Resilience Peer Network (RSPN)

This network has welcomed Karin Johnson, City of New Westminster to fill in for the role of Co-Chair with the Lower Mainland Network.  

Several  new members joined this Network Meeting for the first time.  

Kathryn Trnavsky, Community Energy Association  

There are lots of upcoming programming offers to support ongoing regional priorities as identified by the Lower Mainland Network.  

Updates, insights and learnings will be woven back into the network in the coming months.  

Reach out to peernetworks@communityenergy.ca if you are interested to learn more about any of CEA’s Implementation Cohort Programs.  

CEA is also updating it’s Member Network. You can learn more about that here and see if your municipality is already a member.  

A summary of the forthcoming EDMA requirements, coming into effect on January 1, 2027 were shared.  

Network members mapped where they are for each step in the process which created a visual to identify areas to learn, coordinate and collaborate moving forward.  

You can review further details by visiting the Legislation in Effect Page here.  

An update about the Emergency and Disaster Management guidelines was shared. It is anticipated that additional details will be available, however local governments should not expect prescriptive or detailed guidance.  

The provincial team is considering whether further resources may be needed to fill gaps left by the formal guidance. Potential additions could include a practical risk-assessment framework, frequently asked questions, and clearer examples of how communities can meet the requirements. 

It is recommended that communities begin with existing processes and improve or expend their assessments over time.  

The group had the opportunity to discuss or share insights related to the update provided by the Province. Three key themes emerged:  

(1) A need for climate informed risk assessments  

Meeting attendees highlighted being at different stages of preparing risk assessments, emergency management plans and approaches to Indigenous consultation and coordination. It is worth noting that existing assessments do no need to be redone, and that these can be supplemented with additional analysis to address climate change, vulnerable populations and Indigenous perspectives.  

(2) Indigenous Engagement and Relationship Building  

A key focus of discussion was how communities can determine which First Nations to work with and what meaningful collaboration, coordination, consultation and engagement look like.  

It is recommended that relationship building starts early. Capacity constraints, timelines, information-sharing protocols, and the protection of traditional knowledge will need to be considered. 

Meeting attendees highlighted approaches that have been working as they develop relationships and work through the emergency management planning phases:  

• Contacting potentially interested First Nations before issuing the project request for proposals. 
• Providing regular updates and opportunities to review key deliverables. 
• Inviting First Nations staff to participate in an external advisory group. 
• Holding informal soup and Bannock gatherings with urban Indigenous community members in a community setting. 
• Sharing “what we heard” reports and clearly explaining how feedback was incorporated. 
• Maintaining consistent and transparent communication throughout the project. 

The discussion reinforced that engagement should be understood as an ongoing relationship and feedback loop rather than a single consultation activity. 

(3) Regional and Sub  Regional Coordination  

While no clear next steps were actioned from this meeting, participants explored whether some EDMA work could be coordinated at the regional district or sub-regional scale. Shared climate projections, datasets, hazard information, consultant work, and engagement processes could create efficiencies and reduce duplication. 

A regional approach could be particularly helpful for smaller communities with limited capacity. However, it will need to preserve local context and avoid replacing detailed work that is best completed by individual communities or Indigenous Nations. 

It was also noted that there is a role for this network to play in supporting the coordination between communities and creating space for shared and coordinated approaches to outreach and engagement as municipalities move through the next steps of the EDMA regulations.  

*CEA may convene smaller or more focused discussions for participants interested in regional coordination or particular EDMA requirements. TBD pending forthcoming updates from the Province on this.   

The Network will continue to gather throughout 2026, and anticipate hosting meetings in September and December (subject to change as topics and collaborative opportunities arise).  

We look forward to gathering with you again soon!  

If you know someone who should participate in this network, or have an idea for a meeting topic, please reach out to peernetworks@communityenergy.ca  

• EMCR is developing guidance to help local governments meet new EDMA requirements. 
• Target completion date: January 1, 2027. 
• Early information expected to be shared at UBCM. 
• Additional feedback opportunities are being planned. 
• Province is considering supplementary guidance documents to address questions not covered in the main guidance. 
• Municipal staff were encouraged to stay connected to provincial updates and distribution lists. 
• Reach out to Yaheli at yaheli.klein@gov.bc.ca if you want to want to join an email list for updates about EMCR / EDMA / risk assessment guidance 
• You can also reach out to Dave Aharonian at Dave.Aharonian@gov.bc.ca 

• There is a bit more funding for VICC-CL than previously known since the ACRD has contributed and the CRD Board has agreed to provide funding. 
• The only two regional districts that did not contribute to supporting VICC-CL are SRD and RDN.   

Q: What communications activities have been underway recently in your community? 

• Cooler Condos communications. 
• Climate plan updates.  
• Community engagement initiatives, including park-use signage that generated significant public feedback. 
• Coordination with local organizations.  
• Election-year communications and challenges responding to public opposition and misinformation.  

Q: What has been effective and what has been ineffective? Did anything surprise you? 

• Messaging about heat and heat-related risks resonates strongly with residents.  
• Connecting climate issues to people's day-to-day concerns is effective.  
• Online communications were generally viewed as less effective. 

Climate communications are becoming more challenging due to: 

• Affordability concerns. 
• Declining trust in institutions. 
• Misinformation and polarization. 
• Climate issues becoming tied to values, identity, and political beliefs. 

Three Recommended Shifts 

1. From Information → Relationships 

Providing more facts alone rarely changes minds. Effective engagement starts with listening, understanding priorities, and building trust. 

2. From Persuasion → People-Centred Approaches 

Rather than trying to convince people, focus on what matters to them and find where climate action supports their goals and concerns. 

3. From Technical Messaging → Empathy 

Climate discussions often involve emotions such as fear, fairness, security, and belonging. Understanding these underlying concerns can lead to more productive conversations. 

The "Iceberg" Concept 

The visible objection (e.g., opposition to a climate policy) is often only the surface issue. Underneath are deeper drivers such as: 

• Affordability concerns. 
• Sense of fairness. 
• Economic security. 
• Values and worldviews. 
• Trust in government or institutions. 

