Across Quebec, municipalities are facing a complex mix of challenges including aging infrastructure, rising costs and increasing climate pressures—often felt most intensely in smaller communities with limited ability to absorb unexpected costs. In response, they are investing in practical, forward-looking solutions. At the same time, residents are grappling with affordability concerns, making it essential to balance environmental action with economic realities.

From clean energy and cost-saving transportation to affordable housing and climate resilience, Quebec municipalities are moving the needle on innovative projects that reflect local priorities—and GMF is there to support them. Wherever extreme weather can strain infrastructure and budgets, there is a clear need to balance climate action with affordability, job creation and economic growth.

Read on to explore success stories from across Quebec and discover tools and resources to help bring impactful local projects to life.

GMF’s impact across Quebec

309 projects  completed		2,904 jobs created		$141M+  in wages		$260M added to Canada’s GDP		147,634 tonnes of GHG emission reductions

Quebec communities are at the forefront of sustainable innovation

GMF funding and technical assistance is supporting local governments to deliver practical, cost-effective upgrades that improve residents’ day-to-day lives. The success stories below showcase real, replicable examples to inspire sustainability projects in your own community.  

Energy opportunities

Feasibility study for a regional home energy efficiency financing program in the Laurentians

The Regional County Municipality (RCM) of Argenteuil and six partner RCMs, along with the City of Mirabel, QC, are conducting a feasibility study to design a regional energy-efficiency program for single-family homes in the Laurentians. The study will assess technologies and implementation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower household energy costs and improve housing quality across the region.  

Studying the impacts of community energy efficiency financing in Candiac

Learn how the City of Candiac, QC, is conducting a study to design a community energy financing program targeting residential upgrades to improve home efficiency, lower energy costs and reduce emissions across the community. The study will evaluate eligibility criteria, financing and governance models, and implementation strategies. 

Community building upgrades

Revitalizing Saint-Valérien's community spaces through energy efficient renovations  

Discover how a small municipality of Saint-Valérien transformed an unused church into a vibrant community hub that boosts tourism, creates local jobs and cuts operating costs through energy-efficient upgrades like a biomass heating system and improved insulation. 

Affordable housing

Inclusive net-zero housing in Montréal

In Montréal, QC, the Société locative d’investissement et de développement social (SOLIDES) is planning to build a net-zero housing project with 50% of units priced at 80% of the median market rate. A share of units will be reserved for equity seeking residents, advancing the city’s social goals while supporting a healthier future.

Laval, QC: Affordable, sustainable co-op housing

Local housing non-profit organization Village Urbain is planning a 40-unit intergenerational co-housing project near downtown Laval. Once completed, the build will feature sustainable electric and plumbing systems and will support the community’s climate goals while addressing the urgent need for affordable housing.  

Transportation

Ville de Varennes: Cutting costs and reducing emissions through electric fire trucks

Leading the way in electric innovation, the City of Varennes, QC, became the first municipality in Quebec to replace a conventional fire truck with an electric model. By partnering with a Quebec-based company, the city is supporting the local economy while adding a cost-effective and sustainable vehicle to its municipal fleet.

A shift to sustainable transport in Atlantic Quebec

In an effort to reduce GHG emissions from transportation and provide more equitable transport options, a group of municipalities in the Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine region teamed up with transit organization RÉGÎM to create TCiTé, a shared mobility project. 

Waste management

Piloting a new method of diverting organics from landfill

In response to Quebec’s organic waste diversion targets, municipalities partnered with local organizations, and secured GMF support, to pilot an innovative mechanobiological treatment system. The project produced valuable insights and practical recommendations for municipalities exploring similar waste diversion technologies.

How Lac-Saint-Jean’s Réemploi+ program is building a circular economy

Many municipalities are seeking ways to divert waste from landfills to reduce emissions and extend landfill life. In Quebec’s Lac-Saint-Jean region, local communities and waste managers partnered with the Réemploi+ initiative to reuse donated goods through resale stores that create jobs and generate revenue, supporting a more circular, low-waste local economy. 

Do you know that urban trees are among the most valuable natural assets a community can have? Trees offer long-term economic benefits and enhance quality of life. They can help reduce municipal expenditures by managing stormwater and reducing flood damage. Given the many benefits trees provide, it is important that they be managed with the same care and consideration as built infrastructure.

