GUELPH,
ON, May 3, 2023 /CNW/ - This weekend and
throughout the summer months, communities across Canada will come together to better prepare
their homes, properties, and public spaces against the threat of
wildland fire.
Saturday, May 6, is Wildfire
Community Preparedness Day, an annual initiative of
FireSmartTM Canada and
its partners, Co-operators, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss
Reduction, and the National Fire Protection Association.
This year, more communities than ever have been awarded a
$500 grant to be used towards
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day projects and events--a
demonstration of the growing urgency to better prepare and take
action against the threat of wildland fire.
Since 2015, 975 communities--including 230 communities across 10
provinces and two territories in 2023--have received an award to
raise awareness of wildfire risk and increase their community's
resilience.
"Our lifestyles are expanding more than ever into forested and
grassland areas, which means that we all must learn to become more
resilient to the threat of wildland fire. This is what FireSmart is
all about," says FireSmart Canada Director, Ray Ault. "Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
is a great way for communities to start implementing FireSmart
principles in their neighbourhoods and develop long-term
prevention and mitigation strategies."
FireSmart Canada's longstanding partners support Wildfire
Community Preparedness Day through funding, logistics, promotion,
and diverse perspectives that help in the development of strategies
and initiatives.
"As a founding member, we are extremely proud of Wildfire
Community Preparedness Day and its continued growth over the last
eight years," says Maya Milardovic,
Associate Vice President of Government Relations at Co-operators.
"As an insurer, we see first-hand the devastating impacts of
wildfire on people's property, businesses, and mental health, so we
are thrilled more communities than ever before will have the
opportunity to better prepare, prevent and protect themselves
against wildfire risks."
Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is for everyone, and we
encourage families, individuals and community groups to participate
by learning about FireSmart principles and taking simple but
effective actions around their homes and properties to reduce their
wildfire risk.
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
$58.2 billion in assets under
administration. Co-operators has been providing trusted
guidance to Canadians for the past 78 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. For more information,
please visit www.cooperators.ca.
About NFPA
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global
not-for-profit organization, established in 1896, devoted to
eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire,
electrical and related hazards. NFPA delivers information and
knowledge through codes and standards, research, training,
education, outreach and advocacy, and by partnering with others who
share an interest in furthering our mission. NFPA's mission is to
help save lives and reduce loss with information, knowledge and
passion. Wildfire Community Preparedness Day is based on or adapted
from materials provided and owned by the National Fire Protection
Association. For more information visit www.nfpa.org
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
For more information:
Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre Media
Relations
media@ciffc.ca
Co-operators Media Relations
media@cooperators.ca
FireSmart, Intelli-feu and other associated Marks are
trademarks of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire
Centre.
SOURCE The Co-operators Group Limited