The Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) announced Wednesday, July 29, that they have been selected as the 2025 recipient of funding through a national climate resiliency initiative.
The grant is worth $200,000 to execute a wildfire mitigation program. According to the CSRD, the program will support vegetation removal, advanced home assessments and public education.
The CSRD Board Chair Natalya Melnychuk, said the contribution will make their FireSmart programs more accessible to residents.
“Across Columbia Shuswap, residents know the importance of preparation,” said Rosa Nelson, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Alberta and Prairies, Intact Financial Corporation.
Nelson said the communities are working hard to reduce wildfire risks.
“This initiative supports the kind of grassroots leadership that contributes to keeping residents safer year after year. It’s local resilience in action,” she said.
There are 19 community-led projects that are selected across the country as part of Intact’s expanded $3.1 million commitment to climate adaptation.
According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, the summer of 2024 was the most destructive season in Canadian history for insured losses due to severe weather, totaling $7.1 billion.
The CSRD noted that in 2024, 70 per cent of the total area burned by wildfires occurred in Western Canada, impacting municipalities in British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories and Saskatchewan.
There were over 170 applicants for the grant, reflecting on the diverse mix of municipalities, charities and Indigenous communities across Canada.
