Climate Readiness and Community Recovery

Building Resilience: Planning for Extreme Weather and Community Recovery

Extreme weather events have become more frequent and severe in Canada, causing significant impacts to communities. Disaster recovery can be lengthy, expensive and may disrupt the very core of a community for generations. When these emergencies happen, local governments must lead immediate response efforts and continue providing local services while also planning for community recovery and the rebuilding of infrastructure.

This is why prioritizing emergency preparedness measures and planning for community recovery before a disaster strike is essential. Engaging project management structures early on enhances coordination and ensures smooth operations among involved organizations through efficient thought leadership and effective project delivery.

We can help

Our skilled team of project managers has the expertise and resources to help your community proactively plan for disasters and manage recovery efforts, allowing your team to focus on meeting the daily needs of residents.

Our project managers can help you with:

• Community recovery, including early integration and Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) support, damage assessment, project scoping, and recovery team development
• Critical infrastructure resilience and emergency continuity of operations
• Feasibility studies and capital and program investment road mapping
• Emergency management program gaps analysis and development
• Project planning and procurement
• Project leadership and reporting
• Funding source and budget development

A project management firm can make a big difference when you’re preparing for climate challenges or recovering from adverse events. Our team offers comprehensive support through both technical, advisory and governance services. We know from experience which solutions will best equip your municipality to handle and overcome climate-related obstacles.

City of Merritt – Flood Recovery and Resilience Efforts

In November 2021, the City of Merritt › was devastated by severe flooding when the Coldwater River overflowed due to an atmospheric river event in southern British Columbia. The disaster forced the immediate evacuation of over 7,000 residents and disrupted essential services for those who remained.

With support from various levels of government and multiple agencies, the City of Merritt is now leading an accelerated recovery effort. With a focus on both immediate and long-term needs, the city is working to rebuild critical infrastructure, provide permanent and temporary housing, and maintain daily operations. In addition, over $60 million has been allocated to develop and implement a comprehensive flood mitigation plan.

Colliers Project Leaders has been a trusted partner, providing the expertise and capacity needed to support the City of Merritt in these key recovery initiatives.

“An essential aspect that distinguishes Colliers Project Leaders is their professional communication skills. Throughout the entire project cycle, they have maintained open and transparent channels of communication. They provided regular updates, promptly addressed any concerns or queries, and collaborated harmoniously with our team and stakeholders. This clear and consistent communication has been pivotal in facilitating a smooth workflow and mitigating any potential issues promptly.” – Sean Strang, Director of Recovery and Mitigation, City of Merritt.

Columbia-Shuswap Regional District – Wildfire Recovery Project

Following the devastating Bush Creek East and Adams Lake wildfires ›, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) › was focused on rebuilding and recovery. The CSRD is working to address several key recovery priorities, including debris management, post-fire geohazard assessments, and planning for infrastructure reconstruction.

As the Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team, Colliers Project Leaders is working alongside the CSRD, providing vital support and acting as an extension of their internal team. We’re ensuring alignment with the Board’s direction, protecting taxpayer and donated funds, and facilitating the timely, cost-effective execution of the recovery program. Our role is to safeguard the interests of the CSRD while fostering collaboration across all departments, teams, and stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading project initiation and planning, ensuring the scope aligns with the community’s vision and project goals.
• Managing the project schedule, budget, and governance structure to maintain quality and control.
• Procuring and coordinating consultants and contractors, and providing support throughout the contracting process.
• Implementing change management strategies and overseeing financial tracking.
• Chairing monthly meetings with project teams, stakeholders, and community partners.
• Coordinating efforts among critical asset stakeholders, traditional rights holders, and social/business networks.
• Offering surge capacity to enable the CSRD administration to prioritize business continuity.

Colliers Project Leaders shifted the project’s focus from addressing the community’s immediate social and economic recovery to the long-term rebuilding of residential and public infrastructure, ensuring a resilient future for the Columbia-Shuswap region.