Watch this webinar to learn from a panel of experts how to value trees as strategic climate and equity assets in your community. You’ll also learn how to integrate adaptation strategies into your community’s existing asset management practices.  

Watching this webinar will help you:  

• Learn practical approaches to quantify the economic and climate benefits of urban trees.
• Explore real examples and understand how you can use valuation tools to get the most from your community’s invest in trees.
• Discover how natural asset inventories and tree condition assessment can help you plan maintenance, reduce risk and optimize your investment in trees.
• Understand how tree monitoring frameworks supports decision-making, risk management, lifecycle planning and more. 

Speakers:  

• Patrick Wong, Senior Natural Heritage Planner, City of Markham  
• Gillian Dick, Manager of Spatial Planning, City of Glasgow  
• Trevor Rutley, Director of Infrastructure Services, Town of Gibsons

This webinar is well suited for Canadian communities of all sizes, including:

• Municipal staff working in urban forestry, climate adaptation, environment, community planning, community development, or parks and recreation.
• Municipal partners such as local organizations, NGOs, and community groups involved in tree planting or ecological restoration.
• Elected officials and municipal decision-makers interested in enhancing community resilience and biodiversity.
• Environmental consultants and practitioners supporting municipalities in developing or implementing urban forestry plans and projects. 

Our expert panel and audience members shared the following resources to help you learn how to use valuation tools to get the most from their community’s investment in trees:  

• Town of Gibsons, BC- Urban forest plan 2025
• City of Markham, ON- Asset management plan
• Town of Pelham, ON- Natural asses inventory dashboard
• Bringing health and health equity into natural heritage in Peel region
• Peel region ON- Tree planting prioritization tool
• City of Toronto, ON- Tree equity score analyzer

Watch the webinar

This webinar was created in partnership by Tree Canada and FCM’s Green Municipal Fund for the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.

Did you know that the City of Kitchener, ON is supercharging its tree planting? With support from GMF’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, the city has embarked on a transformative journey to expand its tree canopy and ensure all residents receive the benefits of trees.  

Assessing and addressing tree equity

In 2019, a tree canopy report revealed that Kitchener had 27% canopy coverage across the city. The city set a target to increase the canopy cover to 30% so that the residents in areas with low canopy cover can access the same cooling benefits of trees and the air quality improvement that a robust urban forest provides. You can discover how tree planting projects contribute to long-term climate resilience and why closing this gap is critical.

Doubling down on tree planting efforts 

With $2.5M in Tree planting funding, Kitchener is doubling its tree planting targets. The city will plant more than 19,000 trees between 2025 and 2027. By using data-driven tree equity scores, the urban forestry team is prioritizing planting in communities with low canopy coverage. Most importantly trees are sourced from local nurseries to ensure they are climate-resilient and support Kitchener’s biodiversity.  

Learn how to put tree equity at the centre of your urban forestry plans and practices: Factsheet: Advancing tree equity and growing community canopies.

By taking on this ambitious project, the city of Kitchener is leading the way which will have a lasting impact for the generations to come.

Flooding continues to pose significant risks to communities across Canada, underscoring the need for practical, actionable approaches at the municipal level.   

Watch the webinar to learn how municipalities can move from understanding flood risk to taking action. Through applied tools and a case study from the City of Kitchener, you’ll explore how to assess flood risks in your community and begin integrating flood resilience into plans and projects. 

Featured tools and resources

• Municipal Flood Risk Check-Up - Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation: a self-assessment tool that helps communities better understand and manage local flood risks.  
• Build flood resilience with our video training series: a free, one-hour video training series to help municipal staff use the Municipal Flood Risk Check-Up tool developed by the GMF and the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo.

This session is designed for municipal staff across diverse departments, elected officials and municipal partners. No prior adaptation strategy or completed risk assessment is required to benefit from this webinar.

Speakers:

• Chris Nechacov, Design and Construction Project Manager, Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities, City of Kitchener, ON
• Dr. Anabela Bonada, Managing Director, Climate Science, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo
• Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilience, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo

The webinar was delivered in English with French simultaneous interpretation (SI).  

FCM’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation initiative is delivered through our Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.