Practical Strategies for Local Governments 

• Build relationships across departments before seeking support. 
• Learn other departments' priorities and connect climate goals to their objectives. 
• Break down climate silos—show how climate work supports planning, engineering, finance, parks, and emergency management. 
• Use natural assets and green infrastructure as relatable entry points. 
• Review council priorities and strategic plans to understand decision-making drivers. 
• Invest time in relationship-building, viewing it as a core part of the work rather than an extra task. 

Examples Shared by Participants 

Successful approaches included: 

• Building trust with other departments before introducing climate initiatives. 
• Leading with curiosity and asking colleagues about their priorities. 
• Creating internal peer-learning groups and cross-department conversations. 
• Framing climate adaptation as helping departments achieve existing goals rather than creating new work. 

Resource: FCM/GMF Tip sheet: Start building council momentum for climate adaptation  

Jen Grebeldinger, Community Energy Association 

City of Victoria 

• Relationship-building was critical for climate adaptation planning.
• Focused on trust and supporting department priorities. 
• Adaptation actions were developed collaboratively with implementing departments. 
• Internal municipal conversations differ significantly from public communications. 

CRD 

• Effective approach: curiosity and humility. 
• Climate work often overlaps with initiatives already underway in other departments. 
• Relationship-building took over a year but eventually led to strong participation across departments. 
• Internal peer-learning sessions helped strengthen adaptation engagement. 

Finance departments are often one of the most important internal allies because they influence budgeting, spending priorities, and council decision-making. Climate staff are more likely to gain support when climate initiatives are framed as financial risk, asset management, and resilience issues, rather than standalone environmental projects. 

Main Points 

1. Speak the Language of Finance 

Finance staff are focused on: 

• Predictability and stability. 
• Managing risk. 
• Maintaining service levels. 
• Avoiding unexpected costs. 
• Long-term financial sustainability. 

Climate initiatives are more compelling when framed as protecting municipal assets, reducing future costs, and maintaining reliable services. 

2. Climate Risk is Financial Risk 

Climate impacts can lead to: 

• Infrastructure damage. 
• Increased operating costs. 
• Insurance challenges. 
• Reduced property values. 
• Legal liability. 
• Greater pressure on municipal budgets. 

Because of this, climate adaptation should be treated as a core municipal responsibility, not an optional program. 

3. Funding and Borrowing Realities 

• Senior government funding is becoming less reliable. 
• Municipalities will likely need to rely more on borrowing and long-term financial planning. 
• Borrowing should be viewed as a tool for maintaining critical infrastructure and supporting intergenerational equity. 

4. New Opportunities for Climate Staff 

Upcoming climate-related financial disclosure requirements will require finance departments to better understand climate risks. Climate practitioners can become valuable partners by helping finance teams: 

• Assess risks. 
• Understand financial implications. 
• Meet reporting requirements. 

5. Asset Management and Liability 

Municipalities are increasingly expected to: 

• Understand climate hazards. 
• Incorporate them into planning and asset management. 
• Demonstrate progress on risk reduction. 

Ignoring known risks may increase legal and financial exposure, while strong asset management plans can help reduce liability. 

Resource: Free training opportunities from Asset Management BC  

Q: Are there examples of communities successfully protecting themselves from long-term financial climate risk? 

• Asset management reporting is improving. 
• Better financial-health data is becoming available. 
• More work is still needed to assess overall municipal resilience province-wide. 

Q: How can municipalities communicate the importance of planning restrictions and risk-based land-use decisions? 

• Planning controls exist to reduce future climate and financial risk. 
• Public resistance often overlooks long-term liability concerns. 
• Stronger alignment between planners, finance staff, and risk managers can improve messaging. 

Disaster Financial Assistance & Insurance 

• DFA rules are changing. 
• Repeat losses may no longer be covered. 
• Insurance costs and exclusions are increasing. 
• National flood insurance remains unresolved. 
• Municipal liability risks are growing if known hazards are ignored. 
• Example: Abbotsford atmospheric river impacts in 2021. 
• Class-action lawsuits followed, while properties with flood-risk covenants on title were better protected from legal claims against the municipality. 
• The case demonstrates why municipalities need proactive hazard mapping, asset management, and adaptation planning.  
• As disaster assistance and insurance coverage become more limited, communities that fail to address known risks may face increased liability and financial exposure. 
• Need to build risk literacy and buy-in early, before a funding ask or crisis occurs. 

Borrowing and Asset Management 

• Why are municipalities reluctant to borrow? 
• How can borrowing be normalized? 
• Borrowing is politically sensitive due to referendums and public approval processes. 
• Legislative changes have eased borrowing requirements. 
• Municipalities may need to become more comfortable borrowing for essential infrastructure. 
• Borrowing supports intergenerational equity because future users help pay for long-life assets. 

Thermal safety offerings 

• Deep dive on July 29, hosted by Retrofit Peer Network 
• Topics: 
• Thermal safety 
• City of New Westminster cooling bylaw 
• Condo cooling resources 
• Register here  
• Thermal safety cohort coming soon 

Share your feedback on ClimateReadyBC 

• The Green Communities Committee is looking for input from local authority staff across B.C. to help improve the site—what’s useful, where there are gaps, and how to better support this work. 
• Please complete the survey by September 30, 2026. 

Climate & Energy Action Awards 

• New category this year: Climate & Action Champion Award (for those from CEA member organizations) 
• Deadline for nominating a project or individual is July 13 at 11:59 am Pacific Time 
• Visit our website for more details 

Sea Level Rise and Coastal Resilience Cohort 

• A free, 6 session peer learning cohort over 6 months starting in late July for BC Coastal Communities aiming to move forward on coastal resilience action 
• Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange from coastal local communities on topics including Flood Construction Level adoption, and navigating technical and procedural barriers of coastal resilience plan implementation   
• Interested? Please reach out to Mark at mcastonguay@communityenergy.ca  
• For more details, please see this info sheet 

Mark Castonguay, Community Energy Association 

Groups discussed the opportunity of having an in-person TOCAN meeting. To make this worthwhile for participants and to justify the need for travel, the following was suggested: 

• Meeting scope: Action-oriented training, regional collaboration opportunities and/or peer learning presentations and knowledge sharing (e.g. “turnkey” projects or policies others could adopt) with a networking component 
• Potential to combine with:  
  • Provincial roadshows 
  • Emergency preparedness workshops 
  • Youth Climate Corps gatherings 
• Timing: Could schedule after budget submissions 

• EMCR is developing guidance to accompany new legislation and regulations. 
• Target completion: January 2027 
• Initial material may be shared at UBCM. 
• Local governments will be consulted through future feedback channels. 
• Important Caveat: 
  • Guidance will likely remain high level. 
  • Many detailed implementation questions may not be answered. 
  • Additional supporting resources are being considered. 

