Federal investments in natural infrastructure are advancing flood protection and creating new green community spaces in both Manitoba and Yukon, with projects designed to reduce climate risks while improving public access to nature.
In Brandon, Manitoba, a $1 million federal contribution will support the creation of a large naturalized stormwater pond and expanded trail connections, while more than $2.4 million in federal funding is flowing to Yukon communities to restore shorelines, protect critical farmland, and build culturally significant healing and food-growing spaces.
Together, the projects highlight a growing focus on nature-based solutions that combine flood mitigation, climate resilience, and community well-being.
Prairie flood protection and green space in Brandon
Residents of Brandon will see improved flood protection and expanded recreational opportunities through the investment supporting a project that blends stormwater management with public green space. The initiative will create a 10-acre naturalized stormwater pond designed to mimic prairie wetlands. By filtering water, absorbing carbon, and reducing pollution, the pond will increase stormwater storage capacity and help prevent overland flooding during heavy rain events.
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The project also includes a 500-metre multi-use pathway that will connect to Brandon’s existing trail network, along with the planting of approximately 100 trees and native wetland species. New benches, signage, and waste bins will further enhance the area as a welcoming and sustainable space for community use.
“This naturalized stormwater pond project will not only be a game-changer for flooding and drainage issues, it’ll also be fantastic for everyone who enjoys spending time outdoors,” announced Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett in a statement.
The federal government’s contribution is being delivered through the Natural Infrastructure Fund, with the City of Brandon contributing $5.2 million toward the project. The fund supports natural and hybrid infrastructure approaches that strengthen climate resilience, protect biodiversity, and expand public access to nature, including wetlands, urban forests, bioswales, and naturalized stormwater systems. A minimum of 10%of the program’s overall funding envelope is allocated to Indigenous-led projects.
The investment also aligns with the federal Framework to Build a Green Prairie Economy, launched in December 2023, which emphasizes a collaborative, region-specific approach to sustainability and economic development across the Prairie provinces. PrairiesCan has committed $100 million over three years to support projects that advance these priorities.
Northern communities strengthen resilience and access to nature
In Yukon, more than $2.4 million in federal funding is supporting flood mitigation and community green space projects in Teslin and Dawson City, responding to climate-driven risks such as increased flooding, erosion, and permafrost degradation.
In Teslin, approximately 450 metres of shoreline along Teslin Lake will be restored through the placement of rip-rap and armouring rocks, along with the planting of native vegetation. The project will reduce flooding and erosion risks linked to increasingly frequent high-water events, while re-grading the shoreline to create a level walking path with signage to improve public access.
In Dawson City, funding will help protect the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in farm by constructing a 340-metre berm and planting berry-producing shrubs and other perennial plants to guide runoff water through the site. The work is intended to prevent erosion while increasing food security, and includes improvements and expansions to the farm’s existing 1.3-kilometre trail system to support community outreach and access.
Additional funding in Dawson City will establish a natural green space between the local hospital and long-term care facility, creating a healing garden designed to provide patients, residents, and families with access to nature. The garden will feature permaculture plantings, Hügelkultur garden beds for traditional medicines and culturally significant plants, as well as signage, walkways, and benches.
“Climate change continues to affect our daily lives, especially in the North,” announced the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, Rebecca Chartrand. “Northerners are seeing increased flooding, record high temperatures, wildfires, and impacts to permafrost that are damaging infrastructure.”
Chartrand added that Teslin and Dawson City are like so many Indigenous and northern communities that are finding themselves on the frontlines of climate change “and I commend their ongoing efforts in confronting this problem head-on while also increasing food security and making these natural spaces more accessible,” she stated.
