Wawanesa Insurance has named the Municipality of Sioux Lookout as one of 12 communities across Canada receiving Community Wildfire Prevention Grants in 2025.
As part of the Wawanesa Climate Champions commitment, over $150,000 will be awarded this year. Sioux Lookout's grant application successfully sought $15,000 to enhance wildfire prevention and reduce risk in our community. With the grant money, the Municipality will develop and implement targeted public education on FireSmart practices. Wildfire mitigation activities will also be organized in identified high risk areas to strengthen community resilience and improve the effectiveness of preventative actions.
Sioux Lookout Fire Chief Jeremy Funk said, "We were thrilled to hear that our grant application had been successful this year." He added, "Every bit of extra funding we can secure for public education and wildfire mitigation makes a huge difference in saving property and lives."
This marks the third straight year Wawanesa has provided Community Wildfire Prevention Grants, which were developed in collaboration with FireSmart Canada and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction.
"With wildfires becoming an ever-growing threat across the country, resilience is key to safeguarding homes, farms, and businesses," said Jackie De Pape Hornick, Director of Communications & Community Impact at Wawanesa. "We're proud to partner with these local organizations, helping them to take proactive steps to make the places they live and work safer."
Information about all of the grants awarded are available on Wawanesa's website.