North Shore Recovery Funds: October Update
This summer and fall, North Shore community projects funded by the Community Foundation of NL (CFNL) Recovery Funds moved from plans to progress.
Thank you to everyone who has given so generously to these recovery funds. Your gifts have made a real financial difference, and they’ve also sent a message that matters just as much: North Shore residents are not facing this alone.
One of our goals has been to be as transparent as possible about the donations, disbursements and decisions for these recovery funds. You can find all of our previous updates here.
Financial Report (as of September 30, 2026)
Below is an updated financial report for all three recovery funds CFNL has stewarded. All funds are in the final stages of disbursement.
| Adam’s Cove (Fire Fighting) | North Shore Fires Recovery Fund | 2025 NL Forest Fires Recovery Fund* | Total | |
| Purpose | Volunteer firefighting capacity & equipment | Primary residences lost in fires | Community organizations & infrastructure | |
| Total Raised | $79,902 | $274,141 | $176,684 | $530,727 |
| Donation Processing Fees | $891 | $567 | $779 | $2,237 |
| Admin Fee | $2,397 – Waived | $8,224 – Waived | $5,121 – Waived | $15,742 – Waived |
| Expenses** | $0 | $518 | $772 | $1,290 |
| Net Distributed | $77,466 | $241,573 | $152,713 | $471,752 |
| Remainder to be Distributed | $1,545 | $31,483 | $22,420 | $55,448 |
| Total Donors | 444 | 332 | 102 | 878 |
| Number of Grants | 1 | 120 households | 5 | 126 |
| Process for Disbursement | Disbursed to the only Volunteer Fire Department serving the region | Consultation with local leaders; utilized the Government of NL verified primary residence list | Community conversations with community leaders |
*Note – The 2025 NL Forest Fires Recovery Fund is a partnership with CFNL, Community Sector Council of NL, Municipalities NL, and United Way of NL.
** Note – This includes only direct expenses to disburse the fund like postage and food for the community conversations.
Support for Households
Through the North Shore Fires Recovery Fund, households that lost their primary residence were offered an equal share of the funds. Support reached 120 households, and two households chose to give their full share back to help neighbours facing greater challenges.
10% of the fund (approximately $30,000) was set aside to explore ways to help those facing the most significant barriers to rebuilding. We’re continuing to work with community and government partners to determine how these funds will be disbursed.
Support for Community Projects
All five community projects are fully funded:
- Western Bay Boardwalk ($40,000)
- North Shore Recreation Trails ($66,175)
- Dry Hydrant ($25,000). Support the North Shore Volunteer Fire Department’s ongoing work here.
- Trailing Falls Park, formerly Broad Cove Park ($37,500). Learn more about this project and donate here.
- Kingston Community Area ($3,890)
These five projects total $172,565. CFNL covered the difference between this total and the funds raised from our Community Fund, so all five projects could move forward in full.
You can read more about each project and how communities chose them in From the Ground Up: How North Shore Communities Are Rebuilding.
Here’s a look at some of the work happening this summer and fall:
(Insert photos with project name as captions)
What We’ve Learned
Over the summer, we took time to reflect with the Unincorporated Areas Committee, the Town of Small Point to Adam’s Cove Recovery Committee, the Province and our own team. A few things stood out:
- Community conversations worked. Bringing leaders from incorporated and unincorporated communities together to decide how to use funds was key to getting them where they could have the biggest impact and was an important moment in the North Shore’s recovery as a region.
- Being present and transparent matters. Showing up in person, keeping a phone option for donations and disbursements alongside online forms, and being open about every dollar built trust.
- Earlier is better. Many people didn’t know who CFNL was when the fires began. Next year, we’ll work with North Shore partners on a practical guide that helps other local leaders in the province understand their options for managing donations during a crisis.
What’s Next
Once the remaining funds are disbursed, these recovery funds will close. Thank you to the donors, volunteers, community leaders and partners who made this work possible.
If you have questions, please contact us at info@cfnl.ca or (709) 753-9899.