The City of Kamloops is applying for up to $25,000 in grant funding from the Union of BC Municipalities’ community emergency preparedness fund.

Emergency Support Services Coordinator, Rebecca Cooke, says the money will help train new and existing volunteers to respond to future emergencies like wildfires and floods.

“Throughout the year, the City was able to onboard over 100 convergent [or spontaneous walk-in] volunteers to assist in the reception centre throughout the wildfire and flooding seasons,” she said.

“There were many more who signed up but were not able to take the quick as and when training due to limited training capacity during response. Most of the 100 will continue their ESS Training to be able to assist in the future.”

Cooke says the City of Kamloops supported over 8,000 evacuees who were displaced by the wildfires and floods of 2021. Volunteers also helped support dozens of people who were displaced by an apartment fire on Cherry Avenue.

“Approximately 250 ESS volunteers provided more than 30,000 hours of support at McArthur Island in the last year, “Cooke added.

“The volunteers were absolutely phenomenal in their work to ensure that evacuees were provided with Emergency Services…as they began their first steps of recovery and working through an unprecedented year of response, all of this in accordance with pandemic guidelines.”

In a delegation to City Council Tuesday, Cooke said the City will know within 90 days if the grant application is successful. She also noted the ESS team is currently training new members in-house.

“These new team members, our existing team, and the convergent volunteers who signed up to assist last year require further appropriate and updated ESS Training to ensure that they are ready and confident to respond to future emergencies,” she said. “Funds [from the grant] will also be used to purchase ESS identifiable clothing to keep up with the growth.”

Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian praised the volunteers for their service and dedication to helping people in need.

“Please know that you have my gratitude and the gratitude of council,” he said, in response to Cooke’s delegation, calling it a “remarkable achievement.”