage Study
Total funding: $149,980

Lhtako Dené Nation – C3: Air conditioning for Nation Longhouse to provide a place of refuge for local residents evacuated from their homes because of fire and any other natural disaster
Total funding: $57,409

Lil’wat Nation – C1: Xit’olacw Village Geohazard Assessment and Risk Mapping
Total funding: $150,000

Lytton First Nation – Regional: C1, C2: Fraser Canyon Flood and Landslide Geohazard Risk Mapping
Regional partners: Boothroyd Band, Siska Band, Skuppah Indian Band, Boston Bar First Nation, Lytton, Hope
Total funding: $984,740

Metchosin – Regional: C1: Disaster Risk Assessment, Mapping and Hazard Mitigation Planning Project
Regional partner: Scia’new Nation
Total funding: $116,000

Mission – C1: Detailed Design for Lane Creek Drainage Pump Station replacement
Total funding: $150,000

Nanaimo – Regional: C1: HRVA Renewal and Risk Mapping
Regional partner: Snuneymuxw First Nation
Total funding: $300,000

Nanaimo Regional District – C1: Regional District of Nanaimo Climate Risk Assessment for Coastal Flood Hazard Areas
Total funding: $150,000

Nelson – C1: Anderson/Fell Creek Detailed Hazard and Risk Assessment and C2: Risk Management Practice and Policy Development
Total funding: $300,000

New Denver – Regional: C1: Foundational activities (risk mapping, risk assessment, planning) and C3: Small scale structural activities
Regional partner: Silverton
Total funding: $797,512

Nisga’a Lisims Government – Regional: C1: Nisga’a Nation Flood Risk Mitigation
Regional partners: Gitwinksihlkw Village Government, Laxgalts’ap Village Government, Gingolx Village Government
Total funding: $599,635

North Coast Regional District – C1: Tlell Erosion/Flood Mitigation Project 2023
Total funding: $79,288

North Vancouver District – C1: Wave modelling and updated flood hazard maps to inform adaptation measures in the District of North Vancouver
Total funding: $111,500

Okanagan Indian Band – C2: Natural Disaster Forecasting on the Okanagan Indian Reserve
Total funding: $150,000

Peters First Nation – C3: Fraser River Flood Control Berm and River Training
Total funding: $1,998,900

Princeton – C3: November 21 Atmospheric River Flood Event Recovery - Riverside Community Centre Siphon (Sanitary) Replacement
Total funding: $2,000,000

Saulteau First Nations – C1: Hazard, Risk & Vulnerability Analysis
Total funding: $150,000

Seabird Island Band – Regional: C1, C2: Stó:lō Geohazard Risk Mapping
Regional partners: Sq’ewlets First Nation, Xwchíyò:m First Nation, Skawahlook First Nation, Union Bar First Nation, Chawathil First Nation, Shxw’ōwhámel First Nation, Yale First Nation, Harrison Hot Springs
Total funding: $1,765,375

Sema:th First Nation – C1: Disaster Resiliency Planning Project
Total funding: $109,340

Sidney – C1, C2: Wave Data Collection, Flood Construction Level Refinement and Flood Risk Public Education
Total funding: $297,000

Simpcw First Nation – C1: Geohazard Assessment and Community Risk Mapping
Total funding: $150,000

Skeetchestn Indian Band – C1: Skeetchestn IR#0 – Deadman River Floodplain Mapping
Total funding: $150,000

Skwah First Nation – Regional: C3: Flood Protection Project
Regional partners: Chilliwack, Shxwha:y Village
Total funding: $5,890,000

Smithers – Regional: C1: Smithers Airport South Slope Monitoring Project
Regional partners: Bulkley-Nechako Regional District
Total funding: $253,891

Strathcona Regional District – Regional: C1, C2: Reconciliation Through Restoration and a One Health Approach to Disaster Risk Reduction
Regional partners: Campbell River, Homalco First Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations, K’ómoks First Nation, Nuchatlaht First Nation, Gold River, Sawyard
Total funding: $1,150,052.62

Sts’ailes – C1: Hydrogeological Investigations to Understand, Assess, Mitigate and Plan for Groundwater Flooding Hazards
Total funding: $149,390

Summerland – C1: Giants Head Basin Flood Risk Mitigation Planning and C3: Isintok Dam Spillway Upgrades Construction
Total funding: $2,084,590

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc – C3: Paul Lake Dam Spillway Upgrade Project
Total funding: $1,725,400

Tla’amin Nation – C2: Disaster Risk Reduction Youth Education and Outreach
Total funding: $17,082

Ts'kw'aylaxw – C1: Landslide Hazard Assessment
Total funding: $149,996

Tsal’alh – C1: Seton Portage Geotechnical & Hydrotechnical Assessment and Planning
Total funding: $150,000

Tsawwassen First Nation – C1: Community Housing Area Drainage - Functional Design
Total funding: $98,750

Tsq’escenemc – C1, C2: IR #1 Flood Mitigation Plan and Physical Development Plan Updates based on Climate-Adapted Floodwater Elevations
Total funding: $299,831

Upper Similkameen Indian Band – Regional: C1: Similkameen Baseline Geohazard Study within the USIB and LSIB Reserve Areas
Regional partner: Lower Similkameen Indian Band

Total funding: $296,076

Vancouver - C1: Coastal Vulnerability Assessment C2: Musqueam Creek West Southlands Flood Preparedness Tool, C3: Oak Street and Fraser Street Outfalls Remediation to Improve Climate Resilience
Total: $2,008,010

Victoria – C1: Mike 3 Wave FM Modelling of the City of Victoria Shoreline and C2: Climate Equity by Design - Engagement for Community-Led Climate Risk Communications, Management and Adaptation
Total funding: $300,000

View Royal – C1: Coastal Adaptation Plan - Hazard Mapping and Risk Assessment
Total funding: $95,000

Whispering Pines/Clinton Band – C3: Construction of Site 2A Revetment
Total funding: $1,968,000

Williams Lake First Nation – C1: Climate change resiliency study and engineering options for protection of Williams Lake First Nation infrastructure
Total funding: $128,578

Xaxli'p First Nation – C1: Landslide Hazard Assessment
Total funding: $149,936