Across Canada, the effects of climate change are getting harder to ignore. Wildfires, floods and extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and intensity, forcing municipal and Indigenous communities to navigate the complexities of response and recovery. Restoring homes, infrastructure and local spirit requires coordination, compassion and expertise – and that’s where partnerships make a difference.
Team Rubicon Canada is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes veteran-led volunteers to support communities during and after disasters. From debris removal and site cleanup to recovery operations, its highly trained volunteers are ready to act and help communities in need. Colliers Project Leaders’ Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team supports organizations and communities with wrap-around project management as they plan for, respond to and rebuild following an extreme weather event. Working together, Colliers Project Leaders and Team Rubicon Canada combine structure, experience and trusted collaborative relationships with local leaders to help communities recover faster and prepare for the future.
We sat down with Chad Mooney, Director of Field Operations (and now Director of Analytics) with Team Rubicon Canada, and Haley Jeffery, Project Manager with Colliers Project Leaders’ Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team, to discuss how their organizations work together to strengthen disaster recovery efforts across Canada.
Q: How do Team Rubicon and Colliers Project Leaders’ roles complement one another to help communities in the aftermath of an extreme weather event?
Haley: Community recovery is more than rebuilding infrastructure – it’s rebuilding lives and restoring critical systems. Team Rubicon has integrated early into our Recovery Management Structure, adding capacity for site operations while also providing hope to residents as they return to their communities.
Team Rubicon symbolizes an important bridge from response to recovery, often accompanying individuals and families during their first hours back in community. For example, Team Rubicon’s site sifting operations gives residents the opportunity to find belongings that are sentimental and important to them. Even a small discovery, from family heirlooms to a piece of silverware, can become a powerful symbol of hope. This is just one component where Team Rubicon adds capacity to our efforts. They come as a self-sufficient, problem-solving unit that brings much-needed capacity to our clients when recovery resources are slim, taking on labour intensive tasks like community cleanup, firewood provision, and danger tree removal.
Chad: Our goal at Team Rubicon is always to ensure that no community faces disaster alone. We often have local volunteers who can respond immediately. Colliers Project Leaders brings structured recovery expertise. Working together, we can sequence operations efficiently – one organization clears the way while the other rebuilds. That synergy keeps communities and projects moving forward.
Q: Both organizations bring unique strengths to recovery efforts. In your experience, what impact does your collaboration have on communities in need?
Chad: When we coordinate, communities recover faster. We’ve worked together in places like Chipewyan Lake and the Northwest Territories. In some cases, Colliers Project Leaders arrives first to assess damage and coordinate infrastructure recovery, and we follow with cleanup and sifting. In other situations, our volunteers are there first and can help Colliers Project Leaders’ team get started as quickly as possible. Either way, it’s seamless. So, I think it comes back to synchronicity and working closely together so we can help a community move through the disaster phases as quickly as possible.
Haley: As a veteran-led organization, we know that Team Rubicon brings that structure into their response. Both Colliers Project Leaders and Team Rubicon have very strong frameworks that bring structure and clarity to what can feel like chaos. Our Colliers Team empowers our clients through clear governance, task structures and communication. The collaboration between our organizations helps the community determine what needs to be completed, streamlined and prioritized.
Chad: Another major result of our collaboration is the added safety assurance. There’s often uncertainty around site hazards – things like asbestos or other environmental risks that aren’t always known. When Colliers Project Leaders is involved, that gap disappears, and our volunteers know the area is clear and safe to enter. That level of preparedness gives us peace of mind we don’t always get elsewhere.
Q: Can you share an example where your collaboration made a tangible impact?
Haley: My first time working with Team Rubicon was in northern British Columbia during the 2018 Wildfire Complexes. Since that event, I have worked with Team Rubicon on multiple substantially complex recoveries across Canada, from hurricane recovery to flash flooding. Every community where Team Rubicon in engaged, Team Rubicon becomes a beacon of hope. Trust is built back that is so often lost during response. Each community is unique and different, but Team Rubicon shows up for residents with heart, embracing the culture, integrating directly into on the ground efforts. The impact is evident; I often recognize volunteers who were residents from impacted communities where I’ve previously responded. They know the value that Team Rubicon brings because they have experienced it firsthand and want to be apart of the organization.
