Five Island communities, including the Capital Regional District and Saanich Peninsula First Nations, will split $360,000 for projects to deal with extreme heat events.
The money is part of $1.9 million from the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund that will be shared among 36 B.C. communities.
The CRD will get $150,000 to help fund a mapping dashboard to provide up-to-date information on the most vulnerable areas in the region in extreme heat situations.
The heat dome in 2021, which drove temperatures in the region to a record 39.8 C on June 28, resulted in 18 heat-related deaths in the region between June 25 and July 1.
The Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tseycum and Tsawout First Nations will get $116,109 to study the risks of extreme heat.
Central Saanich and View Royal will get $30,000 each for risk studies.
Nanaimo will get a $30,000 grant for extreme heat risk mapping.
“Given the ongoing effects of climate change in B.C. and around the world, we need to ensure that we’re prepared to respond to extreme heat events now and in the future,” said Mike Farnworth, minister of Public Safety.
“This new funding will be critical in supporting communities to develop their own heat plans and to help protect people, the local environment and local economy from the risks posed by extreme heat.”
The $189-million fund is meant to complement the province’s Heat Alert and Response System that launched this year.
The system is designed to ensure First Nations and local governments have the tools to stay safe during extreme heat. In the event of a heat warning or extreme heat emergency, the provincial government and communities will act based on their individual heat plans and processes.
