Lac La Biche County receives the inaugural Community Wildfire Resilience Award, presented by the Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and FireSmart Alberta at RMA Insurance’s annual RiskPro event.
NISKU, ALBERTA, APRIL 24, 2025 – The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA), in partnership with FireSmart Alberta, is proud to announce Lac La Biche County as the first-ever recipient of the Community Wildfire Resilience Award. The award was presented today during RiskPro, RMA’s annual insurance and risk management education symposium, held at the River Cree Resort & Casino. This event brings together municipal leaders from across Alberta to explore and enhance local risk management practices.
“This award highlights the kind of leadership that makes a real difference for rural communities,” said Kara Westerlund, RMA President. “Lac La Biche County’s work sets a strong example for other municipalities navigating the growing risks of wildfire, and we’re proud to recognize their efforts alongside FireSmart Alberta.”
This new award recognizes municipalities that demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to wildfire resilience through proactive FireSmart initiatives. Lac La Biche County earned this distinction after achieving the highest score among participating rural municipalities in the FireSmart Alberta Community Scorecard pilot program, developed in collaboration with the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (ICCA).
“Municipalities are on the frontlines of wildfire risk, and the work Lac La Biche County has done stands as a model for communities across Alberta,” said Craig Pettigrew, General Manager, Insurance, at Rural Municipalities of Alberta. “We’re proud to partner with FireSmart Alberta to recognize that leadership and encourage others to take proactive steps in protecting their residents and infrastructure.”
Ten Alberta municipalities participated in the scorecard pilot. Lac La Biche County achieved top marks for its comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategy, which included public education, emergency response planning, vegetation management, and community engagement.
“Lac La Biche County became invested in Fire Smart in 2017. With our committed staff and highly dedicated community, we were able to lead the province per capita in Fire Smart initiatives – including assessments and educational events yearly since we began the program.” Said John H. Kokotilo, General Manager, Protective Services. “We are very humbled and extremely appreciative to FireSmart Alberta and RMA Insurance in acceptance of the 2025 Community Wildfire Resilience Award.”
Todd Loewen, Minister of Forestry and Parks, said municipalities are key role in helping Albertans protect their homes from wildfires. “FireSmart steps don’t have to be complicated or expensive – small changes can make a big difference,” he said. “Lac La Biche County is showing real leadership, and it’s great to see them setting an example for others across the province.”
In addition to receiving the inaugural award, Lac La Biche County will also be eligible for a municipal insurance discount. Officially launching in April 2025, this initiative provides insurance savings to municipalities that strive for excellence on their FireSmart Community Scorecard.
The program is designed to support proactive wildfire mitigation by offering annual savings based on each municipality’s insurance profile. These savings can be directly reinvested into future FireSmart initiatives identified in each municipality’s wildfire mitigation strategies, providing much-needed, flexible resources for wildfire prevention activities often not eligible for other funding streams.
The Lac La Biche Forest Area would like to congratulate Lac La Biche County on receiving the first annual Community Wildfire Resilience Award. Lac La Biche County is a welcome partner in the FireSmart program, with a positive working relationship with Alberta Forestry and Parks. Congratulations to all the passionate team members on having their commitment to wildfire mitigation recognized through this award.” Deanna Zelt, Forest Area Manager, Alberta Wildfire – Lac La Biche Forest Area.
The Community Wildfire Resilience Award will be presented annually moving forward, recognizing municipalities that are leading the way in wildfire preparedness and risk reduction. To learn more about the FireSmart program, click here.
About the Rural Municipalities of Alberta
The Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) is a trusted and independent association representing Alberta’s 69 counties and municipal districts. Since 1909, RMA remains committed to empowering rural municipalities with strong, effective local governance. Through dedicated advocacy and a suite of valued business services, including cooperative procurement and group benefits through the Canoe Procurement Group of Canada and comprehensive coverage through RMA Insurance, we strive to strengthen and support rural Alberta. Learn more at rmalberta.com.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Shamelle Pless
General Manager, Marketing & Communications, RMA
780.886.2480
shamelle@RMAlberta.com