Enbridge donates pickup truck to support Chawathil First Nation emergency response efforts
For eight years, Audrey George relied on her personal vehicle to support the Chawathil First Nation’s emergency response efforts. Whether it was picking up supplies, evacuating people, or helping coordinate community preparedness activities, she used her own car when the Nation’s sole emergency response vehicle wasn’t available. But her vehicle had limitations.
“When we have emergencies, it’s usually torrential rain,” said George, who serves as a councillor and emergency coordinator of Chawathil First Nation. “We need a good vehicle to get into rough roads, pick up and distribute supplies, and support our people.”
On Sept. 4, 2026, Enbridge helped meet that need.
The energy transportation company, which operates the Westcoast natural gas pipeline system running through the Nation’s traditional territory in the Fraser Valley, donated a trusted pickup truck to the Nation.
Previously used by Enbridge’s operations team in Kamloops, the truck will now 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.
“Having access to a truck allows us to better support members during emergencies and even while travelling to project sites,” said Chawathil First Nation Chief Aaron Pete.
“It’s 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.”
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.
Enbridge representatives hand over a former Enbridge fleet vehicle to Chawathil First Nation Chief Aaron Pete, fourth from left, and Councillor Audrey George, sixth from left, for use as an emergency response vehicle by the Nation.
For a team of 13 emergency responders, having access to additional vehicle will help improve readiness and response capacity within the Nation and across the region.
“When people are stranded, like during the recent atmospheric river flooding, we help whoever we can, when we can, where we can,” said George. “This truck will definitely be put to good use.”
The truck donation builds on Enbridge’s broader commitment to emergency preparedness in the Fraser Valley. Earlier this year, the company hosted a full-day emergency management workshop in Chilliwack attended by Indigenous and local emergency coordinators, first responders and emergency services partners.
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.
