Press Release
Sept. 20, 2020
VICTORIA – Local, regional, and Indigenous governments in communities throughout the province have been approved to receive their share of up to $3.4 million in provincial Community Emergency Preparedness Funds (CEPF), while an additional $14.5 million from the CEPF is being allocated to new project intakes over the next several months.
“The Province will continue to support our communities as we work to keep British Columbians prepared from the threat of emergencies,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund supports the projects that municipalities and First Nations have identified as necessary to keep their communities safe, so it’s an excellent example of how we are effectively working together to improve public safety and resilience throughout B.C.”
The CEPF is a suite of programs designed to enhance the resiliency of local governments, First Nations communities and their residents. The Province provides the funding, which is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities. Recent CEPF approvals include:
The current funding for flood-risk assessments, mapping and mitigation planning will be released to communities that have highly ranked projects from the most recent intake that was oversubscribed. The funding for Indigenous cultural safety and cultural humility training has already been allocated to communities.
The cultural safety and cultural humility CEPF stream supports eligible applicants to provide emergency management personnel with training to more effectively partner with and assist Indigenous communities during times of emergency. This includes increasing opportunities to educate emergency management personnel, emergency management professionals in training, and others working in the emergency management system on the history of Indigenous peoples, as well as the concepts of cultural safety, cultural humility and its importance to Indigenous peoples.
“We learned many lessons during the unprecedented wildfire and flooding seasons in 2017 and 2018, including the importance of working together to improve emergency services for First Nations communities,” said Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness. “We’ve worked hard as a government to make sure communities are prepared for emergencies, and this funding has been a key part of that effort.”
For future intakes of the CEPF, the Province is also announcing the allocation of the remainder of available funding, which includes:
Since the September 2017 Budget update, communities and governments around B.C. have received more than $52 million through the CEPF. The successful applicants for the latest round of funding hail from every corner of B.C.
A backgrounder on the recipients of funding through the Indigenous cultural safety and cultural humility training stream follows.
Contact:
Jordan Turner
Media Relations
Emergency Management BC
250 952-5062
BACKGROUNDER
Proposals approved for CEPF projects
21 proposals for Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
Bulkley-Nechako Regional District – Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training at NESST Conference
Total approved funding: $8,741.06
Central Coast Regional District – Regional Central Coast Cultural Competency Training Project
Total approved funding: $49,967.50
Delta – Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training Project for Emergency Services
Total approved funding: $25,000
Doig River First Nation – Cultural Safety and Humility Training Pilot Project
Total approved funding: $25,000
East Kootenay Regional District – East Kootenay Emergency Program Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training
Total approved funding: $25,000
Gitxaala Nation – Gitxaala 2030: Cultural Safety in Emergency Services
Total approved funding: $25,000
Halalt First Nation – Cultural Safety and Humility Training
Total approved funding: $24,475
Kitimat – Emergency Management Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Training
Total approved funding: $6,875
Metchosin – Bridging of Emergency Preparedness with Cultural Awareness
Total approved funding: $23,650
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality – Indigenous Cultural Humility and Cultural Safety Training
Total approved funding: $22,000
Pemberton – Improving Our Cultural Competency: Cultural Training for EOC Staff and Fire Rescue
Total approved funding: $14,500
Penticton Indian Band – Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
Total approved funding: $25,000
qathet Regional District – qathet RD and Tla’amin Nation Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Training
Total approved funding: $25,000
Skawahlook First Nation – Historical Impacts Training for Emergency Response Personnel
Total approved funding: $23,067
Squamish – Indigenous Cultural Safety and Humility Training for Emergency Personnel
Total Approved Funding: $25,000
Stz’uminus First Nation – Cultural Awareness as Emergency Preparedness
Total approved funding: $24,420
Tl’azt’en Nation – Preparing for Tomorrow
Total approved funding: $25,000
Tsilhqot’in National Government – Regional Tsilhqot’in Nation Cultural Safety and Humility Program
Total approved funding: $125,440
Vernon – Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training Project for Emergency Services
Total approved funding: $25,000
We Wai Kai First Nation – Regional Ligwilda’xw and Kwakwaka’wakw Teachings for Culturally Aware Emergency Care
Total approved funding: $125,000
Whistler – Indigenous Cultural Safety Training for Emergency Management Personnel
Total approved funding: $16,138
Contact:
Jordan Turner
Media Relations
Emergency Management BC
250 952-5062
IHT5