New Community Wildfire Resilience Contributions program to advance FireSmart projects across the NWT

April 15, 2025

A new program is being launched to boost investment in organizations seeking to advance FireSmart initiatives across the Northwest Territories.

The Community Wildfire Resilience Contributions program will invest a maximum of $300,000 per applicant annually for projects that will advance the seven FireSmart disciplines.

These projects will better prepare people and communities to live alongside wildfire and improve response capabilities at all levels of government during severe wildfire events.

$1.8 million is available to support the program annually through the end of fiscal year 2027-2028.  This amounts to a 21-fold increase in available annual funding for FireSmart projects offered by the GNWT.

Quote

“Investments in FireSmart are investments in safer people, stronger communities, and a territory better prepared to be resilient in the face of a changing climate. We are happy to be expanding our ability to invest in wildfire resilience and the ideas and ambitions of dedicated organizations already working hard to advance FireSmart across the NWT.”

– Jay Macdonald, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick facts

• This funding complements nearly $20 million announced in 2021 and administered by the NWT Association of Communities to advance vegetation management (i.e. fuel removal, fuel reduction) projects identified in Community Wildfire Protection Plans through 2030.
• These investments are funded by the Government of Canada’s Wildfire Resilient Futures Initial – Resilient Communities Through FireSmart funding stream.
• The program is available to community governments, Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations, non-profit organizations, territorial and federal government departments and agencies, and neighbourhood associations where their projects are supported and administered by any of the prior mentioned organizations.

Related links

• Program information: Community Wildfire Resilience Contributions
• Prepare for Wildfire With FireSmart NWT

For media requests, please contact:

Mike Westwick
Manager, Prevention and Mitigation
Environment and Climate Change
Government of the Northwest Territories
Mike_Westwick@gov.nt.ca
867-688-0958

NT5