Tantramar Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2026
EOS is partnering with the Municipality of Tantramar to complete a comprehensive, community-based Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Tantramar in 2026.
Due to its low-lying coastal location, the Chignecto region is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. The region is being impacted by hurricanes and coastal storm surges, faster erosion rates, fresh water floods, wind storms, unprecedented summer temperatures, and longer drought periods. These impacts affect the economy, infrastructure, livelihoods, safety, and human health. Adaptation planning is critical for municipalities and residents to understand what to prioritize in climate change adaptation initiatives.
Community Engagement
Three community climate risk discussions were held in November 2025 and January 2026. See the reports from each event below:
- Sackville Climate Risk Discussion Report (November 2025)
- Fort Folly Climate Risk Discussion Report (January 2026)
- Dorchester Climate Risk Discussion Report (January 2026)
A community engagement survey (titled “Your Tantramar Climate Check-In”) was released in mid-December 2025 and responses were accepted until mid-February 2026. This survey was available to take online, via the Maptionnaire community mapping platform, or on-paper at 6 locations around Tantramar.
Climate Change Risk Assessment
EOS Eco-Energy, the Municipality of Tantramar, the Atlantic Infrastructure Management (AIM) Network, and the We6 Planning Group worked collaboratively to conduct a comprehensive climate change risk assessment and vulnerability profile for the Municipality of Tantramar. Assessing climate risk involves evaluating the connection between a community’s hazards, exposure, and vulnerability to climate change to inform the community of what to prioritize in preparation and adaptation.
the AIM Network is conducting an infrastructure risk assessment with an analysis of adaptation options for coastal climate impacts, alongside capital planning recommendations. The AIM Network has also assessed the risk for Tantramar across services to municipal citizens provided by the infrastructure for potable water, stormwater, and wastewater, and that of dwellings and municipal buildings. EOS expanded on this assessment by contributing community engagement and health data from the Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessment completed for Tantramar-Strait Shores (2023).
Project Team
The internal project team consists of the following people:
- Janie Brooks, Climate Change Projects Manager – EOS Eco-Energy
- Kal Dutta, Acting Executive Director – EOS Eco-Energy (2024-2025)
- Brittany Cormier, Executive Director – EOS Eco-Energy
- Ron Kelly Spurles, Manager of Tourism & Business Development – Municipality of Tantramar
- The AIM Network Climate Resilient Coastal Communities Working Group
- Jennifer Borne, Chief Administrative Officer – Municipality of Tantramar
- Michael Beal, Director of Financial Services – Municipality of Tantramar
The project team have consulted several specialists, including experts in community flood mapping, effective community engagement, firefighting/EMO, climate-focused forestry, and climate data specialists. Staff of CLIMAtlantic, the We6 Planning Group, the NB Climate Change Secretariat, the Sackville & Dorchester Fire Departments, Mount Allison University’s Environmental Science Department, Mount Allison University’s Biology Department, and Community Forests International were eager to contribute to this project and their insights are helping guide the Adaptation Plan priorities.
Project Steering Committee
In spring 2025, EOS formed a project steering committee to oversee the development of the climate change risk assessment and climate change adaptation plan. Janie Brooks (EOS’ Climate Change Projects Manager), Kal Dutta (during her time as EOS’ Acting Executive Director), Brittany Cormier (as EOS’ Executive Director) and Ron Kelly Spurles as the internal project team have met with the steering committee to receive guidance and advice throughout the project. The steering committee consists of the following members:
- Corrine Cash – Mount Allison University Associate Professor of Planning and Community Climate Adaptation
- Adam Cheeseman – Vice Chair of the Tantramar Climate Change Advisory Committee & Program Director at NatureNB
- Jean Nye – Elder of Fort Folly (Amlamgog) First Nation
- Mariah Malone – Health Promoter at Vitalité Health Network
- Prativa Pradhan – Climate Change Adaptation Analyst on the GNB’s Climate Change Secretariat