In the rural town of O’Leary, PEI, residents came together to make sure seniors could continue living in their own community with dignity, comfort and support—and perhaps most importantly, without worrying about cost pressures. In 2017, they formed the Community Seniors Co-Operative Ltd. (CSCL) to respond to a growing need for affordable housing for older adults in the region.

With more than $1.8 million in GMF funding and strong community backing, CSCL built The Willows Community Care Residence. This 50-unit care facility offers private suites with rents geared to income, alleviating the financial burden placed on seniors and their families. During its construction, the project also delivered economic benefits to the broader community. It created many full-time jobs (55 during construction and 27 for ongoing operations) and kept investment in the region, with 90% of goods and services procured locally.

The facility offers more than just affordable housing—it is a place where seniors can stay connected, build friendships and receive 24/7 support, helping them remain part of the community they call home. It includes shared dining and common spaces, as well as a variety of on-site services designed to support daily living. In terms of social benefits, 90% of residents say their quality of life has improved.

Opened in June 2024, The Willows is one of the most energy-efficient community care residences in Atlantic Canada. Built to near net-zero standards, it features solar power generation, high-performance building materials, and advanced heating and cooling systems that have helped the facility exceed the national energy code baseline for energy efficiency by 57.3%.
 

Early GMF funding helped turn a district energy system in Markham, ON, into one of Canada’s fastest-growing energy utilities. Since the system came online in 2000, every new building in the city centre has been connected to it, lowering energy use and GHG emissions, while strengthening energy resilience by reducing disruptions and exposure to fuel price shocks. By removing the need for on-site heating equipment, it also simplifies building design and frees space for other uses.

The City of Markham is a great example of how early GMF support can help de-risk a project and bring it to scale. Starting in 2004 as the sole investor, we have continued investing in Markham Centre’s district energy system for more than 20 years, providing a total of $17.3 million. Our support also helped make the project attractive to other investors, leading to an additional $270 million in capital.
A new expansion to the system in 2021 included the connection of three new residential complexes, adding more than 200,000 square metres of space, as well as a major investment in new thermal distribution piping. The project also added a 9-MW high-efficiency natural gas boiler and a 500-kW biomass-fuelled boiler.

Eventually, Markham District Energy anticipates that every building in Markham Centre will be connected to the district energy system. Markham shows what’s possible: a shift toward clean, affordable, reliable and community-owned energy systems that strengthen Canada’s energy competitiveness and resilience.

Energy upgrades can lower bills and emissions, but upfront costs can put them out of reach for households. The City of Saskatoon’s Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) is Saskatchewan’s first PACE program—helping homeowners complete energy-saving retrofits that make homes more comfortable and yield real cost savings. Partially supported by nearly $11 million in GMF funding, the program is designed for single-family homes and offers flexible repayment options so more households can take part.

From the start, HELP was meant to be accessible for everyday homeowners, so economic concerns were at the heart of its design. The program reduces barriers for lower-income households through waived administration fees, free services and upgrades, and connections to SaskPower’s Energy Assistance Program for coaching and additional support—ensuring all residents can start their projects faster.

HELP quickly exceeded expectations, becoming oversubscribed in its first year and expanding from a pilot into a four-year initiative. Since then, the city has committed an additional $20 million to continue it long-term. Homeowners have reported lower energy bills and more comfortable homes after upgrades, and the program is anticipated to help reduce energy use by more than 14,300 GJ per year and generate 640 kW of renewable energy—showing how accessible financing can turn individual home improvements into broader community impact.
 

Warmer summers and changing rainfall patterns are affecting how people experience even the shortest walk down their streets. In Mahone Bay, NS—a small town of about 1,000 people—some residential areas had become more exposed to the heat and weather after losing tree cover during water line maintenance. 

With $32,540 in GMF funding, the town planted 57 new trees along one residential street to restore shade and protect against climate disruption where residents feel it most in their daily lives. The project was shaped through close collaboration with residents, a local tree advocacy group and professional arborists, ensuring planting decisions reflected both community priorities and technical expertise. A robust maintenance plan was also established, including education for municipal public works staff and residents.

By adding trees, Mahone Bay is improving the comfort and walkability of the street, especially during the summer when too much sun can deter people from walking, cycling or using other forms of active transportation. The trees improve air quality and reduce rainwater runoff, and by providing shade and wind protection, they might also help lower energy costs for nearby homes. With strong community support and early success, the town is now looking to expand this approach to other streets—building resilience one neighbourhood at a time.

After record-breaking water levels in 2021, the village of Teslin, YK—a community of 240 residents—faced even worse conditions in 2022 when a delayed spring melt and sudden warm weather in June caused Teslin Lake to reach its highest level since 1962. Water rose quickly, triggering an evacuation alert and damaging homes and the water treatment plant. Residents responded quickly as well, distributing more than 18,000 sandbags in just two days to hold back the shoreline.

With $999,600 in GMF funding, the village worked with the Teslin Tlingit Council to move from emergency response to long-term resilience. It built a 150-metre dike to protect the community from flooding while preserving the natural shoreline and avoiding disruption to local fish habitats.

That dike is already making a difference. It is integrated into the community’s trail system, improving shoreline access for residents, including Tlingit Elders with limited mobility. It provides lasting protection for homes, infrastructure and the lake that sustains Teslin—especially salmon, which are central to Teslin Tlingit culture, food security and livelihoods. The dike’s design also allows for the construction of additional temporary measures during extreme flood events, reducing reliance on emergency repairs and recovery costs