Fort St. John Evacuation Planning

The City of Fort St. John › contracted Colliers Project Leaders to review and update its Emergency Evacuation Plan, ensuring compliance with the Province of BC’s Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA). While Fort St. John has faced its own emergencies, it frequently supports neighboring communities as a Host Community during mass evacuations. As a key corridor for northeastern BC, the city’s role in emergency response has become even more critical due to population growth and nearby industrial activity.

The updated evacuation plan aims to enhance decision-making and policy for both city-wide and localized evacuations, preparing the community for future crises. This review focused on aligning with the EDMA, strengthening partnerships, and improving operational resources. A Gap Analysis and Roadmap were also developed to provide strategic recommendations aligned with CSA Guidelines, ensuring the City’s emergency and business continuity planning meets national standards.

City of Kimberley – Emergency Management and Business Continuity Program Review

In the wake of a 2018 wildfire evacuation, the City of Kimberley › prioritized risk management, focusing on community safety and preparedness for future emergencies. 

The city sought to ensure compliance with the new Emergency & Disaster Management Act (EDMA) › while clarifying its existing emergency management services. The City needed a modernized, integrated Emergency Management and Business Continuity Plan to address emergencies, enhance service resiliency and meet climate readiness requirements.

Our Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team conducted an in-depth analysis of the city’s existing Emergency Management and Business Continuity Plan programs. This included evaluating its alignment with the EDMA, strengthening partnerships with regional bodies, and improving resource planning and staff management.

Our team delivered:

• A Program Risk and Gap Analysis Roadmap;
• 14 categories of risk, grouped into six strategic themes;
• Recommendations for phased implementation, financial planning and compliance with provincial legislation.

The roadmap offers a clear execution and capital investment strategy for the city to enhance its emergency management and business continuity programs. With these recommendations, the city is well-prepared to manage future emergencies, maintain legislative compliance, and strengthen its resilience against climate-related impacts.

“I was very satisfied with the way our project was handled. Colliers Project Leaders has now set the bar for our expectations from other contractors.” Will Booth, Fire Chief and Emergency Program Coordinator, City of Kimberley.

Climate Readiness and Community Recovery in First Nations Communities

Kashechewan First Nation: Road to Site Five

As the Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team, Colliers Project Leaders is

The Kashechewan First Nation (KFN) ›, located 150 kilometers northwest of Moosonee, Ontario, has faced many flooding events since 1976. In 2016, a study declared the community unsafe during the flooding season, prompting the search for a safer location. Site Five was selected as the new site by KFN elders and approval from the General Membership. The new site is 34 kilometers upstream along the Albany River.

In 2019, KFN signed the Together We Work for Hope Agreement, prioritizing the relocation project. Colliers Project Leaders managed the planning, design, construction, and closeout phases of this relocation. The project included constructing an all-weather gravel road to connect the existing community to Site Five and a temporary winter road providing reliable access during construction.

Expert spotlight: Michael Higgins is bringing a new approach to disaster response

The Climate Readiness and Community Recovery experts in our organization consistently drive towards having an impact. Those impacts fuel our success and deliver innovative solutions for our clients, communities and the built environment.

Michael Higgins has helped people face crises and challenges for nearly 40 years. During his time in the Canadian Forces, then in various levels of government, and now with Colliers Project Leaders, Higgins has experienced, and helped catalyze, a dramatic shift in how Canadians deal with floods, wildfires and other natural disasters.

Together We Work for Hope Agreement, prioritizing the relocation project. Colliers Project Leaders managed the planning, design, construction, and closeout phases of this relocation. The project included constructing an all-weather gravel road to connect the existing community to Site Five and a temporary winter road providing reliable access during construction.

Climate Readiness and Community Recovery: CEPCA Panelists Discuss the Wraparound Model

The 2023 wildfire season in Canada had a devastating impact, destroying vast areas of forest and many communities. As affected areas begin the recovery process, they face significant challenges, compounded by a lack of preparedness and the increasing frequency of climate-related disasters. At the Canadian Emergency Preparedness and Climate Adaptation Convention (CEPCA), experts discussed strategies for building more resilient disaster-response systems.

Our expert panel discussion highlighted the need to rethink how we approach community recovery and climate resilience.