Northwestern Ontario organizations receiving emergency preparedness funding

The provincial government has announced a $5 million investment to help communities prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The funding is being delivered through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant Program which is part of a three-year $110 million investment by the province to strengthen emergency preparedness.

“Through the Community Emergency Preparedness Grant, our government is stepping up to ensure Ontario is safe, practiced and prepared for any type of emergency,” said the President of the Treasury Board and Minister responsible for Emergency Management Caroline Mulroney.

“From floods to wildland fires, these targeted investments will empower communities and organizations to enhance their emergency response. Whether it’s building up our local fire departments or enabling more efficient search and rescue operations, our government is giving communities the tools and resources they need to keep people safe.”

The funding is supporting 113 recipients across Ontario including municipalities, local service boards, First Nation communities, Tribal Councils, Indigenous service organizations and non-governmental organizations with mandates in emergency preparedness.

Northwestern Ontario grant recipients include:

Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek – $37,677 – Purchase a towable generator to ensure a continuous power supply to the community during power outages and highway closures
Bearskin Lake First Nation – $49,800 – Train and equip security personnel in the community to enhance the safety and well-being of community members
Bimose Tribal Council Inc – $43,467 – Establish an emergency operations centre to serve its 10 member communities, equipped with sleep centre kits, reception kits, reception signage, emergency backpacks and air purifiers
Iskatewizaagegan No 39 Independent First Nation – $24,167 – Establish a local emergency command centre equipped with sleep centre supplies, reception kits, survival first aid kits, air purifiers and other emergency supplies
Kenora Chiefs Advisory Inc – $50,000 – Install a backup generator to ensure residents have access to food and water, heating and cooling, sewer systems and communications during power outages and emergencies
Nolalu Emergency Services Team Inc – $49,060 – Update the Firehall with a multi-fuel generator, automatic transfer switch, flashlights and rechargeable spotlights, and safety glasses; develop a mobile or alternate emergency operations centre equipped with a Starlink dish and other supplies; and train staff to support emergency planning
North Caribou Lake First Nation – $50,000 – Purchase air purifiers and conduct equipment and emergency management training to prepare for wildland fire season
Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – $50,000 – Increase access to pet food, supplies and transport carriers in northern Ontario. Funding will secure four storage containers to house 20,000 lbs of pet food and 40 transport crates
Pwi-Di-Goo-Zing Ne-Yaa-Zhing Non-profit Advisory Services – 46,846 – Purchase nine thermal imaging cameras to enable local fire departments to locate fires identify flow paths, confine and extinguish fires during wildland fire season
Red Rock First Nation – $39,179 – Purchase generators for the medical centre, gas station, elders’ complex, Band Office and butcher shop that serves as the food storage facility for the community
The Anishinaabeg of Kabapikotawangag Resource Council Inc – $50,000 – Purchase supplies such as first aid kits, GPS phones, drones, fire detectors and extinguishers for homes in the community. First aid training will also be provided to the community
The Corporation of the Municipality of Greenstone – $48,500 – Procure six med sleds to move residents out of the long-term care facility when health and safety issues arise and purchase an interactive whiteboard for use in the emergency operations centre to scribe, display maps and communicate during an emergency
The Corporation of the Municipality of Neebing – $47,539 – Purchase generators for two key sites in the community: the main fire hall and the Blake Community Hall, which acts as a secondary emergency response operations centre, an evacuation site and a reception centre, offering vital services for community members during emergencies
The Corporation of the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge – $49,200 – Purchase wildland fire fighting suppression equipment including a portable pressure pump, forest fire hose, portable sprinkler kits, intake hoses, nozzles and fire hose bags