Chase Harms has been deeply concerned about climate change ever since his daughter Noah was born a year ago. He expressed his worries about the challenges that Noah’s generation may face due to unforeseen climate-related issues.
Recently, Niverville hosted an open house to discuss its climate adaptation plan, funded by a $530 million federal initiative aimed at helping Canadian towns and cities prepare for climate change impacts. Niverville, located south of Winnipeg, received $70,000 along with nearly 20 other Manitoba municipalities to assess vulnerabilities related to climate change and enhance resilience.
Winnipeg was granted $140,000 for a climate action plan update, while Steinbach was among the first to present its finalized climate adaptation plan to the local council. The plan, developed by WSP planners and engineers, highlighted Steinbach’s primary concern of heavy rainfall overwhelming its wastewater systems following severe flooding incidents in September 2024 and 2025.
Apart from flooding risks, Steinbach’s plan also addressed challenges such as water supply stress during droughts, damages from wind and hailstorms, and increased road damage due to winter freeze-thaw cycles. Mayor Earl Funk emphasized the importance of protecting infrastructure and residents’ investments in the community.
Funk emphasized the need for financial support from provincial and federal governments to implement climate adaptation plans effectively and build resilience for the future. Steinbach is actively investing in upgrading wastewater systems and managing portions of the provincial Manning Canal within the city.
Niverville, which faced similar storm-related challenges as Steinbach, highlighted the urgent need to address aging infrastructure, such as 50-year-old pipes ill-suited for the current climate conditions. Chase Harms stressed the importance of long-term planning to safeguard future generations against potential climate-related disasters.
The Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation Initiative, funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund, aims to invest over $530 million in supporting more than 1,400 climate adaptation activities by 2031. Harms expressed disappointment at the low turnout for the Niverville event, emphasizing the significance of community engagement and understanding the reasons behind climate initiatives rather than merely complaining about inconveniences.
Overall, these initiatives underscore the critical need for proactive measures to address climate change challenges and build resilient communities for future generations.