Sheila Watt-Cloutier
Environmental, Cultural, and Human Rights Advocate
LOCATION:
The Westin Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
DATES:
February 8-11, 2027
Full program
From inspiring speakers and expert panel discussions to interactive workshops and a variety of networking opportunities, the SCC 2027 program has something for everyone.
All events and sessions below will be offered in English and French with simultaneous interpretation. Times are displayed in Eastern Time (ET). Schedule is subject to change without notice.
- Monday, February 8
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Training sessions
- Climate disclosures for municipal staff: The essentials
- Addressing homelessness in your community: The Empathy Project
Pre-registration is required. See training descriptions below.
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Study tours
- Exploring the National Capital Region’s urban backyard
- EnviroCentre: Local climate solutions in practice
- From vision to impact: Sustainable municipal buildings in Gatineau (French event)
Pre-registration is required. See study tour descriptions below. Please note that simultaneous interpretation will not be available during study tours.
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Networking event
Pre-SCC Mixer
Connect with like-minded people interested in building their network and learn from others. Meet other SCC 2027 attendees and enjoy complimentary cocktails and appetizers.
Pre-registration is not required.
- Tuesday, February 9
7:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Open all day
Industry Showcase
Build valuable connections with sustainability experts and discover innovative solutions at SCC's Industry Showcase.
Indigenous Market
Connect with Indigenous businesses and discover products, services and offerings at SCC’s Indigenous Market.
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Complimentary breakfast 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. Opening ceremony 9:15 – 10:15 a.m. Opening keynote
More information coming soon.
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Coffee break (with complimentary refreshments and snacks) 10:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Workshops
- Fleet electrification in practice
- From risk to action: Translating priorities into climate resilience projects
- Preserve what we have: Affordable housing retrofits for climate and resilience
Pre-registration is not required. See workshop descriptions below.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Complimentary lunch buffet 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Award-winning projects: First showcase
Excellence in practice: Winners of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards
Join us in celebrating the winners of FCM’s Sustainable Communities Awards and discover some of Canada’s most innovative municipal sustainability projects.
Award recipients will share the stories, lessons learned, and impact behind their award-winning initiatives. Participants will gain valuable insights and inspiration from the innovative approaches communities across Canada are taking to advance sustainability.
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Sustainable Transportation, Sustainable Buildings, Community Energy, Climate Adaptation, Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions, Waste, Accelerating Net-Zero Transformation, and Reconciliation, Equity, Anti-Racism and Inclusion (R + AREI).
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Panel discussion
Coming soon.
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Coffee break (with complimentary refreshments and snacks) 3:30 – 4:45 p.m. Workshops
- Planning for climate-resilient communities: A game-based approach
- Advancing energy-oriented development in Canadian municipalities
Pre-registration is not required. See workshop descriptions below.
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Reception
Industry Showcase Reception
Enjoy complementary refreshments and hors d'oeuvres while networking with the many sustainability professionals exhibiting in the Industry Showcase.
Pre-registration is not required.
- Wednesday, February 10
7:30 a.m.–4:45 p.m. Trade show
Industry Showcase
Build valuable connections with sustainability experts and discover innovative solutions at SCC's Industry Showcase.
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Complimentary breakfast 8:45 – 10:00 a.m. Workshops
- Advancing climate action in an age of uncertainty
- Engagement for impact: Co-creating solutions with communities (part 1)
- Trees as infrastructure: Practical asset planning for small and mid-sized municipalities (part 1)
Pre-registration is not required. See workshop descriptions below.
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Coffee break (with complimentary refreshments and snacks) 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Workshops
- Engagement for impact: Co-creating solutions with communities (part 2)
- Trees as infrastructure: Practical asset planning for small and mid-sized municipalities (part 2)
- