As climate-driven natural disasters increase across Canada, Wawanesa is funding local initiatives to help communities adapt and mitigate risk. Through its Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants program, the insurer is partnering with five organizations to implement practical projects aimed at reducing the impact of extreme weather events.
The grants support initiatives focused on natural hazard mitigation, which can also reduce insurance exposure for communities. Funding will allow Living Lakes Canada in Nelson, B.C., to create detailed maps of water resources to support wildlife suppression and improve drought resilience.
In Hamilton, the Hamilton Conservation Foundation will continue its Saltfleet Wetland Restoration Project, restoring wetlands to reduce flooding and erosion while enhancing habitats and water quality.
In Port Dover, the Long Point Biosphere Region will advance its North Shore Resilience Project, applying nature-based solutions such as dune restoration to protect against flooding, erosion, and high-water levels along Lake Erie.
The Couchiching Conservancy in Carden, Ontario, will integrate climate-vulnerability mapping, emergency planning, and proactive land management to reduce flood and wildfire risks in the Carden Conservation Corridor.
Meanwhile, OBV SCABRIC in Sainte-Martine, Québec, will educate local leaders on stormwater management best practices and equip communities to adapt to flooding and drought risks through decentralized bioretention and other nature-based solutions.
Since 2024, the Wawanesa Climate Champions: Local Grants has awarded over $488,000 to community-based projects. The broader Wawanesa Climate Champions program invests $2 million annually to support those on the front lines of climate change. Mitchell McEwen (pictured), Wawanesa’s director of sustainability, climate resilience and community impact, said that climate change is affecting the places Canadians live and work in ways that require practical, local solutions.
As a member-owned mutual insurer, Wawanesa said it believes in supporting those working closes to these challenges and strengthening their capacity to protect their communities. Initiatives that reduce exposure to flooding, wildfire, and erosion can also lower claims severity and frequency, which contributes to more sustainable outcomes for both the insurer and the communities it serves.
McEwen noted that these practical local solutions not only help communities prepare for extreme weather but also strengthen their ability to recover, benefiting both residents and insurers.
Earlier this year, the company increased its Community Wildfire Prevention Grant to $200,000, as part of its Climate Champions program, a $2-million annual investment.
