The Village of Canal Flats has announced it is getting a $1.1 million grant for dike work along the Kootenay River.

Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Mike Farnworth, British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, announced more than $29.5 million in joint funding to reduce and mitigate the risk of floods and slide events in 11 communities across B.C.

These projects are in addition to 18 other disaster mitigation-related projects that were announced last summer.

“Community resilience and public safety is a priority for Canal Flats,” said Village Mayor Karl Sterzer. “Our dike is a critical piece of infrastructure, and we are working hard to ensure it stands the tests of increased climate change. B.C is ground zero for many effects including increased chances of flooding.

“I am pleased that the Government of Canada and the Government of B.C recognize this need. Phase 1 will see improvements to the dike and we are now working on Phase 2 plans that will see us make further infrastructure improvements west of the Kootenay River crossing at Canal Flats.”

Funding for flooding-prevention measures was also provided to the City of Fernie, City of Trail, Town of Golden, Regional District of Central Kootenay, the City of Greenwood, Cold Spring Creek, Port McNeil, Peters First Nation, Regional District of Fraser Fort George and K’ómoks First Nation.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $24.6 million in these 11 projects. The Government of British Columbia is contributing $4.8 million.

Read Canal Flats Kootenay River Flood Risk Assessment by Urban Systems – July 9, 2020.

e-KNOW file photo

e-KNOW

Article Share