Sault Ste. Marie residents have until October 2, 2026, to fill out a short survey about extreme weather and climate impacts they have seen in their neighbourhoods. The City of Sault Ste. Marie is using the feedback to build its first Community Climate Change Adaptation Plan.
“Local knowledge is an essential part of effective climate adaptation planning,” said Emily Cormier, the City’s Sustainability Coordinator, when the survey launched on September 4. The survey takes about five minutes and is available online at surveymonkey.com.
The plan will guide how the City updates infrastructure, services, and emergency preparedness as Sault Ste. Marie experiences more extreme weather. The Community Climate Change Adaptation Plan is supported by $83,922 in federal funding from the Green Municipal Fund’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative.
Residents have already seen the effects of a changing climate. The Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority issued multiple flood warnings and outlook statements in 2026 because of heavy rainfall and above-normal stream flows.
The City has climate targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10% for corporate operations and 5% for the community by 2030, with a net-zero goal by 2050. However, a recent sustainability report shows emissions are moving in the wrong direction: community emissions rose 3% from 2017 to 2022, and corporate emissions rose 5% from 2017 to 2023. Industrial emissions make up 70.3% of the community total, while the residential sector saw a 14% increase.
Along with the online survey, the City plans an in-person community engagement event in late fall 2026 for residents to learn more and share ideas about climate resilience.
