The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a suite of funding streams administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and funded by the Province of BC.

Its purpose is to help First Nations and local governments increase resilience to emergencies and natural hazards, especially under the growing effects of climate change.

The CEPF streams include:

• Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation
• Emergency Operations Centres Equipment and Training
• Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training
• Extreme Temperatures Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning
• Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping and Flood Mitigation Planning
• Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
• Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
• Structural Flood Mitigation
• Volunteer and Composite
• Fire Departments Equipment and Training

ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible applicants include First Nations (bands, Treaty First Nations), municipalities, regional districts, and other local governments in BC.

PROJECT CRITERIA:

• Be a new or further phase of a project (retroactive funding is generally not allowed).
• Be completable within one year of grant approval, unless otherwise specified.
• Meet any required permits, authorizations etc.
• Show alignment with the purpose of the specific funding stream, including any required engagement with Indigenous communities where applicable.

FUNDING:

Most CEPF grants range from about $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the stream.

• Smaller streams (like Emergency Support Services, EOC equipment, evacuation planning) usually cap around $25K–$40K.
• Larger streams (like Disaster Risk Reduction or Structural Flood Mitigation) can go up to $150K+.

Deadlines range from October 2025 through April 2026 depending on the stream.

Gwaii Engineering can support your community every step of the way — from assessing project eligibility and scoping, to securing funding, and managing implementation.

If you are interested in securing funding from one or more streams, get in touch with our team below.