SCC 2025 is sold out! Registration is now closed.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Conference (SCC) 2025 and trade show are officially sold out and registration is now closed. Subscribe to our Connect newsletter to stay connected and learn about future learning opportunities. Thank you for your interest in #SCC2025.
The schedule for FCM’s Sustainable Communities Conference 2025 has something for everyone! From expert panel discussions to interactive workshops and networking opportunities, the SCC program will help you fast-track sustainable change in your community. Benefit from Green Municipal Fund’s experts on hand to help you convert ideas into high-impact, sustainable projects.
Pre-conference trainings and study tours
Join these one-of-a-kind activities to get an in-depth look at new GMF resources or to explore key sustainability initiatives across New-Brunswick's capital city.
All events and sessions below will be offered in English and French with simultaneous interpretation.
Times are displayed in Atlantic Time (AT).
Schedule is subject to change without notice.
- Trainings | Tuesday, February 11
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. From numbers to nature: Municipal budgeting for climate goals
Be the first to access the Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership's (N-ZAP) guide on carbon accounting and climate budgeting. Gain access to practical tools, learn from communities and take-home approaches to implement concrete next steps in your community.9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Advancing socio-economic benefits through inclusive engagement and social procurement
Unlock the power of inclusive engagement and social procurement as tools to drive meaningful socio-economic impact in your community. This practical workshop will provide you with the tools and strategies needed to foster meaningful engagement of your community and tailor social procurement practices to your municipality, whether small or large. You’ll gain hands-on experience with GMF’s socio-economic benefits framework, accompanying resources and real-world examples to help you implement these approaches effectively. By the end of this session, you’ll be equipped with actionable insights to create spaces that promote equity and strengthen local economic development.- Study tours | Tuesday, February 11
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 12 Neighbours micro-home community and social enterprise centre
Take a tour of Fredericton’s dignified micro-home community and social enterprise center. 12 Neighbours provides fully independent tiny homes as affordable rental units, as well as a social enterprise center with training designed to help people develop new skills and overcome employment barriers.9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Fredericton green buildings tour
Take a closer look at the Grant Harvey Recreation Centre, its geo-thermal heating system and its public dashboard. Then, explore our conference site itself in a behind the scenes tour of the Fredericton Convention Centre, a LEED silver certified event centre.9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Greenhouse and snowshoe tour with the City of Fredericton and the Nature Trust of New Brunswick
Check out Fredericton's newest greenhouse, where they grow seedlings to support local urban forestry efforts. After that, explore a local wetland and nature reserve by snowshoe, while getting to know local climate adaptation and resilience initiatives with the Nature Trust of New Brunswick. Snowshoes will be provided.
Concurrent workshops
Interactive workshops will be held throughout SCC 2025, allowing participants to actively learn from expert presentations and case studies, discover adaptable, real-world tools and ask questions relevant to their local challenges. Explore the topics of our workshops below—more information will be added soon.
All events and sessions below will be offered in English and French with simultaneous interpretation.
Times are displayed in Atlantic Time (AT).
Schedule is subject to change without notice.
- Tuesday, February 11
3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Moving towards 2050: Shifting transportation behaviours - Presented by ReliOn
Many municipalities are transitioning to electric fleets as part of their efforts to reduce GHG emissions and achieve net-zero by 2050. In this workshop, learn from municipal leaders as they share innovative approaches to overcoming challenges and develop successful strategies. This session will provide practical insights to help drive this transition forward in your community.3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. The mind and heart in the midst of a climate crisis
There is no doubt that we are facing a crisis climate crisis. But a pathway to a regenerative future can be created by cultivating mindfulness and compassion. This workshop will explore how inner awareness mirrors the outer world, guiding participants through reflection and discussion on eco-anxiety and community resilience. Together, we will explore how municipalities can incorporate mindfulness and regenerative thinking into their climate actions.3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Accommodating the future
How do we ensure that everyone benefits as our communities grow? Learn how fast-growing Canadian municipalities are accommodating the future through community conversation and strategic planning.3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Ask the experts: Cultivating partnerships to grow thriving community canopies - Presented by Sustainable Forestry Initiative
Urban and community trees and forests are vital green infrastructure, connecting humans to nature while improving quality of life. This workshop will explore how partnerships, funding and technical expertise can empower municipalities to enhance these critical resources.- Wednesday, February 12
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Enhancing your building retrofit with effective multi-solving strategies
With so many competing priorities in Canadian climate action, it is more important then ever to integrate multi-solving strategies into building retrofit initiatives. This workshop will highlight inspiring examples of successful retrofit projects and provide participants with essential insights into the benefits of incorporating resilience, natural assets, and circulatory—just to name a few—into their municipal projects.10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Building the case for healthy equity in climate adaptation efforts: Tools and strategies for resilient communities
Join us for an interactive workshop exploring the vital connections between climate change, public health and community well-being. Through a dynamic game and engaging discussions, participants will delve into the importance of integrating nature and health considerations into climate adaptation strategies and discuss barriers to implementation. Learn how inclusive community engagement, equitable resource allocation and resilience-building projects can foster healthier, more resilient communities for all. Hear inspiring stories of cross-sectoral partnerships that bridge public health with community planning, design and climate action, ensuring that all community members benefit from these efforts.10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Building our collective future: Partnerships for equitable climate action