Kelly MacDonald, Community Health Facilitator at Interior Health, shared key findings from their recent report on Climate Event and Emergency Preparedness, which was a collaborative project with SPARC BC and People in Motion. 

Project Description 

• Engaged equity-deserving groups (seniors, people with disabilities, newcomers, Indigenous peoples, low-income residents, etc.) in Kamloops to understand their lived experiences during climate emergencies. 8 facilitated groups (6-10 participants each) from 10 organizations were engaged. 
• By learning what’s working well and where barriers still exist for those at risk, they can then design supports specifically for equity-deserving groups. 

Main Findings 

• Communication 
  • Participants actively seek out information, but it is often unclear, inconsistent, and difficult to access.  
  • Biggest issue was clarity and coordination, not awareness. 
• Housing, health and physical safety  
  • Housing quality strongly affects resilience. 
  • Evacuation barriers included transportation, mobility needs, medical requirements, and pets/service animals. 
• Community capacity 
  • Informal neighbour check-ins, nonprofits, cooling centres, and community organizations were critical. 
  • Gaps: centralized services are difficult to access at the neighbourhood level. 
  • Better coordination between agencies and governments is needed. 

Key Recommendation 

• Emergency preparedness and response must be tailored to vulnerable populations rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. 

Results were shared back to participating organizations to support informed decision making. Raw data was also shared with SPARC BC for a Provincial project.  

View presentation slides 

Can the report be shared? 

• Yes. The report is de-identified so it can be shared for learning purposes. 

How should local governments apply these findings? 

1. Before Emergencies: Support vulnerable residents in preparing, taking into accounts factors such as mobility challenges, vision impairments, medical needs, and housing limitations. 
2. During Planning: Move beyond generic vulnerability assessments. Plan specifically for people most at risk. 

What did the flexible funding model look like? 

• Rather than only seeking climate grants, look for funding targeting populations such as seniors, people with disabilities and equity-deserving groups, then apply those funds to climate preparedness initiatives. 

Kristi Rintoul, Senior Director of Community Impact and Investment presented on United Way BC’s emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and long-term resilience building. 

Programs & Resources 

• Social Sector Activation Guide for organizing nonprofits before emergencies.  
  • United Way maintains a Social Response Task Force contact list that they can reach out to during an emergency, upon requests from the ESS and in close coordination with the Canadian Red Cross. 
• Appeals can be activated via their fundraising team. 
• 211 Service:  
  • 10,000+ verified resources 
  • Available by phone, text, and online 
  • Translation support in 240+ languages 
• Recovery: Community-led mental health programs, gathering ceremonies, programs in schools. 
• Resilience building: Hi Neighbour program to reduce social isolation is run by community champions. Small funding amounts available to individuals through Local Love Funds & Community Impact Grants. 
• Emergency Response preparedness guides for seniors and for vulnerable populations. 

How can communities promote 211 more effectively? 

• Share it regularly, including within emergency preparedness messaging - 211 operators know where to send people during evacuations.  
• Submit missing community resources to strengthen the database. 
• Promote texting as a confidential option. 

City of Kelowna’s bylaw changes stem from a recommendation from the Climate Resilient Kelowna Strategy and aim to mitigate wildfire risk, improve plant health and stormwater retention in new developments, and to build more energy efficient buildings. 

Wildfire Risk Mitigation 

• FireSmart landscaping requirements:  
  • High-risk coniferous shrubs are not permitted within 10m 
  • Ignition-resistant landscaping near structures (1.5m zone) 
    • E.g., low-growing non-coniferous groundcover, mineral soil, composted mulch, rock mulch 
  • Wood and vinyl fencing not permitted within 1.4m 

Urban Heat Risk 

• More flexibility for tree placement throughout developments 
• Increased soil depth requirements to support healthy vegetation and shade 

Energy Efficiency (in buildings requiring a development permit, e.g. multi-family) 

• Simplified building forms by reducing some step-back requirements 
• Supports lower-energy, higher-performance buildings 

Status 

• Amendments approved by Council and moving toward implementation following a developer feedback period 
• Promoting FireSmart BC’s free landscaping course  
• Working with Okanagan Xeriscape Association to update local plant lists for the Interior 

Have the amendments been approved and how has the development community received them? 

• Council approved them and a six-month industry engagement period is underway. 

The challenge of balancing FireSmart objectives and WaterSmart landscaping was highlighted. The project intentionally integrates both goals rather than treating them as opposing approaches. 

What gaps exist in your community's emergency preparedness or resilience planning? Are there organizations in your community that can potentially support you in creating a robust, equitable engagement process? 

• Reaching everyone effectively: Not everyone uses smartphones, so alert systems alone are insufficient.  
• DIY air purifier workshops need to be easy and accessible, working with community partners and using diverse communications such as radio ads, service announcements, social posts, and city information booths to reach those who will most benefit. 
• Central Okanagan Response Taskforce (UWBC), working with EOC on how to support individuals experiencing homelessness during evacuations. 
• UWBC has hired community champions in Kelowna, Kamloops and Central Okanagan.  
• Many nonprofits need emergency plans, training, preparedness support. 
• Rental cooling requirements: 
  • Referenced New Westminster cooling bylaw 
  • A notice of motion was put forward in Kamloops, inspired by City of New Westminster 
  • Are other TOCAN communities exploring policy responses related to the right to cool in rental housing? 

General Updates 

• Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc and City of Kamloops have submitted a funding application to FCM to co-develop an adaptation plan. 
• RDCO shared progress on the Regional Climate Resilience Strategy: 
  • 55 actions identified 
  • Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment completed 
  • Equity integrated as an evaluation criterion 
  • Need for stronger emergency planning among service providers 
• Aboriginal Housing Management Association, in partnership with BC Nonprofit Housing Association and BC Housing, is offering a free online learning event on fire preparedness and emergency response (open to the public).

