FCM’s Sustainable Communities Awards

Since 2001, FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards have celebrated the most innovative environmental initiatives in Canadian cities and communities of all sizes. We honour sustainability projects that demonstrate environmental responsibility and excellence while yielding social and economic benefits for their communities. 

The winning projects leverage current and advanced technologies as well as best practices in sustainability and can be replicated across the country to help achieve national climate goals and increase the quality-of-life of Canadians. The awards honour the most innovative and sustainable initiatives in seven categories:  

• Community energy: Powering a sustainable future
• Waste: Embracing circularity
• Climate change mitigation: Accelerating local transformation to net zero
• Natural assets: Walking the path to nature-positive communities
• Sustainable buildings:  Revitalizing community buildings
• Transportation: Moving toward a brighter future
• Climate adaptation: Building equitable resilience to climate change

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the award category that best represents the primary goal or environmental benefit of their initiative. In addition, applicants will be asked to describe how their initiative: 

• achieves multiple outcomes, including social, economic, and secondary environmental benefits
• integrates anti-racism, equity and inclusion, and reconciliation (AREI+R) principles to ensure the most equitable solutions

Why apply? 

GMF is a national sustainability leader—as an award winner,  you’ll receive local and national recognition and promotion for your initiative. 

Benefits include: 

• Recognition for your municipality’s accomplishments in sustainable development. 
• Your initiative will be showcased at FCM’s Sustainable Communities Conference. 
• Showcase your sustainability initiative as a scalable model that other communities can learn from. 
• Receive a digital award badge to share on your website and social pages. 

Applications are now closed. Winners will be announced in 2025.