2023 Alberta Wildfire Recovery and Resilience Program for Communities

From training and workshops to community preparedness initiatives, the Canadian Red Cross is pleased to be offering several programming options to support communities as they recover from the 2023 Alberta Wildfires.


Service Offerings and Trainings

Our subject matter experts at Canadian Red Cross offer a variety of education and awareness-building programming tailored to the unique needs of wildfire-affected communities, free of charge. 

This includes:

Ready Rating
Learn how to use www.readyrating.ca, a free online emergency preparedness planning platform designed to help businesses and organizations improve emergency preparedness planning and response. This offering features a one-hour presentation and Q&A on Ready Rating, followed by one hour of optional direct support. Participants will learn how to create a membership, complete an assessment and have an opportunity to ask in-depth questions.

Service Continuity Planning 101 for Organizations and Businesses
Learn how to help your organization develop a plan to keep critical services running during or after a disruption. This workshop will help identify risks and develop resilience strategies to reduce the impact of disruptions on your organization and community.

Psychological First Aid Training (PFA)
This course equips learners with developing a personal understanding of the effects of stress, loss, trauma and grief on others, with emphasis on self-care and personal protection.

Be Ready
Learn how to increase your household’s ability to prepare for and respond to emergencies through practical workshops. These workshops guide individuals and families on how to reduce hazard risks, create emergency plans, and build kits for emergencies. Available year-round both in person and virtually, these workshops can be tailored to specific hazards or population groups. Be Ready workshops are delivered through community-based organizations and corporate partners.

Public Education and Awareness Events
Access a toolkit of information resources and activities that can be used during community events to deepen understanding of risk and hazards and encourage emergency preparedness. Resources include both print and audiovisual media, as well as interactive activities using technology and innovation.

Door-to-Door Emergency Preparedness Campaigns 
Have personalized emergency preparedness guidance delivered right at the doorstep of your community members through volunteer-led campaigns. These campaigns (delivered in spring and fall) provide residents with critical information on how to protect their homes from hazards such as floods, wildfires, and extreme heat. The campaign locations are chosen in coordination with local authorities and are supported by hazard risk mapping.

To learn more about how to organize these sessions for your community, please contact us at RRR@redcross.ca
 


Community Preparedness & Stock Prepositioning Program

This program will focus on prepositioning critical emergency response and preparedness supplies in impacted communities, enhancing local capacity through training, workshops, and specialized support that equips community members with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage disaster risks.

Eligibility for the program will be specific to communities that were significantly impacted by the 2023 Alberta Wildfires. 

 Applications for this program will open in the coming weeks. The Canadian Red Cross will be reaching out to eligible applicants to notify them when this program is open for proposals. For more information, please contact us at RRR@redcross.ca.
 


Granting and Strategic Funding Opportunities

Community Recovery and Resilience Grants

With the support of the Government of Alberta, the Canadian Red Cross has funding available for recovery and resilience-building projects that respond to the recovery needs of communities impacted by the 2023 Alberta wildfires. The Community Recovery and Resilience Grants program builds from previous and ongoing engagement with fire-impacted communities and aims to contribute to recovery gaps and priorities.

To learn more and apply for this program please review and complete the following documents.

Program Guidelines
Eligible Cost Guidelines
Proposal Form
Budget

The Canadian Red Cross will be reaching out to eligible applicants to notify them when this program is open for proposals. For more information, please contact us at  CRCgrants@redcross.ca