CEA updates 

• Thermal Safety Deep Dive on July 29, hosted by Retrofit Peer Network 
• Topics: 
  • City of New Westminster cooling bylaw 
  • Condo cooling resources 
  • Announcing a thermal safety cohort 
• Please register here  

Share your feedback on ClimateReadyBC 

• The Green Communities Committee is looking for input from local authority staff across BC to help improve the site—what’s useful, where there are gaps, and how to better support this work. 
• Please complete the survey by September 30, 2026. 

Climate & Energy Action Awards 

• New category this year: Climate & Action Champion Award (for those from CEA member organizations) 
• Deadline for nominating a project or individual is July 13 at 11:59 am Pacific Time 
• Visit our website for more details  

• Participants noted that climate adaptation work is spread across many departments (e.g., wildfire risk reduction, engineering, flood mitigation, natural assets), not just sustainability or climate teams, raising questions about how sustainability roles should support coordination and oversight.
• Highlighted that organizational change management is increasingly essential because adaptation must be an organization-wide and coordinated effort
• Participants discussed how newer disaster and emergency management legislation can create overlapping responsibilities and confusion, making clearer internal frameworks more important.
• It was observed that municipalities vary widely in how well they manage cross-department roles, influenced by local culture, relationships, staff tenure, and evolving job scopes.
• Noted that capacity constraints in communities facing frequent emergencies sometimes hamper long-term planning and change efforts tend to work better when supported by a senior-level champion with authority; a future session featuring an external change management speaker was suggested.

• The University of Waterloo’s new Municipal Climate Adaptation Certificate (reduced fees for local governments, free for Indigenous staff).
• Natural Assets Initiative workshops and their multistep “roadmap planning” offering (EOIs open).
• Asset Management BC workshops integrating adaptation into broader planning.
• The CoNext cohort program successfully completed year 2 and year 3 is being planned – stay tuned.
• CEA’s own first pilot adaptation cohorts have completed, and supported 11 communities in defining adaptation priorities, roles, and focus areas.

• Participated while supporting several small, rural, and remote First Nations and municipalities; the cohort landed at a key moment during a long wait for LLCA grant decisions.
• Noted common barriers for small communities: limited staff capacity, webinar fatigue, pressure to move quickly, and administrative friction (reimbursement models, portals/MFA, and bureaucracy).
• Found the cohort useful for building adaptation literacy, getting oriented to practical resources, and using the “waiting period” to plan implementation steps more operationally, including stronger understanding of monitoring and evaluation.
• Shared a regional adaptation delivery model where multiple small communities collaborate through a regional body to map existing initiatives, avoid creating “new work,” coordinate funding applications, and co-design realistic next steps with shared staffing.
• Plans focus on advancing the regional approach (pooling community funds to hire shared planning capacity, supported by a steering structure), while continuing to advocate for funding models that better match process-based projects and reduce reimbursement burdens.

• Reflected that cohort participation was strengthened by having two staff join from different departments (engineering and climate/policy), improving internal coordination and bringing complementary perspectives.
• Highlighted the value of structured toolkits/workbooks and curated resources that kept discussions practical and focused.
• Pointed to monitoring and evaluation content as especially useful and directly applicable to their adaptation planning work, alongside learning from peers at different stages. Appreciated tailored support (including one-on-one facilitation) to shape cohort sessions around participant needs.
• Next steps include completing the municipality’s adaptation and resilience plan, continuing flood resilience communication and funding planning, and further integrating green infrastructure and nature-based approaches, while navigating long-term shoreline asset funding constraints and regulator/engineering alignment through hybrid solutions.

• Adaptation Planning Roadmap Cohort – for communities needing clarity and internal alignment on next steps in adaptation planning.
• Preparing for a Climate Risk Assessment Cohort – to help participants create a draft scope of work suitable for an RFP or internal project charter.

Each cohort includes five 2-hour sessions (March–June), light between-session work, and 1:1 coaching. Cross-department participation is encouraged. Previewed future potential cohorts:

• Community activation
• Adaptation project incubator
• Integrating emergency management and climate adaptation
• Integrating adaptation into other planning processes (e.g., OCPs, asset management, transportation, etc.)

• The provincial Disaster & Climate Risk & Resilience Assessment (DCRRA) was released in fall 2025, and the next step is a regulation expected by mid 2026, effective January 1, 2027.
• Detailed guidance is still under development and feedback from the peer network will be sought in the coming months.
• EDMA obligations but that a regional risk assessment can satisfy municipal requirements if municipalities participate and are fully represented. Forthcoming guidance will have more details on this and other topics.

• Described purpose and impact of Gwen Bridge’s “Trajectory of Awesomeness” training series (January – February 2026)
• Training was open to all peer networks, resulting in 95 registrants, strong engagement across BC, and meaningful participation from other sectors and even outside BC.
• Training emphasized showing up authentically, relationship building, and transformative approaches to cross-cultural engagement
• Recurring message about presence, ethical space, values, and principles-based engagement.
• Learnings on recognizing value systems and how colonial structures shape priorities; taking responsibility for personal and organizational reflection
• CEA to embed key concepts into future facilitation and peer network spaces
• Participants encouraged to schedule reflective time and share resources with colleagues

Two resources were shared:

• Truth & Reconciliation: In Practice | Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
• Exploring Ethical Space: Land-based reconciliation in the Y2Y geography - Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

• Valued discussions on data governance, cultural awareness, unconscious bias, and ethical space; emphasized trust-building and respect in relationships.
• The workshop reduced fear of “doing it wrong,” encouraged purposeful engagement, and provided tools to assess organizational readiness for reconciliation.
• Highlighted insights on prioritizing traditional ecological knowledge, reframing decision-making structures, and valuing storytelling as a planning tool.
• Continuous practice and revisiting lessons is essential.

Welcome 

• Breakout rooms: Prompt question – “Have you ever used an EV for something other than driving?”  

• What brought you here today? Common themes: V2G technology, fleet applications, lessons learned.  
• Opportunities for V2X in your community? Responses: emergency power, household resilience, revenue during peak demand, fleet integration.  

