Each month we provide an update on UBCM funding programs and information on other programs, events, and resources that may be of interest to local governments and First Nations.
Local Government Program Services
Applications are currently being accepted for the following funding programs. A complete and chronological listing (by intake deadline) of currently offered Local Government Program Services grants is also available on the UBCM website.
Poverty Reduction Planning & Action: The intent of the Poverty Reduction Planning & Action program is to support local governments in reducing poverty at the local level and to support the Province’s poverty reduction strategy, TogetherBC. The application deadline is February 11, 2022.
Emergency Operations Centres and Training: The EOC funding stream is intended to support the purchase of equipment and supplies required to maintain or improve Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) and to enhance EOC capacity through training and exercises. The deadline for applications is February 25, 2022.
Community to Community Forums 2022-2023: The goal of Regional C2C Forums is to increase understanding and improved overall relations between First Nations and local governments. Forum events are intended to provide a time and place for dialogue to build on opportunities, support reconciliation efforts, resolve issues of common responsibility, interest or concern, and/or to advance tangible outcomes.
C2C Forums must include direct dialogue between elected officials and/or senior staff of neighbouring First Nations and local governments to work toward one or more common objectives. The next cycle of intakes is now open and the first application deadline is April 8, 2022.
Other Funding
Active Transportation Fund: Federal funding is now available to generate economic, environmental and social benefits for Canadians by increasing the amount, quality and usage of active transportation infrastructure. Eligible projects will support a modal shift away from cars and towards active transportation. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for successful applicants who wish to undertake planning, design, or stakeholder engagement activities. Funding can cover up to 100% of eligible costs. The application intake deadline is March 31, 2022 at 7pm EST.
Challenge Your Community to ParticipACTION: The 2022 ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge will run from June 1 – 30. Micro-grants are available for up to $1,500 to support activities that get your community active during the challenge. One community will win $100,000. ParticipACTION has earmarked a portion of the funds to specifically support multi-sport projects that engage women and girls through the Sport Canada Gender Equity Fund. The application deadline is February 21, 2022.
The CleanBC Communities Fund (CCF): Provincial and federal funding is available for community infrastructure projects that reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The third and final intake of the fund closes May 25, 2022. The fund supports cost-shared infrastructure projects that focus on management of renewable energy, improved access to clean-energy transportation, improved energy efficiency of buildings and the generation of clean energy. Four different information webinars will take place in February and March to support applicants to understand the program and strengthen their applications.
Community Internet Project Funding: The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) has an upcoming intake for its Community Investment Program. The grant application period will open March 1 and close April 13, 2022 at 2:00 pm EST. Eligible organizations can apply for up to $100,000 to fund community internet projects.
Indigenous communities are eligible to apply to this grant program, as are non-profit organizations, and academics at post-secondary institutions. This funding is not directly available to local governments; however, regional districts and municipalities are welcomed as project partners when the lead applicant is an eligible organization.
CIRA identifies infrastructure, digital literacy, cybersecurity, and community leadership as priority funding areas. It is particularly interested in initiatives to benefit Indigenous, northern, and rural communities; as well as students, both K-12 and post-secondary.
Refugee Resettlement Funding: A federal $2 million Refugee Resettlement Fund has been established to support BC communities resettling refugee families by boosting local services for refugees. Six BC communities expected to receive refugees have dedicated service provider organizations to deliver the Refugee Assistance Program (RAP). RAP provides essential services to refugees in their first year. RAP providers in BC are: Immigrant Services Society of BC, Vancouver; Kelowna Community Resources; Inter-cultural Association of Greater Victoria. Nanaimo, Abbotsford and Surrey providers will be identified soon. Information and resources for refugees in BC can be found on the BC Refugee Hub a provincially-funded online resource hub. Contact the Province with questions about refugee resettlement in BC.
Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund: The DMAF is a national, competitive, and merit-based contribution program intended to support public infrastructure projects designed to mitigate current and future climate-related risks and disasters triggered by climate change, such as floods, wildland fires, droughts and seismic events.
Disaster Financial Assistance: The Province of BC announced DFA is now available to local governments and First Nations impacted by this past summer’s wildfires and the recent overland flooding. The funding is available to cover disaster-related losses not covered by insurance, such as wildfire damage to public infrastructure including roads, bridges, and other publicly-owned infrastructure.
