Canadian Government & ICLR launch disaster recovery and resilience centre of excellence
Ottawa, ON (Sept. 3, 2025) – Recent disasters such as the Lytton wildfire in 2021, Hurricane Fiona in 2022, the wildfires in the Northwest Territories in 2023, and the intense wildfire seasons of 2024 and 2025 have highlighted how challenging recovery can be. Planning for recovery early, ideally before a disaster even happens, can make a big difference. It helps communities rebuild faster, get businesses back up and running sooner, and include measures to reduce future risk during reconstruction.
The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Paul Kovacs, Founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), are pleased to announce the launch of the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience at ICLR’s Disaster Resilience Display Centre in Toronto.
By leveraging their complementary expertise in disaster recovery, risk reduction, and resilience, Public Safety Canada and ICLR will work together through the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience to help communities plan for recovery so they can recover more quickly and rebuild in ways that make them safer and more resilient in the future. It offers:
- Dedicated experts to help communities plan for recovery, overcome challenges, and build resilience before or after a disaster;
- Support through specialized guidance, practical resources, and training for resilient recovery, expanding knowledge and practices that help communities rebuild in ways that reduce future risks;
- A consistent, risk-informed approach to recovery that uses post-disaster opportunities to increase resilience to future disasters.
By offering expert support and practical tools for recovery planning, the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience will help communities with faster, more resilient recovery and better preparation for future disasters.
Quotes
“Canadians are living with the impacts of climate change every day, and when disaster strikes, they can count on us to be there — from the first response through to rebuilding. The new Centre for Recovery and Resilience will provide expert advice, practical tools, and direct support to make sure recovery efforts are quick, coordinated, and focused on keeping people safe. It’s about rebuilding in ways that protect communities today and make them stronger for the future.” – The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada
“As climate disasters grow more frequent and severe, communities in Canada are on the front lines of adapting to these new realities. The launch of the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience will help meet this need by strengthening communities, protecting our economy and building a safer, more sustainable future for generations to come.” – The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
“The Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience reflects the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction’s commitment to helping communities not only recover after disasters but also reduce future risks. The Centre will provide practical tools, leverage a network of recovery and resilience professionals and support communities in building long-term resilience before and during recovery.” – Paul Kovacs, Executive Director, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
Related Information
About the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction
Canada’s leading disaster research institute, the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), was established by the insurance industry in 1997 as an independent, not-for-profit research and outreach institute to champion disaster resilience in Canada. ICLR is an international centre of excellence affiliated with Western University, London, Ontario. The Institute develops and champions evidence-based disaster safety solutions that can be implemented by homeowners, businesses and governments to enhance their disaster resilience. For more information, visit www.iclr.org.
About Public Safety Canada
Public Safety Canada was created in 2003 to ensure coordination across all federal departments and agencies responsible for national security and the safety of Canadians. Our mandate is to keep Canadians safe from a range of risks such as natural disasters, crime and terrorism. For more information, visit www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
Source: Office of the Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Public Safety Canada
Tags: centre of excellence, Government of Canada, hurricanes, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR), launch, Natural Catastrophes, natural disaster losses, resilience, wildfires