A fire devastated British Columbia’s Village of Lytton on June 30, 2021.
It claimed two lives, burned down 90 per cent of the Village, destroyed over 100 properties, and damaged more than 40 homes in the Lytton First Nation community.
Since then, Lytton has been gradually rebuilding after the disaster.
The immediate aftermath saw a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) declaration, which was essential for safety and restoration efforts.
It remained in effect until June 14, 2023, almost two years after its declaration.
Delays persisted, in part because of contamination concerns and Lytton's archaeological significance.
Removing and replacing contaminated soil took time, and the Heritage Conservation Act required additional measures.
Logistic and regulatory complexities further impeded rebuilding efforts.
Despite these challenges, Lytton's building department issued permits for the TELUS Communications Building in two phases. They issued a permit for Phase 1 in April 2022 and Phase 2 in June 2023.
This marked a crucial milestone in the rebuilding efforts following the lifting of the SOLE.
In 2021, Lytton embraced Cloudpermit to improve its rebuilding process. As a result, the Village's team receives and issues permits faster.
Cloudpermit has transformed our permit process,” said Lynn Berlin, the Village of Lytton's Manager of Building & Permits/Building Official - Plan Reviewer. “We can now handle applications, process payments, and issue permits entirely online.”
This digital approach expedited the approval of various projects. These projects included residential, commercial, and institutional developments like a Chinese history museum and a school district gazebo.
Detailed reporting also aids the Village in monitoring a developing situation amid emerging initiatives.
We can generate reports for StatsCan, track payments, permits, reviews, and inspections with ease,” Berlin explained. “These reports help our finance department to collect payment information and our building department to compile accurate building statistics.”
These new construction projects showcase the community's determination and progress toward recovery.
Lytton's construction values have increased substantially as construction projects continue to gain momentum.
Construction values have doubled from January to June of this year.
Lytton’s construction values have increased substantially from $1.5 million at the end of 2023 to $7.4 million as of June 2024,” noted Berlin.
This represents a 393 per cent increase in construction value over the whole of 2023, achieved in just the first six months of 2024.
Berlin anticipates even more growth in permit applications over the next two years as preliminary work and design processes continue. This signals optimism for the future.
Remote work also embodies hope for what is to come by giving staff greater flexibility.
Cloudpermit allows me to work effectively online from 400 kilometres away from Lytton,” said Berlin. “I remotely accept applications, issue permits, and manage follow-ups.”
Berlin can review plans online, mark them up, and upload them to the software as part of an applicant’s building permit. From there, applicants can download their permits and any other documents they need.
Inspections have also become easier with remote capabilities.
Applicants can find their properties on a GIS-integrated map and request an inspection online.
Lytton’s staff then use the software to dispatch an inspector and confirm the inspection request.
Our building inspector lives 140 kilometres away and Cloudpermit enables him to prepare for inspections off-site,” she continued. “After completing an online inspection, the software automatically updates contractors, the property owner and other stakeholders. This process greatly boosts our efficiency.”
By giving staff and residents opportunities to manage permits and inspections online, rebuilding efforts can proceed more efficiently.
It has been challenging for displaced property owners to rebuild after the fire, but digital tools offer substantial help.
Property owners can start and finish applications from anywhere, not just Lytton.
Cloudpermit guides applicants through the application process by listing necessary documents and ensuring all information is complete before submission.
Now, we collect all the permit documents we need digitally,” said Berlin. “There is a quicker turnaround when applications have all the required documents and plans. Applicants also receive their permit automatically through Cloudpermit once we issue it, which further speeds up the process.”
Navigating the building process has been new for most residents who lost their homes.
Many property owners are now working closely with experienced builders to manage the design and permitting stages.
As some homes begin construction, others benefit from the knowledge gained by these early rebuilders. This underscores strong, continued community support across the Village.
Lytton's journey to rebuild and grow after tragedy is marked by perseverance, technological innovation, and community effort. Despite the challenges, their story is one of resilience and strength in the face of adversity.