Ruth Greene, CEA 

• Presentation Slides: https://docs.communityenergy.ca/wp-content/uploads/EMPN_RSPN_BC_Hydro_V2X_Slides_251210.pdf  
• V2X Resource Page: https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/electric-vehicles/owning-buying-ev/vehicle-to-everything.html 

• Electric schools buses for mobile power pilot news release: https://www.bchydro.com/news/press_centre/news_releases/2025/everything-electric-v2g.html  

• Report Link: https://sustain.ubc.ca/sites/default/files/2025-022_Energy%20Sharing%20Opportunities%20V2B%20%26%20V2G_Walgama.pdf 

1:30:10 

• Next steps after today? Responses: regulatory research, fleet scans, IT/cybersecurity considerations, information sharing.  

• The province’s 2019 Preliminary Strategic Climate Risk Assessment 
• Need for better First Nations engagement, communication, and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge 

Recognize the contributions of: 

• First Nations Climate Adaptation Working Group 
• First Nations Committee on Disaster & Climate Risk 
• Indigenous artists and storytellers whose work enriched the report 

Historical context leading to DCRRA: 

• 1997 Provincial HRVA (last multi-hazard assessment) 
• 2018 adoption of UN Sendai Framework, Auditor General report, 2017 flood/wildfire review 
• 2022 creation of EMCR and mandate letters requiring an integrated climate & disaster risk assessment 

Mandate & Pillars 

• Required to complete a provincial-scale, integrated disaster and climate risk assessment. 
• Guiding pillars: 
  • Collaboration with First Nations 
  • Inclusion of equity considerations 
  • Centering diverse knowledge systems 
  • Supporting communities with actionable tools 

Assessment Design 

• A wide and shallow provincial assessment to support future deeper local work. 
• Core framing question: “How do hazards impact what we value?” 
• Hazards assessed: 
  • Coastal flood 
  • Riverine flood 
  • Extreme heat 
  • Drought & water scarcity 
  • Wildfire 
  • Earthquake 
  • Plus one multi-hazard scenario 
• Six value areas: 
  • Built environment 
  • Natural environment 
  • Governance 
  • Economy 
  • Health & well-being 
  • Society, cultures & relationality 

Working Group Structure 

• Hazard working groups, value working groups, climate advisory group, quantitative geospatial analysis team, and an EDI team. 
• Extensive participation from local governments, First Nations, academia, NGOs, and provincial agencies. 

Methodology Components 

• Extreme event scenario narratives 
• Climate influence integrated across all chapters 
• Quantitative exposure mapping 
• EDI analysis of disproportionate impacts 
• Collaboration with First Nations throughout design and implementation 

Key Learnings Shared 

• Risk assessments are values-based and require deliberate centering of what matters to communities. 
• Local & Indigenous knowledge is essential. 
• Systemic risk analysis is complex; assessments must meet people where they are. 
• Relationship-building is foundational. 
• Iteration and humility are necessary. 
• Build on existing knowledge, don’t reinvent. 

Products Released 

• Full technical report (800+ pages) 
• Executive summary 
• Policy-maker summary 
• Story map (public-facing) 
• Hazard Insights Tool (HIT): geospatial, downloadable exposure data 

Live Demo of Hazard Insights Tool 

• Shows: 
  • Navigation by hazard 
  • Exposure statistics 
  • Province-wide & regional district summaries 
  • Click-through metadata for each dataset 
  • Current vs. future climate comparisons (e.g., coastal flood to 2100) 
• Notes: 
  • Data is exposure only, not vulnerability or risk. 
  • Zoom limits prevent parcel-level misuse. 
  • Future layers and First Nations language group overlays coming. 

Audience Q&A 

Included topics such as: 

• How extreme heat layers are defined 
• Data caveats, especially around dikes & mitigation 
• Multi-hazard layering (planned, not yet deployed) 
• Risk disclosure obligations & communication challenges 
• Opportunities for future methodological webinars 

• Local authority regulation now projected for 2027, and will not be prescriptive. 
• Province will produce best-practice guidance, not strict templates. 
• Climate Ready BC will expand: 
  • Data hub overhaul 
  • Case study mapping 
  • Additional hazard pages (e.g., volcano, landslide, tsunami) 
• Ongoing related initiatives: 
  • Standardized hazard mapping with Engineers & Geoscientists BC 
  • Seismic microzonation mapping 
  • LIDAR-supported landslide work 
  • Extreme heat mapping guidance 
  • SPARCBC intersectional disadvantage research 
• Funding pathways: DRIF, CEPF, LGCAP. 

Culturally Safe Collaboration & Indigenous Knowledge 

Culturally safe collaboration is essential for future risk assessments under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA) and the forthcoming regulations: 

1. Regulatory Requirements 

• Future risk assessments must: 
  • Consult and cooperate with Indigenous governing bodies. 
  • Uphold Indigenous and local knowledge. 
  • Integrate considerations of intersectional disadvantage. 
• These requirements are intentionally non-prescriptive; instead, the Province aims to provide best-practice guidance rather than strict templates. 

2. Cultural Safety as the Foundation 

• Before engaging in technical risk work, practitioners must first establish culturally safe processes. 
• Cultural safety is described as the necessary groundwork for: 
  • Trust-building 
  • Respectful knowledge-sharing 
  • Meaningful, reciprocal relationships with Indigenous communities 
• This lesson has been reinforced through: 
  • The 2019 risk assessment 
  • The Climate Preparedness & Adaptation Strategy engagement 
  • The development of DCRRA itself 

3. Need for Practical Guidance 

• The Province plans to develop supportive materials for communities undertaking risk assessments. 
• However, they want the guidance to reflect what communities actually need. 
• The purpose of the breakout, therefore, is to ask participants directly: 
  • What would make such a resource useful? 
  • What questions or uncertainties do practitioners currently have? 
  • What examples, tools, or supports should be included? 

Travis Moore from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), provided an overview of the "Resilient Residential Retrofit" (R^3) research program to enhance climate resilience of existing residential buildings through retrofits. 

The R^3 program aims to: 

• Identify and de-risk retrofit strategies, with a focus on accessibility and affordability 
• Prioritize climate adaptation retrofit measures, especially in multi-hazard scenarios 
• Integrate climate-resilience into guidance, codes, and standards 

The areas of focus for R^3 include wildfire, wildfire some, extreme heat, flooding, extreme wind, and permafrost melt. 