Addressing climate action and meeting community-wide goals requires coordinated and inclusive cross-sectoral efforts. This session will explore recent research from the Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership (N-ZAP) on building equity goals into community-wide, regional climate action work, featuring researchers and practitioners advancing this work. Join us to gain an understanding of the core elements of cross-sector partnerships, their role in fostering collaboration, and how to apply best practices to build effective, inclusive partnerships within your own community.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. FCM’s Municipal Den
Join some of Canada's leading innovators and municipalities as they present their groundbreaking ideas to enhance municipal services. Each presenter will have five minutes to captivate the audience and ignite enthusiasm for their project, service or big idea. The event aims to foster collaboration, inspire action and propel Canadian communities forward.2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Leading the way: Emerging investment opportunities for local climate action - Presented by Co-operators & Addenda Capital
Municipal projects that help communities mitigate and adapt to climate risks are increasingly essential to drive climate action in Canada. In this workshop, participants will gain insights into effective strategies at the intersection of climate mitigation and adaptation, and explore how to leverage private capital to accelerate municipal climate solutions that build community resilience.2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Planting the seeds of Reconciliation across Canadian urban forests
Urban forests offer a unique opportunity for Reconciliation in Canadian municipalities, which sit on diverse Indigenous territories. This participatory workshop will explore how community tree canopies can integrate Indigenous stories and stewardship. Together, we will share ideas and stories to bring Reconciliation to life in your community's urban forests and tree canopy planning.2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Harnessing local resources for community energy solutions
Municipalities are increasingly advancing local power generation to combat the dual challenge of increasing energy costs and climate action. Join us to learn how to harness local resources and how to overcome common challenges that will support you to successfully build diverse and locally generated energy solutions.2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Ask the experts: Harnessing natural assets for municipal resilience and climate mitigation - Presented by the Canadian Standards Association
Join us for an insightful panel discussion hosted by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) on natural asset inventories. Natural assets are spaces within a municipality, such as grasslands, forests, waterways, etc., that use natural processes to provide water retention, urban heat reduction and carbon storage, amongst other ecosystem services.Determining the value of these natural assets and linking the eco-service value that they provide in areas like water treatment, flood control, carbon capture and many other critical services is key to recognizing and managing their benefits. Developing a natural asset program is important to ensure alignment with other municipal strategies involving biodiversity, resilience and climate change mitigation, while ensuring the financial value of the assets are provided in a quantifiable manner.
Our expert panelists will share their experiences and insights on implementing the CSA standard, highlighting its benefits for sustainable urban planning and environmental stewardship.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how your municipality can leverage this standard to enhance resilience and sustainability.
- Thursday, February 13
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Harnessing big challenges: Addressing energy poverty, housing crisis and retrofit gap in municipal planning
Tackling energy poverty alongside a national housing crisis seems daunting. However, by leveraging partnerships between municipalities and affordable housing providers, we can take on these big challenges with sustainable solutions. Join this workshop to gain valuable insights on addressing these competing demands and learn from inspiring initiatives that use innovative methods to overcome challenges and develop successful strategies.10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Walking the path to nature-positive communities by protecting and enhancing biodiversity
How can we mitigate the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss to build resilience? How do we ensure a high quality of living amidst increasing urbanization? In the recent context of COP16 urging communities to make peace with nature, join us for an insightful workshop focused on working with nature to improve infrastructure project outcomes. This session will explore how municipalities can integrate nature and biodiversity into urban planning, development, community engagement and overall well-being. Through collaborative activities and expert insights, this workshop aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to create sustainable, biodiversity-rich and resilient communities that thrive in harmony with nature.10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Ask the experts: Now what? Building community support for climate action in uncertain times - Presented by Re.Climate
Rising misinformation, organized pushbacks and shifting political and public priorities are making it increasingly difficult for local governments to implement climate plans and programs.Join Re.Climate communication and engagement experts for an interactive workshop that unpacks the trends driving these challenges, and explores what research and practice reveal about building community support and demand for climate action.
This session will share recent insights about Canadian audiences and provide practical, actionable advice on how to counter misinformation, avoid common traps that weaken public support, and how to more effectively engage beyond the choir and activate a broader audience of concerned citizens and community leaders.
The workshop will feature lessons from urban and rural communities, peer problem-solving conversations, and practical tools and advice that participants can immediately apply to their work.
Schedule
From inspiring speakers and expert panel discussions to interactive workshops and a variety of networking opportunities, the SCC 2025 schedule has something for everyone.
All events and sessions below will be offered in English and French with simultaneous interpretation.
Times are displayed in Atlantic Time (AT).
Schedule is subject to change without notice.