Promote Electric Vehicles in your Community: Community groups and local governments throughout the province can receive funding through the Community Outreach Incentive Program (COIP) to educate and encourage people to switch to electric vehicles (EVs). The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation is providing $118,000 through COIP under a partnership with the Emotive outreach and awareness campaign to support B.C. communities, organizations and local governments delivering local and regional EV-awareness campaigns that include video production, EV events and demonstrations.
Residential Schools: BC Response Fund: Provincial funding is available for First Nations-led strategies to identify, investigate, protect, and commemorate the sites of former residential schools and hospitals in BC and for providing the mental health, wellness, and cultural supports required to do this work. Lead communities may apply to develop and implement strategies and procedures for the ongoing identification, documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of residential school cemeteries or other sites at which residential school children were buried. Potential applicants are invited to discuss the program and potential projects and also how the CIRNAC funding might also be considered. Up to $475,000 is available for each site.
Residential Schools: Federal Funding: Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has made funding available for locating, documenting, maintaining, and commemorating burial sites associated with former residential schools, and responding to family wishes to commemorate or memorialize their losses and the children's final resting places. Proposals are welcome from Indigenous governments, councils or tribal councils, Indigenous not-for-profit groups, and organizations, including survivors’ groups, demonstrating a close working partnership with and directed by Indigenous-governed organizations.
Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative: This Federation of Canadian Municipalities initiative is intended to help fund energy efficiency upgrades for existing community facilities. The Government of Canada, through the Green Municipal Fund, has launched this $167 million initiative to help Canadian municipalities of all sizes retrofit existing community facilities, such as arenas, pools, and libraries, to significantly reduce GHG emissions, while reviving important community assets.
Water Conservation and Quality Improvement (WCQI): The Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) recognizes the importance of enabling projects that enhance water quality and conserve water in the Okanagan Valley. This program is intended to: encourage a collaborative approach to water management; promote more uniform standards and best practices throughout the valley; increase knowledge sharing; support innovative solutions; help local organizations address water issues and enhance valley-wide sustainable water use; and assist projects that might otherwise lack funds to move forward in a timely manner. Successful projects will receive between $3,000 and $30,000 (maximum $30,000 per project, even with multiple partnering organizations). A total of $350,000 is made available annually by the OBWB for this valley-wide program. The application deadline is February 28, 2022 at 4:00 pm Pacific time.
Regional Connectivity Plan Funding: The Province is providing funding to assist rural communities wanting to access broadband internet with technical infrastructure assessments of current and proposed networks towards a regional connectivity plan. Funding is up to 75% of eligible project costs to a maximum of $15,000. Local governments, registered not-for-profit government organizations, First Nations and First Nations organizations are eligible to apply. Funding is first come, first served until funding is exhausted. Projects must complete by March 31, 2022.
Recreation Infrastructure Program: The Northern Development Initiative Trust supports communities to create, upgrade, and repair recreational infrastructure such as arenas, gymnasiums, golf courses, fields, and boat launches. This grant program supports new or substantial upgrade projects with up to $300,000 to a maximum of 50% of costs, and upgrades and repairs to existing facilities with up to $100,000 to a maximum of 70% of costs. Local governments, registered First Nations Bands, and registered not-for-profits are eligible. Intakes are quarterly.
Municipal Asset Management Program: MAMP is an eight-year, $110-million program funded by Infrastructure Canada to support Canadian municipalities and communities in making informed infrastructure investment decisions based on stronger asset management practices.
Funding for Energy Efficient Affordable Housing: This $300 million FCM initiative offers support to local and affordable housing providers, including local governments, to retrofit affordable housing units or build new energy efficient units. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until annual funds are exhausted.
Infrastructure Planning Grant Program: The Ministry of Municipal Affairs offers grants up to $10,000 to help local governments plan, design, and manage sustainable infrastructure. Applications are accepted year-round and have regular processing deadlines.
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund: This Canadian Heritage fund supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces. The CCSF annual grants and contributions budget is $54 million for the period 2018-2028.
