Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo receives funding support for FireSmart Home Rebate Program

The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo (RMWB) is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2025 recipient of funding through a national climate resiliency initiative from Intact Financial Corporation.

The $200,000 grant will be applied to a rebate program aimed to help homeowners complete wildfire-resistant upgrades to their property. These upgrades aim to reduce the impact of airborne embers from nearby wildfires, resulting in a tangible wildfire risk reduction across communities.

The RMWB will provide one-on-one wildfire mitigation advice for residents through FireSmart^TM Home Assessments as well as providing wildfire mitigation education to communities throughout the region.

More than 900 FireSmart Home Assessments have been completed since 2022 – after the rebate program was created through the support of a $100,000 grant from Intact Financial Corporation’s Municipal Climate Resiliency Grant program. This new funding initiative will expand on that success and will support the rebate program beyond 2026.  

This initiative is among 19 community-led projects selected across Canada as part of Intact’s expanded $3.1 million commitment to climate adaptation through its Municipal Climate Resiliency Grant program. This program is rooted in the belief that municipalities are on the front lines of climate change, and that providing them with tools tailored to their local needs is essential to building lasting community resilience. The 2025 cohort of grant recipients was selected from over 170 applicants and reflects a diverse mix of municipalities, registered charities, and Indigenous communities across the country.

“FireSmart is part of how we live in our community, and we’re always committed to doing what we can to best protect the people that live here. We all collectively benefit when we work together to increase resiliency and reduce the impact of wildfires, and the great thing about this program is that it enables and supports residents and homeowners themselves,”

-- Mayor Sandy Bowman, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

"At Intact, we recognize that no two areas face the same climate risks, which is why we value solutions tailored to local needs. By engaging homeowners directly, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is acting early to reduce wildfire risks in ways that reflect the leadership and strengths of this community. These are practical, regionally rooted solutions aimed at making a real difference. We’re proud to support their vision through our Municipal Climate Resiliency Grants program."

--Rosa Nelson, Vice President, Business Development, Western Canada, Intact Financial Corporation.

Intact has been dedicated to climate adaptation for over a decade, investing more than $30 million since 2010 in over 100 projects. The Municipal Climate Resiliency Grants program was launched in 2021 to support municipalities, which own 60 per cent of Canada's infrastructure and serve as frontline responders when disasters strike. Under the program's first round of funding, Intact invested $1 million to fund 10 communities nationwide. In 2024, the organization announced plans to double its commitment from $1 to $2 million for the 2024-2025 program. With the overwhelming demand and urgent need, Intact recently announced that it has increased its program funding to $3.1 million over the next two years, supporting 19 communities throughout Canada.

To learn more about the program, visit: intactfc.com

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Background

How Intact is Supporting Canadians to Prepare for a Changing Climate:

• Intact recently launched a national, long-term prevention program called Keep It Intact. The program provides an array of tools, solutions, and practical advice to empower Canadians in protecting their properties. With many easily implemented and proven tips, homeowners can take proactive steps to help prevent or reduce damage from extreme weather.
• At no additional cost, Intact offers eligible customers in Alberta and British Columbia a wildfire prevention service. When communities are threatened by active wildfires the team is deployed to help protect homes including by removing combustible materials around properties, setting up temporary sprinkler systems, and covering exterior vents and closing exterior doors, windows and garage doors.

Key Facts

• In 2024, approximately 70% of the total area burned by wildfires occurred in Western Canada, impacting municipalities in British Columbia, Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Saskatchewan.
• Summer of 2024 was the most destructive season in Canadian history for insured losses due to severe weather, totaling $7.1 billion. With 228,000 claims filed, this represents a 406% increase in claims due to severe weather events compared with the 20-year average.

About Intact Financial Corporation

Intact Financial Corporation (TSX: IFC) is the largest provider of Property and Casualty (P&C) insurance in Canada, a leading Specialty lines insurer with international expertise and a leader in Commercial lines in the UK and Ireland. The business has grown organically and through acquisitions to almost $24 billion of total annual operating direct premiums written (DPW).

In Canada, Intact distributes insurance under the Intact Insurance brand through agencies and a wide network of brokers, including its wholly-owned subsidiary BrokerLink. Intact also distributes directly to consumers through the belairdirect brand and affinity partnerships. Additionally, Intact provides exclusive and tailored offerings to high-net-worth customers through Intact Prestige.

In the US, Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions provides a range of Specialty insurance products and services through independent agencies, regional and national brokers, wholesalers and managing general agencies.

Across the UK, Ireland, and Europe, Intact provides Personal, Commercial and/or Specialty insurance solutions through the RSA, 123.ie, NIG and FarmWeb brands.

Media Inquiries:

Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo

Strategic Communications

media@rmwb.ca

Caroline Audet

Manager, Media Relations and Public Affairs  

416 227-7905 / 514 985-7165 

media@intact.net