Calgary takes a step towards implementing hail resilience plan, but not bringing back rebate

It’s been almost a year and Noemi Torres’ home is still not repaired from last year’s devastating hailstorm that battered homes in the northern part of Calgary.

She says she is facing at least $30,000 worth in damages with the siding and roof of the home still needing repairs.

“It’s really tough… When the weather is like this it really scares me that I have to prepare for what is going to happen again,” said Torres.

The Community Development Committee has endorsed a plan for the city to gather data and inform Calgarians about hailstorms, including investing in hail exposure mapping and creating a Hail Resilience Improvement Network, where the city works with industry partners to create resources to help homeowners decide how to protect themselves.

The plan is in response to a notice of motion from councillor Raj Dhaliwal, who has been looking for a return of the Resilient Roofing Rebate Program, an initiative where the city gave homeowners a rebate to upgrade their roofs to withstand harsher weather.

He says the recommendations don’t go far enough.

“I’m going to test my council colleagues will when it comes to council to see if I can bring an amendment to ask for some funding for that stop gap between now and next November, so we are not leaving these residents looking for answers,” Dhaliwal said.

But, some members of council aren’t aligned on whether it’s the city’s responsibility or other levels of government to help homeowners dealing from the effects of extreme weather.

“We’re not the ones that have the capacity, because we are talking about the billions of dollars of resilience,” said Coun. Courtney Walcott.

“I’m very interested in seeing what Councillor Dhaliwal will be bringing forward, what funding source he can identify,” Mayor Jyoti Gondek added.

Other recommendations that the committee endorsed include having the mayor ask the province to create a grant to help low-income homeowners pay for upgrades to protect their homes from hail, and amend legislation to allow the city to require hail resistant materials as part of a loan they give under its Clean Energy Improvement program.

In a statement to CityNews, the province says it’s working to find ways that “may help address” residents’ concerns.

The recommendations will now go to council.