B.C. strengthens community preparedness for climate-related disasters

First Nations and local governments throughout B.C. will benefit from funding to help strengthen resilience against climate-related hazards, such as flooding, drought, wildfires and heat.

“With the severe flooding, drought and wildfires we’ve experienced recently, we are seeing direct impacts of climate change here in B.C.,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness. “We’re investing in mitigation projects across the province so we can reduce the risk of disasters when they happen. These projects will help communities better protect themselves against climate-related events and increase their resilience in the long run to keep people across B.C safer.”

The Province is providing more than $44 million through the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund (CEPF), which will go to more than 70 projects in 63 communities under the Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation program stream. These investments also support the Province’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, which outlines a broad range of actions until 2025 to address climate impacts and build resilience across B.C. Funding may be used toward: risk mapping, risk assessments and planning (such as the development of a hazard map); land-use planning (amendments to relevant plans, bylaws or policies); purchasing equipment (such as monitoring equipment); delivering community education; and small-scale structural projects.

More than $1.76 million is being provided to the City of Grand Forks for a flood-mitigation project that includes channel excavation, installation of 82 fish habitat structures and planting 45,000 trees and shrubs along the channel banks and riparian area along the Kettle River.

“Natural assets – things like wetlands and riparian forests –have an enormous role to play in reducing our risk from natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires,” said Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen.

“It’s great to see the City of Grand Forks prioritizing investment into these natural assets, and our government is proud to support the city and other communities as they work to mitigate disaster risk.”

The Province’s investment is part of the larger North Ruckle floodplain naturalization and habitat offset project, which will reduce the risk of floods in the city. Approximately 3,000 Boundary-area residents were ordered to evacuate in May 2018 when the Kettle River overflowed its banks.

“Mitigation work completed in Grand Forks since the flood in 2018 has already proved itself fully during this year’s freshet season,” said Everett Baker, mayor of Grand Forks. “Restoring the floodplain will create important room for the river to flood and this funding will help us meet requirements to replace or restore habitats impacted by dike construction.”

Among the other projects throughout B.C. receiving funding from the CEPF program are: installing a waterline and reservoir that will reduce the impacts of drought on the community for the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, including reducing fire risk, as well as social, health, ecosystem and food system stress; completing a bank stabilization project that includes a headwall and pond at the outfall of a pipe along the Xget’tem’ Trail in Kamloops, which will prevent further erosion of the trail during rainfall; flood risk mitigation planning to help reduce runoff and unpredictable flow paths for the Giants Head Basin, as well as upgrading a spillway for the Isintok Dam to reduce the risk of dam failure during an extreme flooding event in the district of Summerland; risk-management practice and policy development for Nelson, including creating a framework for consistent, risk-informed decisions; Nelson’s 2019 hazard, risk and vulnerability analysis (HRVA) identified wildfire, severe weather and extreme weather including drought as the city’s top three hazards; raising the Mountview Dike alongside the Elk River to flood construction levels to prevent flooding in Fernie; and completing risk mapping, a risk assessment and a mitigation and response plan for Metchosin specific to shoreline erosion, flooding, drought implications and increasing storm severity. rs byrI qoVn leI vrkrF dI loV hY. rs byrI qoVn leI vrkrF dI loV hY. rs byrI qoVn dy cfh vrkr hyT idwqy nMbr qy kfl kr skdy hn. kMm hPqy dy swqy idn jfrI rhygf. byrI qoVn df smF 15/06/22 qoN 15/08/22 qwk df hY. Pfrm aYbtsPorz dy ivwc hI hY, Gr qoN isrP 10 imMt df smF lgdf hY. byrI ipkrF nUM rfeIz df pRbMD idwqf jfvygf. pymYNt df Bugqfn hr hPqy idwqf jfvygf. ryt iewk pONz df $1 zflr hovygf. kMm krn vfly hyT idwqy nMbr qy kfl kr skdy hn.

In February 2023, the Province provided $180 million to CEPF, bringing the total provincial investment in the program to $369 million since its establishment in 2017. More than $163 million has been provided to First Nations and local governments through CEPF for over 1,500 projects that help communities mitigate and prepare for disasters and climate-related emergencies. The CEPF is administered by the Union of BC Municipalities on behalf of the Province.

In response to the growing number of climaterelated emergencies in B.C., the Province also launched ClimateReadyBC, which provides hazard and mapping tools, risk data and resources to help communities better prepare for future disasters and climate emergencies.

Intake for the current Disaster Risk ReductionClimate Adaptation program stream is open until Oct. 6, 2023.

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Farm Workers Wanted

B & J Berry Farms Ltd. Requires 11 full-time employees in Abbotsford, BC. 40-70 hours/week $16.75/hour + possible bonuses. Piece rate if applicable. Duties include weeding, tying, pruning, harvesting, digging and other farm related duties, in all weather conditions.

Approx Started Date: December 15, 2023

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Sneaky ways to add protein to your diet

(NC) Found in staples like meat, eggs and legumes such as beans and lentils, protein helps build and repair muscle and tissue. The amount of protein you need varies from person to person, but the Canada Food Guide recommends that it makes up about one quarter of every meal and snack. Here’s how to get protein into every meal of the day – without relying on meat.

1. Go Greek

Thick and creamy Greek (or Balkan or Scandinavian style) yogurt typically has more protein than the average tub of traditional yogurt. It’s a great way to pack some staying power into breakfast. And there are plenty of vegan varieties if you’re dairy- free or lactose intolerant. Just avoid super-high fat content or extra sugar and additives whatever you choose. Top it with fresh fruit and granola or museli cereal for a complete meal, or use it in potato salads, dips and baked goods instead of mayo or oil to sneak in extra protein and reduce fat without losing out on taste or texture.

2. Roast chickpeas

Stick a sheet pan of drained and rinsed chickpeas in the oven at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for about 40 minutes. Give them a stir about halfway through and you’ll find they come out deliciously crispy. Use them to make summer salads a little more filling or snack on them by the handful. They are a naturally protein- and fibre-rich way to stop hunger pangs from striking. Before roasting, coat them in a teaspoon of oil and your favourite spices and herbs –maybe paprika and garlic salt or simply salt and pepper – so they pack a punch of satisfying flavour too.

3. Level up your bread

Adding peanut butter, cream cheese or a sliced egg to your toast is classic. But if you prefer plain buttered toast for breakfast, or want a meat-free way to add oomph to sandwiches, sprouted grain bread can be a great way to pack in natural protein without nut butter, dairy or eggs. Silver Hills Bakery’s Big 16 sprouted grain bread, for example, has a whopping 12 grams of plant-based protein to help keep your energy and focus steady throughout the day. Sprouting the grains makes more fibre and vitamins easily available to your body.