Government of New Brunswick

Community Capacity and Resiliency

regional-resilience-category

A whole of society approach is required to recover from the extensive impact of events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Community Capacity and Resiliency initiative is focused on taking learning from the pandemic, ice storms, floods, and collaborating with New Brunswick communities to align efforts, build capacity and help communities to become more resilient to future crises and disasters.

A Community Capacity and Resiliency branch has been established within the Department of Justice and Public Safety to coordinate efforts across government and support these community-led regional committees and coordinators.

About the Initiative


Across the province, 12 Regional Steering Committees have been established using Regional Service Commission boundaries. Each committee is unique and represents a wide range of sectors, including but not limited to: local and municipal government, Regional Service Commissions, businesses, non-governmental organizations, First Nation communities, Regional Health Authorities, and GNB departments. Each Regional Steering Committee is being supported by a Regional Resiliency Coordinator.





Long-Term Resiliency Planning


As New Brunswick recovers from the social and economic impacts of the pandemic, regional teams have developed long-term Regional Resiliency Plans. These plans are focused on building capacity through a community-led approach in order to be more resilient in the face of future disasters and crises. As Regional Service Commissions (RSCs) take on a community development role under the new local governance reform mandate, Community Capacity and Resiliency is working closely with RSCs to align work in common priority areas, strengthen capacity and avoid duplication by leveraging existing goals, structures, partners, initiatives, and implementation plans.

These plans include actions in the following high impact areas of resiliency.

Through collaborative efforts with existing community networks, Resiliency Steering Committees have identified important community concerns and implemented initiatives where gaps were identified. Some of the work done to date includes:

  • Healthy snack/breakfast programs in schools and libraries
  • Suicide prevention and intervention training
  • Establishing a community food centre
  • Community capacity building and leadership development forums
  • Community transportation volunteer recruitment and retention
  • Resources to promote youth mental health
  • Community food box programs
  • Conducting a survey to better understand homelessness
  • Resources that promote recreational activities, services and trails

To get in touch with the Regional Resiliency Coordinator in your area, contact [email protected].