“It was one of Canada’s largest flooding disasters, and for us, it was deeply personal,” says Siemens. “The main dike breach happened on the site of my wife’s family farm. I understand firsthand what farmers went through—generations of work, washed away.” REBUILDING STRONGER: INFRASTRUCTURE AND FLOOD RESILIENCE Recovery began immediately, with the city completing permanent repairs to both main dike breaches, restoring roads and bridges, and stabilizing the Sumas River banks. A phased flood resilience strategy is now underway, including upgrades to the Barrowtown Pump Station and the installation of backup power systems to ensure operations during emergencies. Despite these efforts, Siemens warns the city remains vulnerable without critical infrastructure investments—particularly when the flood source is outside municipal control. “The Nooksack River is in Washington State, so while we’re doing everything we can on our side, we need coordination with the US government. We know what needs to be done, but the longer we wait, the greater the risk.” The November 2021 flood was one of Canada’s costliest natural disasters. It devastated Abbotsford’s Sumas Prairie, forcing the eviction of more than 3,300 properties and resulting in the loss of more than 600,000 livestock and poultry. (2021). (Photo Credit- City of Abbotsford) 52 AUG 2025 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
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