GMF’s Climate Adaptation Communities of Practice bring together municipal staff, elected officials and partner organizations who are working to build climate resilience in their communities. These free, member-driven groups offer expert-led content, peer examples, and access to tools and resources that support climate adaptation planning and project implementation. 

What free membership offers

  • Hands-on workshops and facilitated discussions  
  • Expert and peer insights, including case examples and real-world experiences
  • Peer support to address real climate adaptation challenges  
  • Access to a shared Teams channel with session recordings, presentations and resources  
  • Opportunities to shape session topics and share your community’s needs
  • Pre-scheduled virtual sessions so you can plan in advance  

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Why join a Community of Practice?

Municipalities across Canada face common climate risks, capacity pressures and resource constraints. A Community of Practice offers a structured way to exchange knowledge, compare approaches and strengthen local adaptation work while reducing duplication of effort.  

By participating you can:  

  • Build confidence in planning and project decisions through shared learning
  • Reduce the time spent searching for tools, precedents, or comparable examples
  • Better understand how others are approaching risk assessments, adaptation planning and implementation
  • Access knowledge that supports both immediate needs and long-term resilience

Membership is free and designed to support communities of all sizes. 

How do our Communities of Practice work?

Communities of Practice meet every two months for virtual sessions that combine expert insights, member presentations, facilitated discussions and practical activities. Sessions focus on real municipal challenges and highlight approaches being used across Canada.  

Between sessions, members can:

  • Access materials through a dedicated Teams channel
  • Continue conversations and share resources with peers
  • Review session recordings and presentation decks
  • Sessions are offered in both English and French. 

Sessions are offered in both English and French. 

A woman participates in a virtual learning session with peers from diverse backgrounds.

 

Which Community of Practice is right for you?

We offer two climate adaptation Communities of Practice to support municipalities at different points in their climate adaptation work. 

Climate-Ready Plans and Processes Community of Practice

Designed for municipalities in the early stages of adaptation, focusing on developing strategies, plans and methodologies.  

Topics you’ll focus on:  

  • Forming cross-functional teams and gaining council alignment
  • Developing climate risk and impact assessments
  • Creating adaptation plans and prioritization frameworks
  • Integrating adaptation into asset management, land-use planning and municipal systems
  • Engaging stakeholders, rightsholders and community partners 
Adaptation in Action Community of Practice 

For municipalities preparing or implementing adaptation projects that reduce community climate risks.

Topics you’ll focus on:  

  • Project initiation: Moving from risk assessments and plans to selecting priority projects
  • Project planning: Developing clear, actionable project scopes
  • Project implementation: Coordinating partners, timelines and on-the-ground work
  • Close-out operations: Ensuring long-term performance, maintenance and reporting 
Who can join? 

Communities of Practice are open to:  

  • Local government staff
  • Elected officials
  • Provincial and Territorial Association staff

Participants may register for one or both Communities of Practice. 

How to register

Note:While we encourage early applications to take advantage of the full year of networking and peer learning, registrations are accepted on an ongoing basis. CoP cycles renew each April, and early registration allows members to benefit from the full year of programming.

You are welcome to register for both the Climate-Ready Plans and Processes CoP and the Adaptation in Action CoP. 

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