Modern living: You can just worry about flooding … or you can do something
The Canadian Climate Institute observes that 'as climate change worsens, Canadians will experience a significant increase in the frequency and intensity of these kinds of flood events.'
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A prime example of such an 'event' was the 10 centimetres of rain that fell within the span of three hours in Toronto last year, flooding homes and leading to a power outage for 167,000 residents.
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In light of rising concerns over climate change, it should come as no surprise that 66 per cent of respondents in the just released Weather and Property Survey – commissioned by First Onsite Property Restoration say they now worry about flooding.
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And certainly the financial impact of flooding can be devastating. The Government of Canada website shares that the average cost of a flooded basement is $40,000.
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As a first line of defence against such a disaster, one action homeowners can take – as emphasized in my last column (Stay Warm, Keep the Lights On After a Power Outage) is to have a backup battery system in the event flooding causes a power outage.
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First Onsite's senior vice-president Jim Mandeville says that even if you can't afford a whole home backup solution 'if you're going to be without power for several days, what's really critical, especially this time of year, is that you (at least) have power for your sump pump.' That alone he says 'could save you (from having) a really big mess in the basement.'
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Other easy to implement defensive measures homeowners can take Mandeville says, include 'making sure there's no snow or debris in the catch basin at the end of your driveway (where the water runs off) or at your neighbour's driveway (because) if the drain is plugged and it rains and the snow is melting, that water will back up and it will end up in your and your neighbours' homes.
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Another precautionary measure he recommends is to 'take a quick walk around your house and make sure that there are no low areas where water is pooling up against the building. If there's a negative grade where water is running towards the building, you're going to have a problem and you're going to need to contact a professional,' to help regrade the property so that water flows away from your home.
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Mandeville is also a big proponent of adding a backflow preventer to your plumbing that prevents water from flowing backwards in your pipes which he says would cost 'in the neighbourhood of hundreds or a few thousand dollars depending on the way your house is built.'
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Cision Canada
a day ago
- Cision Canada
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As the leading advocate for Canada's private P&C insurers, IBC collaborates with governments, regulators and stakeholders to support a competitive environment for the P&C insurance industry to continue to help protect Canadians from the risks of today and tomorrow. IBC believes that Canadians value and deserve a responsive and resilient private P&C insurance industry that provides insurance solutions to both individuals and businesses. For media releases, IN Focus articles or to book an interview with an IBC representative, visit Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. If you have a question about home, auto or business insurance, contact IBC's Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC. We're here to help.
Edmonton Journal
2 days ago
- Edmonton Journal
Feds earmark $45.7M to address wildfire threat as risk of blazes, smoke seen rising across Canada
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Firefighters from Alberta Wildfire spray water on blackened, burned grasslands after conducting controlled burns against wildfires near Saprae Creek south of Fort McMurray on April 24, 2025. Vincent McDermott/Postmedia file With wildfire season underway across much of Canada, the federal government is earmarking $45.7 million for 30 projects aimed at strengthening Canada's wildfire prevention, mitigation and recovery. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters. Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account. Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Natural Resources Canada says the projects, funded through its Build and Mobilize Foundational Wildland Fire Knowledge program, are focused on advancing research to protect Canadians from the growing threat of wildfires, strengthen risk assessments, and improve mitigation and adaptive forestry practices. The funding was announced Tuesday by Calgary Confederation MP Corey Hogan on behalf of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'These investments will play an instrumental role in helping us understand how we can reduce the impact of wildfires on Canadians by accelerating how we develop and adopt innovative and adaptive wildfire and forestry practices,' Hogan said. Hogan said wildfires are becoming 'more frequent, more intense and more dangerous' across Canada, with a growing number of Canadians 'feelings the impacts first-hand.' Canada's 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive on record, burning more than 14 million hectares — about four times the 10-year average. In 2024, more than 5.3 million hectares burned. Alberta currently has 52 active wildfires, of which 13 per cent are classified as out of control, according to the province's online dashboard. The total area burned so far this year is more than 677,000 hectares. Speaking to reporters, Hogan said the consequences of widespread wildfires are expanding 'dramatically,' citing economic, health and psychological impacts. 'It's incumbent on governments across all levels to do what they can to both avoid these things happening in the first place and respond to them as rapidly as possible,' he said. Natural Resources Canada estimates fire-suppression costs could double by 2040 as wildfire risks worsen. Hogan also pointed to worsening smoke trends in Calgary in recent years. From 1953 to 2014, the average number of smoke hours was about 12 hours per year. In 2024, Calgary recorded 200 smoke hours — down from 512 hours in 2023 but still the fifth-highest total in 70 years, according to the City of Calgary's Climate and Environment Dashboard. 'It's not your imagination. We're seeing more of this,' Hogan said of the growing prevalence of smoky conditions in the city. This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Two Alberta-based projects are among those benefiting from the federal funds. 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Halifax firefighters are responding to an out-of-control wildfire in the Bayers Lake area, with evacuations underway. As of 4:45 p.m. local time Tuesday, about 30 Halifax and Emergency Services firefighters and eight Department of Natural Resources wildland members had been deployed to fight the blaze, along with air support. The fire was estimated to be six hectares in size as of Tuesday afternoon. In British Columbia, 98 wildfires are burning, with nine classified as out-of-control. — With files from Postmedia
