Fraser Valley/Chawathil First Nation – Chawathil First Nation is strengthening its emergency preparedness and response capabilities with the donation of a pickup truck from Enbridge, an energy transportation company that owns and operates the major natural gas pipeline system in B.C. and runs through the Nation’s traditional territory in the Fraser Valley.
The truck, previously used by Enbridge’s operations team in Kamloops, was officially handed over to the Nation during a community event on Friday, September 4. The vehicle will help address a longstanding need identified by the Nation’s emergency response team, which previously had only one dedicated emergency response vehicle.
The pickup truck will help provide the Nation’s emergency response team with greater capacity to access remote service roads and back-country areas during emergencies, transport emergency supplies and equipment, and support evacuations and community safety initiatives.
Chawathil First Nation’s emergency response team assists with various community needs, including severe weather events and other emergencies in the Fraser Valley. During the 2021 atmospheric river, Chawathil opened its gym to people stranded by highway closures. Beyond emergency response, the vehicle will also support day-to-day community operations.
As part of Enbridge’s broader commitment to emergency preparedness in the region, the company also hosted a full-day emergency management workshop attended by Indigenous and local emergency coordinators, first responders and emergency services partners in Chilliwack on June 2026. The workshop included a tabletop exercise simulating a pipeline emergency, providing participants with an opportunity to test emergency response plans, strengthen coordination, refresh skills and build relationships that are critical during an emergency.
Chief Aaron Pete, Chawathil First Nation – “Having access to a truck allows us to better support members during emergencies and while travelling to project sites. It is important that we have the resources we need to do our work safely and effectively, and we’re grateful to have partners like Enbridge that are mindful of what we actually need.”
Michelle Furlong, Westcoast Transmission South Operations Manager, Enbridge – “We are proud to support Chawathil First Nation with a resource that will help their emergency response team. This donation also reflects our commitment to building long-term relationships with Indigenous communities and working together on initiatives that create meaningful and lasting benefits for all.”