A systematic approach is needed as most buildings may only get one opportunity for a major retrofit where resilience and GHG emissions reduction can be optimized. 

The NRC presented a systematic framework for assessing climate resilience retrofits, that includes: 

• Understanding the hazards, building/occupant vulnerabilities 
• Planning and evaluating adaptation measures, considering cost and decarbonization 
• Implementing the retrofits 
• Monitoring performance over time and documenting lessons learned 

Through this framework, complementary retrofit measures can be identified and evaluated for multi-hazard scenarios, eg. Increased airtightness and air filtration to address overheating and wildfire smoke. 

The NRC is interested in partnering on demonstration projects to further develop and apply this framework. 

Presentation slides 

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) has an aging, low-income building stock and faces climate hazards, including wildfire, flood, drought, extreme heat, extreme cold, and other sever weather events. 

The RDKB HomeSmart program offers free personalized guidance to residents, connecting them with contractors and energy advisors, and helping navigate rebates and loans. Resiliency considerations are integrated into the retrofit process, assessing hazard risks and outlining resilience benefits to align the retrofit strategy to address energy efficiency, wildfire, and extreme weather events. 

Since its launch in January 2024, the program has supported 260+ residents across the region to improve the energy efficiency and resilience of their homes and continues to explore further integration of resilience into retrofit programs and incentives. 

Presentation slides 

RDKB HomeSmart guide 

The City of Maple Ridge recently adopted their first climate action plan, Resilient Future 2050, which incorporates a low-carbon resilience approach. 

The Plan has 5 bold moves, focusing on actions directly within the municipality’s sphere of control and influence, including: 

• detailed mapping of extreme heat vulnerability, identifying high-risk neighborhoods, and prioritizing extreme heat management initiatives 
• advocating to the Province to incorporate resilience measures such as “right to cool” 
• incorporating a climate-ready, low-carbon resilience lens into City decision-making 
• establishing standards for new and retrofit municipal projects to encourage lower-carbon design and technologies 
• implementing Zero Carbon Step Code 
• developing a building retrofit strategy with associated targets for municipal and private retrofits that prioritizes extreme heat management, while also considering wildfire and flood resilience 
• identifying training needs and developing targeted training programs  
• developing a Green Building Renovation guide for more climate-ready homes and MURBs 
• preparing for energy benchmarking and building performance standards 
• identifying local suppliers/installers of high efficiency heat pump systems and renewable systems (e.g. Solar) 
• building community awareness of, and access to, retrofit resources and related funding opportunities

Presentation slides 

The Province was aiming to incorporate Alterations to Existing Buildings Code requirements into the BC Building Code by this Fall, but that has been pushed back to Spring 2026. The delay is due to the national code development process and code language not being finalized yet. 

The focus remains on providing clearer, prescriptive guidance on energy efficiency upgrades when building components are replaced. 

The Province is not currently looking to go beyond the national code requirements to incorporate broader resilience measures but may consider early adoption if the national code addresses that in the future. 

Ecotrust Canada is a charity focused on energy and housing issues in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. Their work incorporates an equity and justice lens, and aims to integrate climate mitigation and adaptation, increasing household and community resilience. 

In particular, Ecotrust is advocating for policies to address heat safety and thermal comfort in existing rental housing, including "Right to cool" approaches to allow renters to install cooling/ventilation upgrades, and published a Thermal Safety policy backgrounder exploring local government tools to support thermal safety in existing buildings. 

Ecotrust is seeking support on their letter to the BC government, advocating for thermal safety: Letter Safe Temperatures in Rental Housing 2025 - Google Docs 

Please sign on by September 19th, 2025. 

• What are some climate hazards in your community/ region? 
• Extreme heat, wildfires and smoke, air quality, drought, extreme rainfall, sea level rise, flooding 
• What resiliency measures/ policies/ programs are you (planning on) implementing in your community? 
• Many communities are prioritizing cooling strategies, including cooling centres and misting stations, FireSmart, and retrofit programs to keep residents safe. 
• What opportunities are there to support your community to implement climate resilient retrofits? 
• Retrofit programs are seen as a gateway to resilience. Resilience is seen as a higher public priority than climate action alone, and co-benefits of energy retrofits can be leveraged for resilience. 
• Stronger marketing and community engagement is needed. 
• What support do you need? 
• Spaces (such as the Peer Network) to share updates and learnings; stronger links between climate action and resilience; consistent, proactive messaging; policy alignment; improve awareness and marketing of retrofit/ resilience programs. 

Next RPN meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 11th, 10am-12pm PT. Please register here.  

• Who you are, where you live, what you do 
• What’s something you achieved over the summer that you’re proud of? Can be work-related or not. 

Fraser Basin Council (FBC) is a 30-year-old non-profit focused on sustainability in BC. Key priorities include resilient communities, climate action, and healthy watersheds.  FBC established the Nechako Watershed Roundtable a decade ago to protect and improve the 27,000 sq km Nechako River watershed. It includes various governments, First Nations, and other partners. 

Fraser Basin Council: www.fraserbasin.bc.ca 

Nechako Watershed Roundtable: www.nechakowatershed.ca  

Dr. Dery introduced the Integrated Watershed Research Group (IWRG) at UNBC, which has been been studying the Nechako watershed for over a decade to understand the local impacts of climate change. Weather stations and 32 water temperature monitoring locations throughout the watershed have documented dramatic spikes in water temperatures during the 2021 heat dome and significant recent drought. 

Mr. Salewski introduced NEWSS as a community group working on salmon and sturgeon recovery in the Nechako Valley. Their work includes lake monitoring, collaborating with farmers/ranchers to monitor and restore streams on private agricultural lands, implementing “man-made” beaver dams to help rehydrate streams and restore habitat, and tagging and monitoring salmon fry to track migration and survival while also studying historical salmon populations with UNBC, First Nations, and government agencies. This work is especially critical in a time of drought. 

• Nechako Watershed Roundtable: funding, history, and current priorities (Kim)  
• Climate Monitoring and Research in the Nechako Watershed (Stephen)  
• Local action and water stewardship (Wayne)  

What would you say is the #1 water-related issue or priority in Northern BC? 

