Join us for a timely webinar on the role of communities and residents in preparing for and responding to climate-related events. As climate change accelerates, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, floods, and heatwaves, continue to rise, posing significant challenges to local governments and communities across the country.
The 2023 wildfire season was the worst ever recorded, with roughly 18.5 million hectares of Canadian land burned and extensive damage to communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure. The town of Celista, British Columbia, was one of the communities that experienced devastating impacts. Jim Cooperman, a prominent author and conservationist in the Shuswap community, will share firsthand insights and lessons learned from the 2023 fires when it comes to strengthening municipal-community collaboration in emergency response.
Meanwhile, in Ontario, the City of Mississauga teamed up with several partners including University of Waterloo to host an RU Ready Workshop and launch Climate Crisis Connect, a youth-led initiative dedicated to improving emergency preparedness in Mississauga through raising awareness and educating residents about the importance of emergency preparation. Ben Gallagher and Larissa Parekh with the City of Mississauga will share their experience collaborating with community partners for greater climate resilience.
As we look ahead to the upcoming summer, projections indicate that Canada may face another season of heightened wildfire activity, along with other climate-related extreme weather events. Municipalities and communities must prepare effectively and strengthen their collaboration to mitigate risks and ensure swift response and recovery efforts.
In this webinar, we’ll explore:
Lessons learned from the experiences of Celista, BC, and Mississauga, ON, when it comes to centering community and activating local resources where possible in emergency preparedness and response
Strategies for improving collaboration between municipalities and communities in the face of extreme weather events
Best practices for engaging residents in emergency preparedness efforts and fostering a culture of resilience at the community level