Fostering community resiliency for displaced persons: A case study of the Saddlebrook Temporary Neighbourhood

In June 2013, the arid province of Alberta experienced heavy rainfall which caused rivers to overflow and flooding in urban areas. The Highwood River flood forced approximately 13,000 residents to flee their homes and the Town of High River. This case study reveals how the Government of Alberta and non-governmental actors accommodated and supported displaced persons through the provision of post-disaster temporary housing. The Saddlebrook Temporary Neighbourhood, known as Saddlebrook, was a place of community resiliency. This case study specifically examines how institutional actors collectively adapted social resources in order to foster community resiliency for displaced persons. In an era of climate change and rapid urbanization, the case of Saddlebrook contributes to increasing urban scholarship and research concerned with the displacement of urban populations after an environmental-related disaster.