BCAA is putting $750,000 over three years into mental health support for people in BC communities affected by wildfires. The money will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association's BC division (CMHA BC).
The program, called Beyond Wildfires, will initially fund work by CMHA branches in Vernon, the Cariboo Chilcotin and Northern BC. BCAA said it is the first time its wildfire support has reached directly into communities, beyond first responders.
In Vernon, the funding will support community-led recovery from the Bradley Creek wildfire, as well as youth programs on wildfire resilience. The fire started on July 31 and spread rapidly in strong winds, and Okanagan Indian Band Chief Dan Wilson estimated that about 230 homes were destroyed west of Vernon, IB reported in August. Insurers set up mobile claims support as thousands were evacuated across the province.
In the Cariboo Chilcotin, the funding will pay for a family wellness program in Williams Lake and help the local branch keep services running during emergencies. Around Prince George, CMHA Northern BC will offer low-barrier counselling to residents repeatedly affected by wildfires.
"When we learned how mental health needs evolve as communities move from immediate emergency response into recovery, we knew we wanted to commit to a major, multi-year investment," said Shawn Pettipas (pictured), BCAA's director of corporate purpose.
CMHA BC chief executive Jonny Morris said recovery for individuals and families often only begins once a fire is contained, and that mental health effects can appear months or even years later. The organization listed depression, grief, post-traumatic stress and anxiety among the possible effects.
That timeline is longer than the insurance response. Home insurance policies cover rebuilding and additional living expenses after a total loss, but the support usually ends when the claim settles or the temporary housing limit runs out. The psychological effects of losing a home, and of being evacuated repeatedly in fire-prone regions, aren't covered by property insurance, although they can shape how quickly people rebuild and whether they return.
Repeated exposure is a growing issue in BC. CMHA Northern BC said the effects compound when fires strike the same communities again and again, which is the focus of its Prince George program.
BCAA, which sells home and auto insurance in BC, will also continue funding CMHA BC's Resilient Minds training and extend it to volunteer firefighters. Its annual Fireweed Pin campaign raised more than $165,000 this year, which will go to CMHA BC and the First Nations' Emergency Services Society.
The partnership follows a broader pattern of insurers supporting recovery and resilience beyond paying claims, ranging from disaster response funding to mitigation advocacy.
For brokers with clients in fire-prone parts of BC, it's also a reminder that recovery from a total loss takes far longer than the claim itself. Clients rebuilding after the Bradley Creek fire are likely to need support well into 2027.
