GUELPH,
ON, April 30, 2024 /CNW/ - This Saturday, May 4, 2024, residents across
Canada will participate in
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, an annual initiative that
encourages residents to take proactive steps to better prepare
their homes and neighbourhoods against wildland fire.
Each year, neighbourhoods and community groups apply to receive
a $500 award to organize local
projects and events that increase awareness of wildland fire risk
and enhance community resilience. This award is sponsored by
FireSmartTM Canada and
its funding partners, Co‑operators Ltd., the Institute for
Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), and the provincial and
territorial wildland fire management agencies.
This year, FireSmart Canada and its partners are thrilled to
award 378 neighbourhoods in 10 provinces and two territories—165
more than the year before.
In the aftermath of the 2023 wildland fire season, that
significantly impacted families, neighbourhoods and entire
communities across Canada, the
urgency to bolster wildland fire preparedness has never been more
pronounced.
"Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a pivotal first
step for neighborhoods to increase their resilience to wildland
fire," said Lisa Walker, director of
partnerships and resiliency at the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire
Centre. "By implementing FireSmart principles, communities can lay
the foundation for long-term prevention and mitigation strategies,
ensuring they are better prepared against the threat of wildland
fire."
"We are thrilled to see Wildfire Community Preparedness Day grow
exponentially since its inception in 2015," said Maya Milardovic, associate vice-president of
government relations for Co‑operators. "As a founding member and
insurer, we recognize the need for raising wildfire mitigation
awareness across Canada and
supporting communities with incentives, including the Wildfire
Community Preparedness Day awards and our FireSmart discount. With
wildfire severity continuing to increase year after year, it is
more important than ever to empower families to prepare for
wildfires and protect themselves against risks."
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is a call to action for all.
Families, individuals, and community groups are urged to
participate and learn more about FireSmart principles to better
prepare themselves and their communities. Wildfire Community
Preparedness Day began in the United
States and was developed by the National Fire Protection
Association™ (NFPA™), with which FireSmart Canada continues to work
with today on this and other initiatives.
To learn more about Wildfire Community Preparedness Day,
wildland fire resilience and FireSmart initiatives, visit
www.firesmartcanada.ca
About
FireSmartTM Canada
FireSmart Canada™ is a program committed to helping Canadians
reduce their wildland fire risk and become resilient to
wildland fire through community-based solutions. Through
publications, programs, outreach training, and workshops, FireSmart
Canada provides tools for Canadians to be pro-active in preparing
their homes, properties and neighborhoods for the threat of
wildland fire. FireSmart Canada operates under a mandate from the
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, and is supported by
federal, provincial, and territorial wildland fire management
agencies and partners with municipal governments and the private
sector. For more information visit www.firesmartcanada.ca
About Co‑operators
Co‑operators is a leading Canadian financial services co-operative,
offering multi-line insurance and investment products, services,
and personalized advice to help Canadians build their financial
strength and security. Co‑operators has more than $62 billion in assets under administration.
Co‑operators has been providing trusted guidance to Canadians for
the past 79 years. The organization is well known for its community
involvement and its commitment to sustainability. Achieving carbon
neutral equivalency in 2020, the organization is committed to
net-zero emissions in its operations and investments by 2040, and
2050, respectively. Co‑operators is also ranked as a Corporate
Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizen in Canada. www.cooperators.ca
About ICLR
Established in 1998 by Canada's property
and casualty insurers, ICLR is an independent, not-for-profit
research institute based in Toronto and at the University of
Western Ontario in London, Canada.
ICLR is a centre of excellence for disaster loss prevention
research and education. ICLR's research staff is internationally
recognized for pioneering work in a number of fields including wind
and seismic engineering, atmospheric sciences, water resources
engineering and economics. Multi-disciplined research is a
foundation for ICLR's work to build communities more resilient to
disasters. Visit www.iclr.org
About NFPA
Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global self-funded non-profit
organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and
economic loss due to fire, electrical and related hazards. The
association delivers information and knowledge through more than
300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education,
outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an
interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information,
visit www.nfpa.org
Media contacts:
Jennifer Kamau
Communications Manager
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre
Jennifer.kamau@ciffc.ca
Co-operators Media Relations
media@cooperators.ca
SOURCE The Co-operators Group Limited