The Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience is a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR). The Centre is focused on helping communities recover from disasters more effectively and rebuild in ways that reduce future risks.
The Centre was created as part of the modernization of the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA) program to address shortfalls in disaster recovery knowledge and guidance in Canada. During the DFAA Review, Public Safety heard from partners across Canada that the lack of early access to recovery expertise contributed to delays in reconstruction and missed opportunities to incorporate risk reduction and resilience measures into recovery
Communities often face complex decisions and limited resources when rebuilding. The Centre was established to support communities in navigating these challenges and planning for more coordinated, risk-informed, and resilient recovery efforts across Canada.
By strengthening recovery planning and promoting resilience, the Centre helps communities rebuild not just what was lost, but in ways that make them safer and better prepared for future disasters. It's a key part of Canada's broader efforts to reduce disaster risks and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
What the Centre does
The Centre provides practical support to communities before, during, and after disasters. Its work includes:
- Direct support to communities, helping local governments develop recovery plans that include resilience and risk reduction.
- Connecting communities with a network of recovery practitioners who can share experiences, knowledge, and ideas.
- Developing practical tools and resources to support communities during recovery.
- Training and learning events designed to advance the knowledge and practice of recovery in Canada.
For instance, to help communities take action, the Centre provides the Community Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Toolbox. This resource includes a step-by-step guide, templates, and checklists to support the creation of recovery plans tailored to local needs. The Centre also gives communities a way to share and learn from one another's experiences through a virtual network consisting of professionals working in disaster recovery and related fields.
Who the Centre helps
The Centre primarily supports smaller communities and governments with less experience with disaster recovery, but can offer assistance to all levels and sizes of government to ensure they can access the help they need to plan for effective and resilient recovery.