Team Rubicon volunteers are often able to provide important services to residents whose needs fall outside of what government can support through volunteering. An example of this is firewood processing and delivery. On many occasions, Team Rubicon has led wood cutting programs that have stacked and delivered firewood to community members so they could stay warm once winter hit. That act of service builds deep relationships. Their efforts open doors for us to build relationships and move recovery efforts forward more effectively.
Chad: I think of Enterprise, Northwest Territories. The community had done everything right — FireSmart principles, preparedness — but they still faced a devastating loss. Colliers Project Leaders trusted us to move forward without delay, even before formal agreements were in place. That flexibility and people-first mentality allowed homeowners to collect items and gain some closure before the ground froze. A lot of really meaningful individual stories came from that collaboration; it sticks out in my mind as a best-case story.
Q: What challenges do you face when mobilizing to assist communities? What considerations do you keep in mind when interacting with them?
Chad: As a nonprofit, one challenge for us is understanding the full scope of a project before we begin. We’ve learned the importance of defining end goals early – otherwise a two-week deployment can stretch into three months. Clear objectives and collaboration help us stay efficient and sustainable. Another challenge is that each province and territory has its own culture and approach to emergency management. As a national organization, we may not understand the unique nuances of certain communities, so we really need to listen to hear – not to respond. These communities know what they need, we’re just there to help them get it done.
Haley: Building trust is always a challenge but awareness can also be challenging. Not every community or individual knows what Team Rubicon offers. Part of our role is to help local governments and Indigenous leaders understand the services available to them and support them in requesting that help. Building trust and awareness ahead of time ensures communities can access resources quickly when they need them most. When it comes to considerations, I couldn’t agree with Chad more; every community is different, even if they’re only 10 minutes apart. We need to take the time to learn, actively listen and understand what they’ve gone through whether that’s through community meetings or just talking to residents one on one.
Q: What lessons have you learned that might help other communities currently preparing for climate hazards?
Chad: Disasters don’t wait. No one is immune to climate change and in those challenging moments, leadership can be both a burden and a responsibility. The best thing communities can do is plan ahead – build teams, run tabletop exercises and know who’s responsible for what. When everyone understands their role before an emergency, community response is smoother and faster.
Haley: I’d add that preparing isn’t just about response processes – it’s also about planning for recovery. We’re observing massive connections between having a solid business continuity plan and immediate recovery successes. A thorough plan can guide critical services and enable communities to rebuild faster is an intentional and effective way. A frequently referenced quote we like to share is that, “Disasters aren’t the hazard itself; it’s government’s inability to respond to the event.” When communities have the frameworks, communication plans and leadership structures ready, recovery is far more successful.
Q: Colliers Project Leaders is a sponsor of Team Rubicon’s Mission Possible campaign. How does this support Team Rubicon’s mission?
Chad: Sponsors like Colliers Project Leaders make our work possible. Their support allows us to train volunteers during “blue skies” or under ideal circumstances – through chainsaw safety courses, Incident Command System (ISC) training and more. That training means that when a disaster hits, we’re ready. Investing in Team Rubicon strengthens communities across Canada because it builds local resilience and preparedness by certifying people who are both our volunteers and also members of their own communities.
Haley: It really is that simple: investing in Team Rubicon is investing in community resiliency. When disaster strikes, they show up – often within 24 hours of being contacted. Supporting their mission is an investment in Canada’s collective ability to respond, recover and rebuild.
Colliers Project Leaders is proud to sponsor Team Rubicon Canada’s Mission Possible. Together, we can ensure that when a disaster hits, no community has to face recovery alone. Learn more about Mission Possible or reach out to our Climate Readiness and Community Recovery team to find out how we can help you safeguard your community.