- Tuesday, February 11
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Continental breakfast 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Pre-conference trainings and study tours 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Industry Showcase 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch - Presented by Intact Public Entities 12:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Free electric vehicle test drives - Presented by Plug'N Drive and NB Lung 1:00 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. Opening ceremony 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Opening keynote: Knowing Canada's history, knowing ourselves – How understanding our truth can lead to a path forward
Acclaimed journalist, author and director Tanya Talaga speaks on acknowledging the truth of Canadian history, from an Indigenous lens, and what change looks like going forward. Join Tanya as she discusses how knowing ourselves can promote the sustainability of this country with the voices, traditions and experience of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis people who are the original stewards and guardians of this land.
Speaker:
- Tanya Talaga, Award-winning journalist and author, Seven Fallen Feathers
2:45 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Coffee break 3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Concurrent workshops (listed above) 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sustainable Community Awards ceremony - Presented by Intact 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Opening reception - Presented by Intact - Wednesday, February 12
7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast - Presented by WSP Canada 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Indigenous Artisan Market - Supported by the Joint Economic Development Initiative 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Industry Showcase 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Welcome and daily update 9:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Free electric vehicle test drives - Presented by Plug'N Drive and NB Lung 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Panel: No one left behind – Collaborative climate solutions for inclusive action
Explore strategies for inclusive climate action and discover how municipalities can ensure that a commitment to sustainability is harmonized with a just future for all community members. Hear stories of impact, opportunities for action and concrete steps that we can all take in our communities.
Speakers include:
- Gabrielle Blatz, Councillor, City of Wetaskiwin, Alberta, and co-chair, SCC 2025 (moderator)
- Abhi Kantamneni, Director, Action Research, Efficiency Canada
- Brett (Hetxw'msGyetxw) Huson, Founder and President of Aluu'taa
- Mani Rajendran, Senior Project Manager, the Regional Municipality of Durham
- Sheila Murray, Project Director, Community Resilience to Extreme Weather (CREW)10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Coffee break 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Concurrent workshops (listed above) 12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Lunch - Presented by Intact Public Entities 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Concurrent workshops (listed above) 3:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. Coffee break 3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Panel: A new era of climate action – Economic opportunity, job creation and cost savings at the forefront of action
Join this timely discussion where elected municipal leaders, thought leaders and industry experts will explore how Canada is shifting toward a more integrated approach to climate action—one where economic opportunity, cost savings for Canadians and job creation take center stage. As the country faces the urgent need to address climate change, GHG reductions are no longer seen as a standalone objective but as a vital co-benefit to a broader, more dynamic agenda.
The panel will delve into how innovative climate solutions can fuel economic growth, reduce the cost of living and create high-quality, sustainable jobs across various sectors. From clean energy investments to energy-efficient infrastructure and green technologies, the discussion will highlight how climate action can be a powerful driver of Canada’s economic future.
Join us to hear how embracing climate action can be a win-win for Canadians—building a stronger, more resilient economy that benefits everyone and reduces emissions.
Speakers include:
- Rebecca Bligh, FCM President and Councillor, City of Vancouver (moderator)
- Skylar Franke, Councillor, Ward 11, City of London, Ontario
- Ursula Eicker, PhD, Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities and Communities, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec
- Patrick Brooks, Economic Development Officer, St Mary's First Nation, New Brunswick
- Louise Comeau, Senior Advisor, Re.Climate4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. End of day recap and reflection 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Social: East Coast Kitchen Party, Boyce Farmers Market - Presented by Porter O’Brien, AFMNB and UMNB - Thursday, February 13
7:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. Breakfast - Presented by WSP Canada 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Industry Showcase 8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Welcome and daily update 9:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Free electric vehicle test drives - Presented by Plug'N Drive and NB Lung 9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Panel: Risk and resilience
Municipalities across Canada are taking action to protect their residents from persistent and intensifying impacts of a changing climate. Learn how to drive action towards climate adaptation and resilience in your community. This panel combines municipal voices of lived experiences from recent years with expert perspectives on tools, innovations and opportunities for adaptation action.
Speakers include:
- Marieke Cloutier, Senior Director, Programs, GMF (moderator)
- Megan Leslie, President and CEO, World Wildlife Fund-Canada
- Joanna Eyquem, Managing Director, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation
- Dominic Lachance, Director, Engineering, Infrastructure and Climate Change Adaptation, Federation of Quebec Municipalities10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. Coffee break 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Concurrent workshops (listed above) 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. Lunch - Presented by Intact Public Entities 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Closing keynote: Climate change, local government and justice – Action and hope for the way forward
Award-winning journalist Laura Lynch will wrap-up SCC 2025 by discussing how municipalities act as critical changemakers, exploring the opportunities that come from being the closest level of government to citizens, while also acknowledging limitations that come from varying legislation and taxes. Join this keynote to discover how justice plays into the design and redesign of sustainable civic spaces, to hear climate stories and to learn where opportunities for climate action exist and how to find hope.
Speaker:
- Laura Lynch, award-winning journalist, CBC's What On Earth
1:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Closing ceremony 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Social tours