New Wildfire Protection Project Strengthens Resilience in Downtown Manson's

As part of a growing series of community resilience projects, the Cortes Island Community Foundation is pleased to support the installation of permanent wildfire protection sprinkler systems on key buildings in the downtown village of Manson’s Landing.

The project is being led by the Cortes Island Fire Fighting Association, whose crews have been working proactively to better protect the critical infrastructure our community depends on as wildfire risk increases across coastal British Columbia. The sprinkler systems allow firefighters to rapidly connect to a water supply and activate exterior sprinklers during a wildfire emergency, significantly improving the likelihood that important community buildings can survive with little or no damage.

This initiative is fully funded through the Cortes Island Community Foundation's Urgent Needs Fund, the Climate Action Network Fund, and generous community donations. This project reflects the Foundation's broader commitment to helping Cortes become more resilient and prepared for future challenges. Alongside investments in education, food security, youth and seniors, housing and community infrastructure, ecological resilience, and emergency and wildfire preparedness is an increasingly important part of strengthening our island's long-term wellbeing.

Firefighters and others on the frontlines are speaking out with grave concerns about where we're at and where we're headed if we don't start fighting climate change with the intensity we fight fires. See this reporting on the new reality facing Western firefighters.

The Climate Action Network reminds us that "While we adapt to the changes we can no longer avoid, we must do all we can to also prevent the changes we cannot adapt to.”
They remind us that fossil fuel pollution, aka greenhouse gases, keeps driving up risks of extreme climate events here at home, regionally and around the globe.
"Our governments at every level need to hear from us that these harms are already completely unacceptable, and that the slow and limited response to climate change is a violation of human rights, decency, reconciliation, economics, justice and the Canadian Constitution.”
The impacts fall hardest on those least responsible for climate change, while the causes rest disproportionately with those who have the most capacity to insulate themselves from the consequences.

"We need to protect our community two ways: with sprinklers, and with loud, coordinated voices of outrage,” says Max Thaysen of the Climate Action Network.

You can Get involved: reach out at cortesclimateproton.me or connect with any climate organizing team. There's a role for everyone. If you can spare financial resources, please consider contributing to the Climate Action Fund at the Cortes Community Foundation https://cortesfoundation.ca/cortes-climate-action-network-fund/.

Or, to support this Wildfire Resilience Project in Downton Mansons, you can make a donation by e-transfer to donationscortesfoundation.ca with "Mansons Wildfire Project" in the memo or visit https://cortesfoundation.ca/urgent-needs-fund/.
Any funds raised beyond the needs of this project will be returned to the Foundation's Urgent Needs Fund to support future time-sensitive community priorities.

Thank you for all you to do Care for Cortes: Firefighters, Climate Fighters, and neighbours like you.