SCC 2025: Program details

Pre-Conference trainings – Tuesday, February 11th, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. AT 

• 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.  
• Advancing socio economic benefits in your community: In 2024, the Green Municipal Fund launched a new social economic benefits framework. The framework offers tools, approaches and recommendations on how your next sustainability project can advance other important social-economic priorities.
• From feasibility to capital project implementation: Getting a project from a study stage through to budget approvals and ‘shovels’ in the ground can feel like a mountain.  This training will draw from successful initiatives across the Green Municipal Fund priority areas to highlight tips, tools and lessons to build support and get going with your capital project.

Pre-conference study tours – February 11th, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. AT

• 12 Neighbours micro home community and social enterprise centre: Check out Fredericton’s dignified micro-home community and social enterprise center. 12 Neighbours provides fully independent tiny homes as affordable rental units, with supports, as well as a social enterprise center with training designed to help people develop new skills and overcome employment barriers. 
• Fredericton green buildings tour: Get a behind the scenes 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. 
• Greenhouse & 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. Next up, explore a local wetland and nature reserve by snow, while getting to know local climate adaptation and resilience initiatives with the Nature Trust of New Brunswick. Snowshoes 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.

Concurrent workshops

• Moving towards 2050—Shifting transportation behaviours: 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.  
• 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.  
• Accommodating the future: How do we ensure that as our communities grow, we bring everyone along with us? Learn how fast-growing Canadian municipalities are accommodating the future through community conversation and strategic planning.  
• 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.
• Leading the way—Emerging opportunities and investments in local government climate action:  Municipal investment in sustainability initiatives is a growing opportunity in Canada and is increasingly essential for local climate action despite existing gaps. In this workshop, participants will gain insights from inspiring initiatives and explore potential opportunities in financial leverage from local leaders spearheading investment in municipal climate action.  
• 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. Participants in this workshop will gain valuable insights on addressing these competing demands and learn from inspiring initiatives that use innovative methods to overcome challenges and develop successful strategies.  
• How natural assets can advance resilience and equity: Join us for an interactive workshop where participants will engage in a dynamic game designed to explore the critical role of natural assets in advancing equity and resilience in Canadian municipalities. Through resource trading and managing natural disasters, participants will gain hands-on experience in strategic decision-making and collaborative problem-solving. This workshop emphasizes the importance of equity, recognizing that climate change impacts communities differently. By understanding and leveraging natural assets, we can create sustainable, resilient, and equitable communities that support all residents, especially the most vulnerable.  
• 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.  
• Designing communities to protect and enhance biodiversity: How can we mitigate the impacts of climate change and build resilience? How do we ensure a high quality of living amidst increasing urbanization? Join us for an insightful workshop focused on designing communities that protect and enhance biodiversity. This session will explore how municipalities can integrate nature and biodiversity into urban planning and development. 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.    
• Together we make change: To achieve ambitious community climate goals, we need everyone at the table. Join us in learning from a broad range of regional collaborations working to advance net-zero action.  
• The mind & heart in the midst of a climate crisis: We're facing a crisis climate crisis, no doubt. 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.