On May 4, communities throughout Ontario united for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, a collective effort to bolster resilience against wildfires.
More than 6,000 wildfires blazed across Canada in 2023, making it one of the worst recorded wildfire seasons in Canada’s history.
As this year’s wildfire season unfolds, Maya Milardovic (pictured), assistant vice president, government relations at Co-operators, asserted the importance of wildfire education and prevention for homeowners and communities nationwide.
Spearheaded by Co-operators in partnership with FireSmart, and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), the annual initiative empowers residents to safeguard their homes and neighborhoods from the threat of wildfires.
Each year, communities can apply to receive a $500 award to organize local fire safety events to increase community awareness. This year, the initiative awarded 378 neighbourhoods in 10 provinces and two territories.
Speaking on the significance of Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Milardovic said, “If you’re not aware, and if you don’t think wildfires will impact you and your home or your community, you’re not going to act.”
“That’s why this day is so important because it’s raising awareness, obviously on the impact of wildfires, but it’s also empowering individuals and communities to get together,” she added.
The repercussions of wildfires extend beyond property damage, as Milardovic highlighted the loss of cherished possessions and the detrimental effects that smoke inhalation causes as issues for both mental and physical health.
The Canadian Climate Institute estimates the health costs of a single week of wildfire smoke in Ontario at nearly $1.3 billion, underlining the far-reaching consequences of these disasters.
Similarly, B.C.’s historical 2023 wildfire season was estimated to cost the province more than $720 million in insurance.
Acknowledging the grim reality, Milardovic said, “Last year was a devastating year for wildfires and we’re expecting this year to be the same. So, this is all about community action and awareness.”
While Wildfire Community Preparedness Day officially launched on May 4, Milardovic anticipates a continuation of events throughout the summer season.
“Our landscape in Canada is very different,” she said. “There’s going to be some communities that still have snow on the ground, like in Calgary. So, it doesn’t make sense to have events be restricted to one day. You can do an activity or community event throughout the summer season into the fall, as well.”
To incentivize proactive safety measures, Co-operators initiated a partnership with FireSmart in 2015, introducing insurance discounts for homeowners.
Milardovic emphasized the company’s commitment to supporting Canadians through tangible measures like these.
“I don’t know if other insurers are doing it, but I know that we are the first insurer in Canada to create the FireSmart discount,” she claimed. “I think it’s one of the many measurable activities that we can do to support Canadians.”
Additionally, Co-operators has launched a pilot program in collaboration with FireSmart B.C., aiming to equip advisors with FireSmart assessors’ insights to better serve clients, promoting initiatives such as fire resilient roofing and landscaping.
Beyond customer incentives, Co-operators actively engages with government regulators to advocate for changes in building codes nationwide, underscoring the collective responsibility in wildfire prevention and education.
“The worst thing is when you know there’s a risk, but you don’t know what to do. There is a link between understanding risk, recognizing risk, and then having the opportunity to act on that risk to empower individuals and community,” said Milardovic.