Drought: about 40% of responses 

Governance, or that water is a low priority for governments: about 30% of responses 

Water quality and health: about 25% of responses  

This two-day bus tour back in June brought participants to solar projects in four communities: 

Saulteau First Nations – community-wide residential solar program, 90% of homes now have solar 

Hudson's Hope – the largest municipal solar project in BC, saving close to $500k to date 

Fort St. John museum – installed solar to offset electricity costs and reinvest savings in staff and programming 

Mackenzie – using solar to help power a community arena and share heat throughout the facility 

Case studies, a summary webpage, and a video are all accessible from www.communityenergy.ca/northeast-bc-solar-projects-2025 

Funding support was provided by BC Hydro, Gott Energy, and Northern Development Initiative Trust 

Showcase of zero-emission fleet vehicles   

• Prince George, Oct 15: www.communityenergy.ca/event/fleet-forward-northern-bc-showcasing-zero-emission-fleet-vehicles 

Upcoming training in Northern BC on high-performance home-building 

• See sessions titled “From Plans to Performance”: www.communityenergy.ca/events 

New Resilience Peer Network funded by FCM and the Government of Canada. We’ll be exploring more points of intersection between NorthCAN and this new network.  

• Resilience Peer Network website: www.communityenergy.ca/rspn

What topics/themes would you like to see covered during NorthCAN meetings in 2026? 

Please email rvanadrichem@communityenergy.ca with suggestions. 

• This is a relaunch of the Resilience Peer Network, which will now be offering a variety of sessions including quarterly peer meetings, deep dives, and lunch & learns. 
• The goal is to provide a space for learning, connecting, and sharing among network members to meet their needs around advancing climate adaptation. 
• Each session will aim to co-create a resource that highlights key themes, insights, and resources discussed. 
• Equity and reconciliation considerations will be integrated throughout the work. 
• Participants are encouraged to actively contribute, ask questions, and share their experiences and challenges. 
• The meeting will start with community guidelines to set the tone for an inclusive and respectful discussion. 
• Introduction to the Kōrero AI Land Acknowledgement helper on native-land.ca  

• Disasters are not "natural"—they result from collective decisions about how and where we build, and the systems we establish and maintain. 
• Disasters affect people unequally due to underlying social, environmental, and built environment factors. 
• Risk is dynamic and changes over time, even for individuals. 
• The term “vulnerable populations” can be problematic—it’s important to recognize people's existing capacities and adopt an equity-centered approach that addresses systemic inequalities. 
• To address systemic risk, three main principles were proposed: 
• Avoid creating new risk. 
• Reduce existing risk. 
• Manage residual risk. 
• Emphasized the value of experimentation and the importance of being willing to “fail forward.” 
• Discussed the balance between confronting severe climate risks and recognizing community strengths and adaptive capacity. 
• Suggested that risk assessments should consider both immediate and slow-onset risks. 
• Highlighted the importance of grounding risk assessments in community values and risk tolerance. 
• Stressed the need to act with “enough” information instead of waiting for complete data, to avoid decision-making paralysis. 
• Discussed how to communicate the importance of experimentation and “failing forward” to leadership—suggesting the use of co-benefits and a call for brave leadership. 
• Underlined the need to integrate emergency management and climate adaptation efforts throughout organizations, avoiding silos. 
• Overall, emphasized that climate risks and disasters are systemic and complex, requiring integrated, collaborative, and innovative approaches. 

Ruth Midgley, Community Energy Association 

The activity was based on the GMF Climate Ready Communities Framework, which outlines three key pillars for climate adaptation: 

1. People, Partnerships, and Governance 

• This pillar focuses on building internal human and financial resources, as well as external collaboration with neighboring communities, Indigenous groups, regional governments, and community organizations. 
• It also involves getting council/leadership commitment and raising awareness/engagement internally and with the broader community. 

2. Risk and Adaptation Planning 

• This involves conducting climate risk and vulnerability assessments to identify key impacts and risks. 
• It then leads to the development of a climate adaptation plan, which can be integrated into existing plans or be a standalone document. 

3. Implementation and Integration 

• This final pillar is about actually putting the adaptation plan into action across the organization. 
• It includes monitoring, reviewing, and iterating on the plan over time. 

Participants were asked to first reflect on where their community/ organization currently sits on this adaptation pathway. They were encouraged to use sticky notes to mark their progress, and add context if needed. 

The next step was for the regional breakout groups to brainstorm 1-3 key goals or actions they want to focus on in the next 2-3 years to advance their adaptation work. This could involve anything from building partnerships, to conducting a risk assessment, to starting implementation of specific projects. 

The participants shared several insights from placing themselves on the adaptation pathway framework: 

• Many felt they were still in the early stages, with a lot of work to do across the different milestones. There was a sense of having resource and capacity constraints to really make progress. 
• Some were surprised to realize that emergency management and disaster risk reduction teams need to be integrated into the climate adaptation work, not siloed. There was a recognition that climate adaptation can't be the responsibility of just one department. 
• Participants expressed uncertainty about having all the necessary information and data to fully assess where they are. They would need to consult with others across their organization and community to get a more complete picture. 
• There was a common theme around the challenges of coordination - both internally across departments, and externally with partners and stakeholders. Integrating climate adaptation throughout an organization is difficult work. 
• Overall, the participants seemed to feel they were still in the early stages of their adaptation journey, with significant work ahead to build the necessary resources, relationships and processes. But there was also an acknowledgement that this will be an ongoing, iterative process without a clear endpoint. 

The groups were asked to identify what knowledge gaps, relationships, or other supports they would need in order to achieve those near-term goals. This feedback is intended to help shape the Resilience Peer Network's future programming and resources. 

A few common themes emerged from the group debrief: 

Goals and Actions: 

• Improving data and information sharing - both accessing better climate data/projections as well as sharing knowledge and best practices across communities 
• Integrating climate adaptation into official plans and policies (e.g. Official Community Plans, Emergency Plans) 
• Building cross-departmental and cross-organizational collaboration and alignment on adaptation 
• Increasing community engagement and public education around climate risks and preparedness 

Knowledge Gaps and Relationships: 

• Need for more technical expertise and guidance on conducting climate risk/vulnerability assessments and developing adaptation plans 
• Desire to learn from and connect with other communities facing similar challenges 
• Requirement for stronger relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities and community organizations 
• Lack of internal capacity and resources to dedicate to adaptation planning and implementation 

Participants expressed that having structured opportunities like the Resilience Peer Network to share learnings, access training, and build relationships would be very valuable in helping them make progress on their adaptation goals. 

