Urban forestry projects thrive when communities come together and contribute. If your municipality is planning an urban forestry project and you are looking for practical tools to involve your community in a meaningful and inclusive way, read our tip sheet on Integrating Community Engagement into Urban Forestry that outlines clear, actionable steps to strengthen your engagement strategy.

This resource is designed to help your municipality build support for tree planting initiatives. From early planning to funding applications, it offers guidance to create inclusive projects that reflect the voices in your community.

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify and engage local groups, Indigenous communities and other stakeholders.
• Design inclusive engagement strategies that reduce barriers and promote equity.
• Apply best practices to improve participation, especially in underrepresented groups.
• Prepare funding applications that clearly demonstrate your community engagement process.

 Download the tip sheet today 

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

Urban forest management plans are critical to the resilience of trees, and trees are critical to the resilience of communities. Learn from experts and from municipal leaders who have developed an urban forest management plan to discover the benefits they bring to local communities and why to build your own.

Watching this webinar will help you:  

• Learn what benefits an urban forest management plan can offer to your community.
• Determine what makes a strong plan, including the role of community engagement and data collection.  
• Consider how to ensure your plan is suited to your local needs and builds resilience to climate change.  
• Receive resources, tools and networks you can rely on to increase your capacity.

Speakers:  

• Jade Schofield, Climate Compass Advisor and GCCC Urban forestry coach
• Miles Peart, Manager, Urban Forestry, City of Vaughan
• Jeff Boone, Project Manager, City of Saskatoon
• Peyton Meters, Engagement Manager, pipikwan pêhtâkwan  

This webinar is well suited for:

• municipal elected officials
• parks and recreation staff
• asset management staff
• climate change and sustainability staff
• urban forestry practitioners  
• planners
• municipal partners, including local organizations, NGOs and community groups

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.  

Climate hazards are pushing infrastructure to its limits, but practical building design choices can reduce those risks. This webinar showcased tools that support the design and upgrade of climate-resilient buildings. Watch the webinar recording to discover practical insights and next steps to apply in your own community.

Whether you’re just beginning your municipality’s adaptation journey or looking to advance existing projects, this session will provide practical insights to support your next steps.

Speakers:

• Lucas Coletta, Senior Engineer, Natural Resources Canada
• Devin Causley, Senior Policy Analyst, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
• Pouriya Jafarpur, Physical Science Officer, Canadian Centre for Climate Services, Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Sharmalene Mendis-Millard, Director, Partners for Action, University of Waterloo

Resources discussed in the webinar (in order of presentation):

• FireSmart Canada, FireSmart Residential Development Guide
• FireSmart Canada, FireSmart Landscaping Guide
• Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure, Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure
• ClimateData.ca, Home — ClimateData.ca
• ClimateData.ca, New and Noteworthy: Future Building Design Value Summaries now available on ClimateData.ca
• ClimateData.ca, Introducing Future Building Design Values: Choosing and Using Future Climatic Design Data
• Climate Resilient Retrofits (Partners for Action, University of Waterloo), Climate resilient retrofits
• Climate Resilient Retrofits (Partners for Action, University of Waterloo), Database legend  
• Climate Resilient Retrofits (Partners for Action, University of Waterloo), Database tutorial

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.

This webinar explores how municipalities can improve youth health, safety and sustainability by developing safer, low-emission travel routes in school zones. Through GMF’s new Safe and Active School Routes Offer, municipalities can access up to $125,000 in funding (covering 50–80% of eligible costs) and join a national peer learning cohort to plan and implement infrastructure that supports safe, healthy school travel such as sidewalks, bike lanes and other quick-build improvements.

This webinar was delivered in both French and English.

Watch the webinar recording to learn more about:

• The new Safe and Active School Routes funding offer and how the cohort-based model works.
• Real-world case studies from municipalities across Canada, featuring creative and practical solutions.
• Strategies for designing and implementing school travel plans that put youth safety and community health first.
• Quick-build infrastructure examples that make a measurable difference.
• How active school routes contribute to broader public health and emissions reduction goals.

Panelists:
English session:

• Philippe Desrosiers, Planning Consultant, City of Montreal
• Tyler Figgitt, Infrastructure Services Manager, City of Penticton
• Stephanie Johnstone-Laurette, Youth and Community Active Transportation Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre

French session:

• Philippe Desrosiers, Conseiller en aménagement, Ville de Montréal
• Ben Hammer, Transportation Officer, Ecology Action Centre
• Elyse McCann, Directrice du développement d’affaires, EnviroCentre

Explore how your municipality can design safer, more sustainable school routes and access the funding and expert support needed to bring those plans to life. Don't miss your chance to advance healthier, safer school communities.

FCM’s Safe and Active School Routes offer is delivered through the Green Municipal Fund and funded by the Government of Canada.