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Moderate relief expected for GTA after record-breaking 'notable' heat event
Sweltering heat expected to break in coming days for many Canadians after dozens of records broken Monday Published Aug 12, 2025 • 4 minute read Hazel Whelan, 11, of Mississauga, Ont., launches herself into a small wave at Port Stanley, Ont.'s main beach on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Photo by Mike Hensen / Postmedia Network Sweltering heat is expected to break in the coming days for many Canadians after Monday's scorching temperatures broke dozens of daily heat records across the country. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Around 51 daily heat records were broken across the country on Monday with many regions recording temperatures in the mid-30s, said Christy Climenhaga, a scientist with Environment Canada. 'When numerous (temperature) records are falling, that indicates that it is more of a notable heat event,' Climenhaga said in an interview Tuesday. Relief is coming first for southern British Columbia, where a multi-day heat wave is expected to end on Tuesday or Wednesday, as temperatures return to the seasonal mid-20s in many regions. Monday's temperatures broke or tied daily heat records in nine regions in the province, according to Environment Canada, six of which were located on Vancouver Island. That included the Victoria area, which saw temperatures reach 33.8 C, nearly two degrees warmer than the 31.9 C record set in 1990. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. New heat records stretched as far north as Pemberton on the mainland, with the weather agency reporting temperatures of 37.4 C, beating the 1977 daily temperature record by a small fraction. Read More Hot conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday in southern Ontario, stretching north past Lake Huron and Georgian Bay and east through southern Quebec. Ontario saw 10 new daily heat records broken or tied yesterday in areas including Algonquin Park, Goderich, Parry Sound and Bancroft, Climenhaga said. While cooler temperatures are expected to sweep through the area by Tuesday evening with the heat warning coming to an end by Wednesday, Climenhaga said southern Ontario should still expect temperatures in the 30s through the end of the week. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Toronto is still going to be hot through much of the week, but perhaps below the heat warning criteria,' she said. In the Maritimes, high temperatures are expected to remain through to Wednesday, while parts of Newfoundland will see similar conditions breaking on Thursday or Friday. Dozens of daily heat records were shattered across the Atlantic provinces on Monday, according to the national weather agency, surpassing temperature records previously set as far back as the late 1800s. Miramichi, N.B., broke a more than 150-year-old temperature record with the heat climbing to 37.6 C Monday, just under one degree below a record set in 1876. Fredericton also surpassed a daily high of 35 C from 1893 by a tiny fraction. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Monday's heat in some Newfoundland and Labrador regions even set new monthly extreme temperature records for August, according to Environment Canada. La Scie, N.L., set a new monthly high of 31.5 C yesterday, breaking a previous August heat record of 31 C set on Aug. 7, 1990. Similarly, the Labrador region of Mary's Harbour broke a monthly record from Aug. 6, 1990, by almost two degrees. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Amid the heat, an Agriculture Canada update shows Nova Scotia, eastern Newfoundland, southeastern New Brunswick and portions of Prince Edward Island shifting into moderate and severe drought conditions over the past month, with rainfall levels plummeting to 60% of normal levels in Halifax. Climenhaga said an atmospheric upper ridge has formed in the atmosphere over the East Coast, trapping the heat and preventing the rain from getting through. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'You get heat building under that ridge that will give you prolonged periods of hot and dry weather,' she said. In eastern Ontario, water conservation efforts are underway with rainfall down 40% and a citywide burn ban in place for Ottawa. Agriculture Canada reported that fully 71% of the country was classified as abnormally dry or as being in a moderate to extreme drought by the end of July. It only takes a couple days of hot and dry weather for wildfire risk to grow, Climenhaga said, and that extended periods of extreme heat can 'increase risk and volatility very quickly.' Data show this year's wildfire season is already the second worst on record. Climenhaga said British Columbia and the Prairies are expecting to see 'some decent rainfall' to mark the end of the dry spell, while the Maritimes should see 'showery rainfall here and there' toward the end of the week. But she said a single rain shower won't mark the end of wildfire and drought seasons, noting that consistent rain over long periods of time is important to reduce risks. 'When you look at prolonged dry weather and you've got a lot of fires burning, one dose of rainfall isn't necessarily a magic bullet to solve everything,' she said. 'If you've got a good amount of rainfall but then the dry, hot weather comes back, you could be right back to where you started.' — With files from Vanessa Tiberio in Toronto, Michael Tutton in Halifax and Sarah Ritchie in Ottawa. Toronto Blue Jays Canada Toronto Blue Jays World Sunshine Girls
