New Brunswick is already feeling the effects of climate change, with rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and rainfall increase shaping the landscape.
The province also has a higher proportion of people living in rural areas than the rest of the country. However, smaller municipalities often don’t have the staff or resources to mitigate these risks without additional support. That's where the CRIS can help. The program matches eligible communities with a member of our Roster of Experts, who can provide locally tailored, actionable solutions to strengthen housing and infrastructure for a changing climate.
The Municipality of St. Stephen, New Brunswick is one of the communities taking action.
In 2023, the Municipality experienced a severe winter storm that caused significant damage to the Waterfront Trail, with erosion undermining trail stability, threatening public safety, and driving up repair costs. The storm caused $50,000 in damage due to flooding and shoreline erosion (Government of New Brunswick, 2025).
With CRIS support, St. Stephen engaged an expert to conduct a climate hazard analysis and recommend cost-effective, low-carbon resilience measures. The project is designed to protect a valued community asset, reduce longterm costs, and serve as a model for other small municipalities managing shoreline risks.
The CRIS work included:
- A climate hazard analysis with details on how the Waterfront Trail's exposure to flooding, shoreline erosion, extreme weather will increase or change over time
- Details on how elements of the natural, built, and social environment that could shape the trail’s susceptibility to these hazards
- A selection of project options for the Municipality of St. Stephen to reduce the risk of future damages, including reinforcements like seawalls, elevated infrastructure, breakwaters and more
- A cost-benefits analysis of these potential options from an expert perspective
"CRIS and the opportunities they offer are great for any municipality, especially smaller, rural communities like ours. We were very pleased with the funding and we would encourage any municipal staff member looking for expert help to at least reach out to CRIS", shared Kev Sumner, Director of Parks & Community Services at St. Stephen.
Sumner hopes the project will serve as an example to other small communities facing similar challenges.
