By Jonalyn Cueto
Intact Financial Corporation has announced an increase in funding for its Municipal Climate Resiliency Grants program, raising the total from $2 million to $3.1 million.
The expanded investment is intended to support 19 communities across Canada, including the City of Kelowna, in addressing the impacts of extreme weather events such as flooding and wildfires.
According to a company news release, the additional funding will assist local projects that apply established climate adaptation measures, particularly in areas considered vulnerable. The 19 recipients, selected from a pool of 172 applicants, include municipalities, registered charities and Indigenous communities.
Each project is eligible for up to $200,000. Initiatives include wetland creation, rain gardens for flood mitigation and homeowner wildfire resilience incentive programs.
“As the frequency and severity of extreme weather continues to increase, we are accelerating our efforts in helping people and communities adapt to a changing climate,” said Carla Smith, executive vice president and chief strategy, climate and people officer at Intact Financial Corporation.
“Municipalities are on the frontlines of climate adaptation. The work they undertake to protect their communities is essential, and we recognise and appreciate their leadership. We believe equipping them with effective tools is essential to building resilience.”
In Kelowna, British Columbia, a $100,000 grant from Intact will be combined with a $500,000 investment from the city to support a wildfire risk reduction project. The project will use prescribed fire, also known as controlled burns, in natural areas and will build on existing FireSmart home programs.
“Thanks to the Municipal Climate Resiliency Grant, Kelowna’s prescribed fire project is reducing wildfire risk while restoring ecosystem health. This investment strengthens our community’s climate resilience and safeguards our natural environment,” said Kelowna mayor Tom Dyas.
The Municipal Climate Resiliency Grants program was launched in 2021 with an initial commitment of $1 million to 10 communities. Due to increased demand, the total was later raised to $2 million for the 2024-2025 cycle before this latest increase.
Details about the remaining 18 grant recipients are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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