Lytton, BC – On March 17, 2026, the Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia released its report on the Province’s role in supporting for the Village of Lytton’s recovery following the devastating 2021 fire. Covering the period from June 30, 2021, to March 31, 2025, the report:
- identifies challenges experienced by the Province while supporting and funding the Village’s recovery;
- summarizes provisions of the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act that apply to disaster recovery in small municipalities; and
- provides areas for the Province to consider as it develops policies and guidance for implementing its new emergency management framework.
Mayor Denise O’Connor said:
We appreciate the Auditor General’s work on this report. It recognizes the scale of devastation that our community faced and the complexity of the recovery that followed. As the report highlights, the Village did not have the capacity, expertise, or financial resources to lead recovery on its own.
The report touches on the complexity of our relationships with the Nlaka’pamux communities, and the reality on the ground was more nuanced. The Village works with multiple Nlaka’pamux governing bodies, each with distinct roles, histories, and leadership. Navigating these relationships during a crisis was challenging for everyone involved. There were opportunities for deeper collaboration that we hope to build on moving forward.
The recommendations and legislative updates in the report are important steps toward ensuring that small communities like Lytton are better supported in future disasters. We hope Lytton’s experience and the lessons captured in the report will strengthen provincial systems and improve collaboration with local governments and Indigenous partners across British Columbia.
Village response and ongoing work
The Village of Lytton is grateful for the funding commitments from the federal and provincial governments, which have been essential to recovery and rebuilding efforts. The Village continues to work closely with the Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, and neighbouring Nlaka’pamux communities.
The Village of Lytton’s current focus is on rebuilding and long-term recovery with significant progress on:
- corporate recovery, including restoring municipal operations, bylaws and other records, and governance capacity;
- rebuilding critical infrastructure;
- supporting residents and businesses with rebuilding and returning to the community;
- updating the Village’s Official Community Plan; and
- advancing economic development initiatives.
Find updates on rebuilding and other initiatives at www.lytton.ca.