We all saw it during last year’s wildfire season, the risks associated with a warming climate are growing.

To help mitigate those risks, the City of Dauphin is utilizing a $15,000 grant from the province’s Climate Action Fund to develop a formal plan framework around resiliance and climate leadership objectives which reflect local realities.

The process formally began recently when council received correspondence announcing the start of the process from the International Institute for  Sustainable Development (IISD), which is leading the project in collaboration with CVLNS, a community planning consultant based in Winnipeg, and the Prairie Climate Centre.

A warming of the planet is increasing climate-related risks, such as flooding, extreme heat, and drought, which pose challenges to public safety, municipal assets, and long-term sustainability.

While these risks are currently managed through existing operational practices, in a memo to council, Ashley Rawluk, a policy advisor  with IISD, said a climate adaptation plan “provides a co-ordinated and proactive framework to strengthen long-term resilience and support council’s climate leadership objectives.”

The City’s climate adaptation plan, expected to be completed this fall, will focus on identifying and assessing climate-related hazards and risks to City-owned assets and services, including transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, public works, and parks.

The development process will consider risk assessments identified by City staff and stakeholder engagement, along with the identification of adaptation actions and funding opportunities.

Rawluk said the final document will support informed decision-making and long-term resilience by providing a clear, actionable roadmap to reduce climate risks, protect municipal assets, and integrate climate considerations into everyday operations.

A Climate Adaptation Working Group (CAWG) will lead the engagement process and will be comprised of eight members representing the City of Dauphin, the Northwest Metis Council and Aninshinaabe Nation in Treaty 2 Territory.

Public input will be gathered through both in person events and an online community survey. These will share key findings from the climate hazard assessment and the emerging plan, while gathering feedback on local climate impacts, community priorities, and adaptation needs.

Read the full story in this week’s Dauphin Herald.