Canada Launches First-of-Its-Kind $8M Prescribed Fire Training Initiative
In a significant move to address escalating wildfire threats and ecological imbalances, Canada has unveiled a groundbreaking $8 million training program designed to reignite the responsible use of prescribed fire across the nation. The Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program (CPFTP), announced on February 25, 2026, represents a collaborative effort between the University of British Columbia's Okanagan Campus and the Weston Family Foundation to strengthen national capacity for safe, effective fire management.
Addressing a Critical Gap in Land Management
For generations, society has been conditioned to fear fire without recognizing its essential role in maintaining ecological resilience. Diverse Canadian ecosystems have evolved over millennia to depend on periodic fire events that support biodiversity, ecological health, and natural balance. However, decades of widespread fire suppression and exclusion have left these systems dangerously out of equilibrium.
As vegetation accumulates without natural fire cycles, it creates abundant fuel that transforms wildfires into increasingly intense, uncontrollable infernos. This phenomenon has contributed directly to the devastating and severe wildfire seasons that have plagued Canada in recent years.
The Prescribed Fire Solution
Prescribed fire represents a safe, planned, and scientifically proven land management tool that enhances ecosystem health while reducing wildfire severity and risk. Despite its demonstrated benefits, prescribed fire remains vastly underutilized across Canada, constrained by limited training opportunities, mentorship programs, and operational field experience.
"The compounding effects of climate change and extreme wildfire events demand more proactive, planned, and land-driven management tools," emphasized Garfield Mitchell, Chair of the Weston Family Foundation. "This program directly addresses the skills and training gap that has been long overlooked to strengthen our capacity for widespread and responsible use of prescribed fire in Canada."
Regional Hubs for National Impact
The CPFTP will educate and train practitioners through five strategically located regional hubs:
- Western Canada hub
- Northern Canada hub
- Central Canada hub
- Eastern Canada hub
- Atlantic Canada hub
This regional approach ensures training reflects local ecosystems, governance structures, and operational realities while delivering significant community safety and ecological benefits nationwide. The program emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration and evidence-informed practice while respecting and supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship and cultural fire practices.
Building National Standards and Capacity
"Canada's ability to expand prescribed fire use has been constrained by a lack of coordinated training and clear pathways to operational experience," explained Dr. Mathieu Bourbonnais, Assistant Professor at UBC Okanagan and Director of the Canadian Prescribed Fire Training Program. "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 initiative follows successful prescribed fire operations like the Flint's/Stoney Meadows burn conducted by Parks Canada in Banff National Park on October 21, 2021, which promoted native grassland habitat for ungulates while reducing tree and shrub encroachment.
As Canada faces increasingly severe wildfire seasons exacerbated by climate change, this $8 million training program represents a crucial investment in proactive land management strategies that balance ecological restoration with community protection.
