News & Updates

Join GMF for a hands-on workshop designed to help you navigate the Urban Forestry Plans and Studies funding application. The session will walk through eligibility, key sections of the form, required documents and common pitfalls so your community can submit a stronger, more complete application for urban forestry planning work.

• Date: December 9, 2025
• Time: 1:00–3:00 PM EST
• Location: Online
• Free registration: Register here

New Funding Opportunities Added to the Portal:

• TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant: National charitable foundation supporting community-based environmental initiatives. Provides funding for schoolyard greening, park revitalization, community gardens, outdoor classrooms, tree planting, nature-based education, and other hands-on environmental projects.
  • Status: Open (rolling intake)
• RBC Community Investment Fund: Major corporate/philanthropic funding program supporting climate action, skills development, financial wellbeing, accessibility improvements, and inclusive community prosperity. Offers single- and multi-year investments ranging from small grants to large contributions up to $500,000 per year.
  • Status: Open (rolling intake)
• For the Good of Our Community Fund (NSLC): Corporate philanthropic program supporting food security, housing stability, mental health, physical accessibility, and environmental stewardship across Nova Scotia. Offers grants typically ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 for registered charities and non-profits.
  • Deadline: December 22, 2025

New Funding Opportunities Added to the Portal:

• Community Sport Fund: Provincial funding up to $5,000 supporting quality, sustainable community sport programs through equipment purchases, programming enhancements and leadership development.
  • Deadline: Year-round acceptance (six bi-monthly intakes)
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility (EDIA) Funding: Provincial funding supporting traditionally underrepresented communities’ participation in community-based sport programming across Nova Scotia. Partnership between sport organization and community service organization is mandatory.
  • Deadline: Contact Regional Sport Consultant for current intake periods
• Low Carbon Communities: Provincial funding up to $75,000 for preparatory work supporting cost-effective clean energy and low carbon solutions in buildings, electricity and transportation sectors. Supports community energy plans, feasibility studies, energy assessments and clean energy education.
  • Deadline: Closed. Next call for proposals TBD

GMF and WWF-Canada are hosting a webinar on integrating biodiversity-focused practices into Urban Forestry Plans and Projects. Learn from experts, municipal leaders and community partners about planting diverse native species, restoration-focused tree planting and connecting urban forestry to broader ecosystem health goals.

• Date: November 19, 2025
• Time: 2:00–3:00 PM EST
• Location: Online
• Free registration: Register here

Speakers:

• Kate Landry, Senior Manager, Community Action, WWF-Canada
• Keanen Jewett, Arboriculture Foreman, City of Fredericton
• Sharon MacGougan, President, Garden City Conservation Society

NSFM is hosting information sessions across Nova Scotia for the Coastal Planning Support Program. These sessions will provide municipalities with details about the program, available funding, and how to apply.

Session dates and locations:

• Mon, Nov 24 | 2:30–4:30 PM – Yarmouth, Mariners on Main, Yellow Room
• Tue, Nov 25 | 1:00–3:00 PM – Truro, Best Western, Salon A
• Wed, Nov 26 | 9:00–11:00 AM – Port Hawkesbury, Civic Centre, Arts, and Crafts Room
• Thu, Nov 27 | 9:30–11:30 AM – Kentville, Recreation Centre, Lower Rec Meeting Space
• Thu, Nov 27 | 2:30–4:30 PM – Bridgewater, Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre, Multi-Purpose Room

The Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative is open. The initiative provides grant funding for feasibility studies to help municipalities plan retrofit projects that reduce GHG emissions in community buildings by at least 50% within 10 years.

1. • Application deadline: December 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

Stream 1: Community-led Freshwater Action across Canada of the EcoAction Community Program is now open. The program provides funding for community-led freshwater projects and innovative solutions to improve freshwater quality and ecosystem health.

• • Application deadline: December 4, 2025 (12:00 PT / 15:00 ET).
  • Stream 2: Currently closed.

Coastal Planning Support Program is inviting coastal municipalities to apply for consulting services to develop coastal protection plans and bylaws that address climate change. Each municipality is eligible for up to $20,000 in consulting services, with collaboration bonuses of up to 30% for joint applications.

• Deadline: February 11, 2026 at 11:59 PM
• Completion of consulting services: December 31, 2026
• Information sessions: NSFM will be hosting sessions across the province to introduce the program. Dates and times to be announced.

New Funding Opportunities Added to the Portal:

• Community Recreation Capital Grant: Provincial funding up to $8,000 for small-scale indoor and outdoor capital recreation projects under $30,000. Supports permanent improvements to community recreation facilities including renovations, equipment and structural investments.
  • Deadline: December 1, 2025
• Recreation Facility Development Grant: Provincial funding up to $150,000 for recreation facility projects over $30,000. Supports development, upgrades and repairs of recreation centres, pools, rinks, athletic fields, parks, playgrounds and other facilities promoting active living.
  • Deadline: Closed. Next call for proposals TBD.

Update to Existing Program:

• Applications are now open for the Urban Forestry Plans and Studies funding stream under the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund. The program provides support for urban forest planning, management, and stewardship, and funds studies that strengthen the sustainability and resilience of community forests and trees.
  • Deadline: April 15, 2026

A new 10-year federal-provincial funding agreement with $171 million in federal support for Nova Scotia. The Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund will fund housing and enabling infrastructure such as water and wastewater systems.

• • Federal share: up to 40%
  • Provincial share: up to 33.33%
  • Notably, CHIF allows 100% federal stacking, unlike previous programs
  • Launch expected early 2026

Natural Resources Canada will launch a new Buildings Call – Prefabrication Design Challenge and Demonstration Prize under the Energy Innovation Program in Winter 2026. The program will:

• • Support innovation in offsite and prefabricated construction methods
  • Accelerate the pace of housing supply across Canada
  • Advance energy efficiency, building performance, and affordability

Join this free webinar, presented in partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, to learn how flexible financing is helping deliver critical water infrastructure in some of the province’s fastest-growing communities.

• Hosted by: Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
• What to expect: Explore financing models and practical tools to expand water and wastewater systems that enable housing development and sustainable growth
• Date & Time: October 22, 01 PM
• Free registration: Registration closed

Azura Associates presents a webinar on advancing climate goals through organic waste-to-energy solutions.

• • Hosted by: Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
  • What to expect: Discover how anaerobic digestion turns organic waste into renewable energy and soil enrichment, with real municipal case studies, funding guidance and practical steps to identify opportunities for your community
  • Date & Time: October 23, 2025, 03:00 PM
  • Speakers: Trisha Aldovino, Process Analyst, and David Ellis, President, Azura Associates
  • Free registration: Register here

Several funding programs and streams have upcoming deadlines in November. Be sure to review the details below and submit your applications on time.

• Recreational Trail Expansion Program – Deadline: November 1
• Collections Management – Museums Assistance Program – Deadline: November 3
• Access to Heritage – Museums Assistance Program – Deadline: November 3
• Indigenous Heritage – Museums Assistance Program – Deadline: November 3