We’re excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2027 Living Cities Canada Fund!

Green Communities Canada is pleased to offer two different funding streams to support Green Infrastructure projects in 2027: 

• The Demonstrate Stream provides grants of up to $15,000 for new community-led green infrastructure projects 

• The Thriving Microgrant Stream provides grants of up to $5,000 to support the maintenance, stewardship, and long-term success of existing green infrastructure sites 

Together, these funding streams support communities to create new green infrastructure and ensure established sites continue to deliver environmental, social, and climate benefits for years to come. 

What is Green Infrastructure? 

Green infrastructure – also known as nature-based solutions – is defined as the natural vegetative systems and green technologies that collectively provide communities with many economic, environmental, health, and social benefits.  

Green infrastructure includes: 

• Urban forests and woodlots 

• Bioswales, engineered wetlands, and stormwater ponds 

• Green roofs and green walls 

• Parks, gardens, and grassed areas 

• Natural heritage systems (interconnected meadows, wetlands, ravines, waterways, and riparian zones) 

• Urban agriculture 

What We’re Looking For 

Demonstrate Stream:   

The Demonstrate Stream supports projects that use green infrastructure to address environmental or community challenges, creating healthier and greener neighbourhoods.  

Successful projects may:  

• Increase stormwater infiltration, reduce localized flooding, and reduce stormwater pollutants; 

• Cool urban areas, provide shade, improve local air quality, and increase canopy cover; 

• Increase access to green space, connections to nature, and a sense of belonging; 

• Restore culturally significant, medicinal, and Indigenous plant species; 

• Sequester carbon, enhance biodiversity, support pollinators, create habitat for species at risk; and/or 

• Support food sovereignty and food security through edible landscapes and community growing spaces. 

We encourage projects that are developed collaboratively with community members, rights holders, and site partners to ensure local needs and priorities shape project outcomes. 

Thriving Microgrant Stream: 

The Thriving Microgrant Stream supports the ongoing care and stewardship of existing green infrastructure projects. Projects will undertake activities that help established sites remain healthy, functional, and beneficial to their communities, such as: 

• Maintenance Activities: Hands-on maintenance like weeding, mulching, watering, replanting, invasive species management, and installing or repairing tree guards and fencing to keep sites healthy;  

• Community Stewardship: Volunteer-based workdays and stewardship events that build local capacity to care for and protect existing green infrastructure; 

• Monitoring & Community Science: Community science and monitoring activities that track plant survival, growth, biodiversity, or urban heat impacts over time; and 

• Support for Staff Time: Staff time to plan, coordinate, and oversee maintenance, monitoring, and volunteer stewardship activities. 

Eligible Project Types 

Eligible projects may include: 

• Mini forests (also known as tiny, micro, or Miyawaki forests) 

• Pollinator gardens 

• Rain gardens and bioswales 

• Native meadows and micro prairies 

• Food forests and community gardens 

• Depave Paradise projects and schoolyard greening projects 

• Urban tree planting initiatives 

• Ecological restoration and habitat creation projects 

Tree Planting and Mini Forest Projects 

Tree planting, urban forest, and mini forest projects may be eligible for joint funding opportunities through Green Communities Canada and Trees for Life. Learn more about our 2026 partnership here. 

Who Can Apply? 

Applications are accepted from: 

• Community-based nonprofit organizations 

• Indigenous governments and Indigenous-led organizations 

• Municipalities 

• Conservation authorities 

• Schools and educational institutions 

Projects must take place on public or publicly accessible sites and be implemented during the 2027 project season. 

Funding Priorities 

The Living Cities Canada Fund prioritizes projects that: 

• Advance equity and environmental justice. 

• Increase access to green infrastructure in communities experiencing environmental or social inequities. 

• Engage residents and the community in project planning, implementation, and stewardship. 

• Build local capacity for long-term care and maintenance. 

• Deliver multiple benefits for people, biodiversity, and climate adaptation. 

• Have ambitious tree-planting goals 

Application Deadlines 

Demonstrate Stream: December 10th, 2026 at 5:00 pm ET 

Thriving Microgrant Stream: January 28th, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. ET 

Ready to Apply? 

• Demonstrate Stream Application 

• Thriving Microgrant Stream Application 

Questions?  

Please attend our info session on November 24^th at 2 pm ET: register here. Please also review the Demonstrate Stream and Thriving Microgrant FAQs documents. If your question isn’t answered, please email Emily Shimon, Director of Green Infrastructure: eshimon@greencommunitiescanada.org  

Note: Green Communities Canada uses a Grants Lifecycle Management (GLM) platform, Foundant. All applicants must create a Foundant account if not already registered before starting an application. To preview the application questions before registering for an account, visit these links: 

• Demonstrate Stream Application Preview 

• Thriving Microgrant Stream Application Preview  

Questions about Foundant? Email Tianna Mighty, Green Infrastructure Lead: tmighty@greencommunitiescanada.org