Public Safety Canada recently announced the launch of a new Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience (CCFRR) in partnership with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR).
The Sept. 3 announcement about the partnership says the new centre will be focused on helping communities recover from disasters more effectively. The centre is expected to provide experts, guidance, resources and training for resilient recovery, “expanding knowledge and practices that help communities rebuild in ways that reduce future risks.” The centre will also adopt a consistent, risk-informed approach to recovery that uses post-disaster opportunities to increase resilience to future disasters.
“The Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience reflects the ICLR’s commitment to helping communities not only recover after disasters but also reduce future risks. The centre will provide practical tools, leverage a network of recovery and resilience professionals and support communities in building long-term resilience before and during recovery,” Paul Kovacs, executive director of the ICLR said in a statement.
Pre-disaster recovery planning toolbox
The centre also provides a pre-disaster recovery planning toolbox of guides, templates and checklists to support the creation of local recovery plans and a virtual network for professionals working in disaster recovery and related fields. Although it primarily supports smaller communities and governments with less experience in disaster recovery, the centre will also reportedly offer assistance to all levels and sizes of government.
The Insurance Bureau of Canada’s reaction
The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), meanwhile, which has previously called for the creation of a national agency, says it supports the creation of the centre of excellence. “The advice, tools and support from the centre are a positive step to increasing capacity for resiliency and recovery in Canada,” the IBC said in a written statement in response to the Insurance Portal’s inquiry.
Although the IBC says the centre will help pave the way for a more prepared and resilient country, it adds: “The industry continues to call for the creation of a federal emergency management agency that can help coordinate preparedness, response and recovery across jurisdictions in Canada.”