Legacy Fund - Building Communities through Arts and Heritage: This Department of Canadian Heritage Program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects, intended for community use. Recipients may receive up to 50 per cent of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000. Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that: commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality; mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th); involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use; encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public. Applications accepted on a continuous basis.
First Nations Adapt Program: This federal program supports First Nations communities to assess and respond to climate change impacts on community infrastructure and emergency management. It prioritizes communities most impacted by sea level rise, flooding, forest fires, and winter road failures. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
New Relationship Trust: The NRT is an independent non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening First Nations in BC through capacity building. Numerous funding initiatives and resources are available on their website.
Columbia Basin Trust: CBT offers grants and programs to help residents and communities in the Basin take action on issues that are important to them.
Other Funding Opportunities: BC Healthy Communities has compiled a list of funding opportunities worth knowing about, along with guides and resources to support grant writing activities.
Events & Resources
Workshop on Wildfire Smoke Risk Education: Legacy for Airway Health, will host a virtual Wildfire Smoke Communication Knowledge Dissemination Workshop on February 8, 10:30am – 12:30pm and February 14, 10:00am – 12:00pm. The sessions follow one after the other so you may want to attend both. Legacy for Airway Health will share last year’s survey findings to help communities optimize public messaging to reduce the health impacts of wildfire smoke. If you are interested, email Erin Shellington.
BC Community Climate Funding Guide Workshops for Indigenous Communities and Local Governments: The BC Community Climate Funding Guide is a one-stop resource to help Indigenous communities and local governments find the best programs available to reach climate action goals. The province is hosting three workshops that will:
- Demonstrate the different functionality available through the funding guide website;
- Showcase the different types of funds and information available in the guide;
- Highlight upcoming funding opportunities; and
- Gather feedback for future improvements.
The workshops are available for local government and Indigenous communities and will be available on the three dates below. The information in these webinars is the same so you only need to attend one.
- February 14th, 2022 - 9:30am – 11:00am Register here
- February 16th, 2022 - 1:00pm – 2:30pm Register here
- February 24th, 2022 – 10:30 – 12:00pm Register here
The Province of B.C. has developed the website for the BC Community Climate Funding Guide for Indigenous Communities and Local Governments. This new guide was created to simplify a community’s search for funding and to quickly connect communities to the next opportunity to fund a climate-related projects. It is a one-stop resource within several broad categories, including Climate Preparedness & Adaptation, Community Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation, and Clean Energy.
Healthy Communities, Equity and Economic Recovery: Creating Healthy Public Policy: BC Healthy Communities and SFU’s Community Economic Development team are hosting the Local Government Leaders Speaker Series. This on-demand webinar series has already posted one event, Living Wage Policies. An upcoming webinar is BC Housing presenting Building Knowledge and Capacity for Affordable Housing. Visit to view upcoming additional webinars. Participate live or view recorded sessions.
External Resources for Councils & Boards: The Working Group on Responsible Conduct has developed a database of external resources to support local governments. The consultants included a range of services that support responsible conduct by elected officials, including conflict management and resolution, coaching, counselling, and elected official training.
FireSmart: This website introduces the FireSmart program and its seven disciplines and is intended as a one-stop shop for all things FireSmart. The site includes links to training, education, an events calendar, resource library, and downloadable content. It also features a short video inviting everyone to become involved in prevention and to learn about the benefits of the program.
Virtual Reconciliation Engagements: Interested in raising awareness about reconciliation for your community, organization, or business? In light of the COVID-19 crisis, Reconciliation Canada is currently providing all engagements online. They can provide a virtual gathering with the inspiring speaker to help engage reconciliation in a meaningful way.
Advancing Your Asset Management Practice: If you missed this recent Asset Management BC webinar, you can now view the recording. Meet the speakers and learn more about how this unique training program will benefit you.
Rapid Action Resources for Local Governments - Community Food Production: Over the coming months, PlanH will be releasing a series of Rapid Action Resources to provide local governments with an understanding of the equity considerations around various aspects of food security, as well as examples of good practices in food security from other local governments in the province.
CivicInfo BC: British Columbia's local government information hub offers comprehensive organizational and grant directories, events listings, tools for training, research and career development, bids & tenders, and other resources.