Eight years after a devastating flood in Grand Forks, local politicians are celebrating the completion of a more than $60-million flood protection system designed to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, mayor Everett Baker called reaching the finish line on the flood mitigation program a “significant milestone” for the city and an opportunity to celebrate “years of collaboration, dedication, and investment in the safety and resilience of our community, while also reflecting on the journey that brought us here.”
In May 2018, a one-in-200-year flood on the Kettle and Granby Rivers damaged over 500 homes and forced widespread evacuations across the Boundary. In the aftermath, Baker said, it was hard to comprehend the work that lay ahead. What started as an emergency response turned into a long-term commitment that involved the combined efforts of the city, regional district, and provincial and federal governments.
“We have delivered lasting flood protection for neighborhoods, businesses, industry, and critical infrastructure,” Baker said.
“While today is a celebration of what has been accomplished it is also important that we recognize the experiences that have shaped this project. The 2018 flood had a profound effect on the entire community of Grand Forks, affecting homes, businesses, and neighborhoods throughout the city.”
Baker said the years following the flood required “resilience, patience, collaboration,” and for city council, “some very difficult decisions.”
What is officially known as the City of Grand Forks flood mitigation program can be measured in many ways. The money spent resulted in the construction of four new dikes that extend over three kilometers, plus two large stormwater pump stations, 1,100 meters of drainage infrastructure, and 10 hectares of restored floodplains. Over 28,000 trees were planted. There are berms and a dismountable wall.
Baker said while no community is ever entirely safe from flood risk, Grand Forks is far better prepared than it was in 2018. He said the work has “significantly strengthened the city’s ability to manage future flood risk,” although he acknowledged it comes too late for the people of North Ruckle. Residents whose homes survived the high water were subsequently bought out. Baker said city council is exploring ways to commemorate the lost neighbourhood.
Kelly Greene, the minister in charge of emergency management and climate readiness, toured the completed project today and said the Grand Forks example offers a “blueprint” for other communities bracing for the realities of climate change. “It shows us how collaboration and the leadership of local government helps us create programs that deliver real results for people,” she said.
As a demonstration of both how long the project has taken and of the non-partisanship involved, those at the ceremony included current Conservative MP Helena Konanz and former New Democrat MP Richard Cannings; current Conservative MLA Donegal Wilson, former New Democrat MLA Roly Russell, and former Liberal MLA Linda Larson; current mayor Baker and former mayor Brian Taylor; plus regional district directors and current and former city councillors. Baker joked that it was “like old home week.”
Konanz called the project’s completion “a miracle” that showed what can be accomplished when governments collaborate instead of pointing figures and avoiding responsibility.
Wilson said the flood left Grand Forks with “uncertainty, heartbreak, and enormous challenges.” Today’s ceremony signified that those things are over, she added. But she also took it as a reminder that other parts of her riding remain vulnerable: “I hope it can be a template so other communities don’t have to take eight years to get here.”
One person not present was prime minister Mark Carney. Even then, Baker read out a letter on Carney’s behalf.
The video below shows what the 2018 flood wrought and the efforts that have occurred since to build new infrastructure to prevent a repeat.
