PAT DEAKIN
PORT ALBERNI – I start with an acknowledgement of the devastation that has been brought about in several BC communities and regions in mid-November as a result of the intense rainfalls and the flooding that followed.
As most people are aware, many senior government agencies and NGO’s have done and are continuing to do work in the disaster arenas.
In this column I would like to note in particular the work of the BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA) in the areas of disaster preparedness and business continuity planning.
As soon as the November flooding began, Ashleigh Volcz, BCEDA’s Director of Members Services, sprang into action and put up a page on their website (bceda.ca) that includes a live document (meaning updated several times daily) entitled ‘Resources for Flood Impacted Individuals and Businesses’.
The page also includes a link to the provincial government’s two ‘Disaster Financial Assistance’ programs: one for individuals, small businesses, farms and charitable organizations; and one for Indigenous governing bodies and local governments.
Other links on the page are an ‘Impacted Businesses Portal’ and a ‘Local Economic Recovery & Restart Toolkit’.
Documents in the Toolkit grew out of BCEDA’s response to the Burns Lake sawmill explosion in 2012. Since that time the organization has aided economic development and other community professionals and government organizations during and after southern Alberta floods, BC wildfires, Virgin Island hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Topics in the Toolkit Include: Local Economic Recovery Committees; Managing Economic Recovery Centres; Economic Recovery Action Plans; Economic Recovery Communication; and Mental Health.
Templates in the Toolkit Include: Local Economic Recovery Committee – First Meeting Agenda; Economic Recovery Manager – Duties and Responsibilities; Media Release – Opening of an Economic Recovery Centre; Economic Recovery Centre Intake Form; Economic Recovery Centre Daily Briefing; and Economic Recovery Communication Strategy.
I would also like to acknowledge Fortis BC, BC Hydro and Pacific Coastal Airlines who have assisted BCEDA’s work in this field ‘right from the git-go’.
I end with a plea to communities, businesses and economic development professionals to get the work of disaster planning and business continuity done. As Dale Wheeldon, President & CEO of BCEDA, says at the outset of every presentation he makes on this subject: it’s not a matter of ‘if’, it’s ‘when’.
Pat Deakin is the Economic Development Manager for the City of Port Alberni and currently the President of the BCEDA. He can be reached at 250-720-2527 or Patrick_deakin@portalberni.ca