Amanda Broad is the Manager for Disaster Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Policy and Practice at the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) in British Columbia. 

She provided an overview of some of the key resources and initiatives the ministry has been working on to support communities with disaster and climate risk: 

Climate Ready BC Website 

• This is intended to be a one-stop shop for disaster and climate risk information, with new resources added monthly. 
• It includes a resource catalog, hazard-specific portals (e.g. microzonation, landslides), and a calendar of relevant events. 
• The ministry is also doing a major UX refresh of the website to improve accessibility and usability. 

Guidance Documents 

• The Ministry of Health has released a "Risk to Resilience" report on the health impacts of climate change. 
• They've also put out new guidance documents for local governments and First Nations on integrating health and climate considerations. 
• EMCR is also soon releasing a best practices guide on extreme heat mapping, as well as a landslide mapping guidance document. 

Funding Programs 

• The Emergency Preparedness Fund and Disaster Resilience and Innovation Fund are open for applications. 
• EMCR is also working on new requirements for local governments and the province around disaster and climate risk assessments, as part of the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act. 

Indigenous Knowledge and Equity 

• EMCR is developing fact sheets on incorporating Indigenous knowledge and addressing intersectional disadvantage into risk assessments. 
• They've also funded research through the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions and the Social Planning and Research Council of BC on these topics. 

Amanda emphasized that EMCR is working hard to consolidate resources, provide guidance, and support funding to help communities across BC build their disaster and climate resilience. She encouraged participants to stay tuned for upcoming opportunities and resources. 

Dave Aharonian is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Climate Action Secretariat.  

Dave provided some additional context and updates from the Climate Action Secretariat (CAS) perspective: 

Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA) Requirements 

• Dave confirmed that the regulations for the new EDMA requirements for local authorities are still in development by EMCR. 
• The latest information is that the regulations may be released by the end of this calendar year. 
• However, Dave emphasized that local governments don't need to start working on these requirements yet, as guidance will be provided when the regulations are finalized. 

Provincial Disaster and Climate Risk Assessment 

• Dave noted that the provincial-level risk assessment update has been completed and will be released soon. 
• The next phase is regional-level assessments, which CAS and EMCR are still working to figure out the approach for. 
• Dave said there likely won't be much progress on the regional assessments this calendar year, as the focus has been on finishing the provincial report first. 
• However, these regional assessments are intended to help feed into and support local-level risk assessments down the road. 

Best Practices Guidebook 

• Dave highlighted that CAS has been working with Pinna Consulting to develop a "Best Practices Guidebook on Climate Action" for local governments and modern treaty nations in BC. 
• This guidebook is intended to provide guidance beyond just how to use the Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) funding, but more broadly on getting started with climate action. 
• The guidebook will cover both mitigation and adaptation/resilience, with those elements integrated throughout. 
• Dave expects the guidebook to be released in about a month's time. 

Dave acknowledged the feedback that communities need more capacity to actually implement climate action, rather than just more resources. But he believes this guidebook can still be a helpful addition to the suite of supports available. 

CoNext is a program that aims to provide training and support to help small, rural, and remote communities in British Columbia advance their climate adaptation and resilience planning. 

The core of the program is a 5-session adaptation training series that runs from September through January. Erica noted this is particularly targeted at communities that are in the earlier stages of climate adaptation work, or those where the expertise is concentrated in just one or two people. 

The key objectives of the CoNext program are: 

1. Provide an orientation to the landscape of climate adaptation resources and tools available. Erica acknowledged there are many resources out there, so CoNext aims to help curate and connect participants with the most relevant ones. 
2. Build adaptation planning capacity within a team. CoNext requires applicants to apply as a team of at least 3 people, which can include a mix of folks from within the organization as well as external partners like neighboring communities or First Nations. 
3. Offer customized facilitation and support. Each community team is paired with a dedicated facilitator who can help them navigate the training content and connect with appropriate resources. 

The training curriculum covers topics like understanding climate impacts, conducting risk assessments, adaptation planning, working with climate data, and communicating adaptation priorities. 

Erica emphasized the importance of this team-based, customized approach, rather than a one-size-fits-all training. The goal is to build durable, cross-organizational capacity within the participating communities. 

The CoNext program will be opening its next expression of interest process next week, with a deadline of July 11th. Erica encouraged interested communities to reach out if they have any questions about assembling their team or the application process. 

Ruth explained that in addition to the regular Resilience Peer Network meetings, the program will be offering two types of more intensive learning cohorts: 

Planning Cohorts: 

• These cohorts will be focused on helping communities work through the planning and assessment stages of adaptation. 
• Potential topics could include: 
• Assessing current state and building a roadmap forward 
• Guidance on conducting a climate risk and vulnerability assessment 
• Regional planning exercises (e.g. at a watershed scale) 
• Change management and organizational integration of adaptation 

Action Cohorts: 

• For communities that have progressed past the planning stage, these cohorts will support implementation and action. 
• Examples could include: 
• Co-creating a regional vision or project with other communities 
• Developing monitoring and progress tracking frameworks 
• Diving deep into specific project areas (e.g. urban forests for climate resilience) 

The key goals of these cohorts are to: 

• Provide more intensive, hands-on support and expert guidance 
• Enable peer-to-peer learning and collaboration between communities facing similar challenges 
• Help communities make tangible progress on their adaptation priorities 

Participants will have the option to join solo or bring a team from their organization/community. The time commitment would be around 4-6 sessions over 4-6 months, with coaching and support in between. 

Ruth emphasized that the cohorts will be designed based on the specific needs and interests expressed by the participating communities. An expression of interest form will be released in the next few days for communities to indicate their areas of focus and challenges. 

The cohorts are intended to complement the broader Resilience Peer Network programming, providing a more tailored and intensive learning experience for those communities ready to dive deeper into adaptation planning and implementation. 

• Why Emergency Management and Climate Resiliency has emerged as a ministry
• How government agencies work together
• Sendai framework
• Regulations & EDMA

• Local government role
• Risk assessments - scale and framework
• ClimateReadyBC.ca
• Climate Grief