Weston Family Foundation and UBC Okanagan Launch $8 Million Prescribed Fire Training Program for Canada

National Initiative Addresses Wildfire Challenges

The Weston Family Foundation and the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus (UBCO) officially launched an $8 million Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program (CPFTP) on February 25, 2026. This first-of-its-kind national initiative is designed to significantly strengthen Canada's capacity for the safe and effective use of prescribed fire, a critical tool for land management and ecological restoration.

The program seeks to address a notable gap in Canada's current approach to fire management, where prescribed fire remains underused due to limited training, mentorship, and opportunities for operational experience. Garfield Mitchell, Chair of the Weston Family Foundation, highlighted the urgency of the program, stating, 'The compounding effects of climate change and extreme wildfire events call for more proactive, planned and land-driven management tools to support healthy, wildfire resilient landscapes.'

Program Structure and Objectives

The Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program will educate and train practitioners across the country through five regional hubs: Western, Northern, Central, Eastern, and Atlantic Canada. This decentralized approach ensures that training is tailored to reflect local ecosystems, governance structures, and operational realities.

Key objectives of the CPFTP include:

• Strengthening national capacity for the safe and effective use of prescribed fire.
• Enhancing biodiversity and strengthening ecological and community resilience.
• Promoting evidence-informed practice and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Respecting and supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship and cultural fire practices.

Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, Assistant Professor at UBCO's Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science and Director of the CPFTP, emphasized the program's foundational role. He noted, 'This program provides the leadership and structure needed to establish national standards, deliver regionally grounded training and build the capacity required to apply prescribed fire safely, responsibly and at scale.'

The Role of Prescribed Fire in Healthy Ecosystems

Prescribed fire is a rigorously planned and controlled land management practice essential for maintaining healthy ecosystems. Canada's diverse ecosystems have evolved over millennia to rely on fire to support biodiversity, ecological health, and resilience. However, historical land management practices, including widespread fire suppression, have led to an imbalance, resulting in increased vegetation buildup that fuels more intense and harder-to-control wildfires.

By reintroducing controlled burns, the program aims to:

• Reduce wildfire severity and risk.
• Improve habitat and restore ecological integrity.
• Enhance the overall health of ecosystems.

The Weston Family Foundation's commitment of $8 million underscores the recognition of prescribed fire as a vital tool in proactive land management, contributing to both environmental well-being and community safety across Canada.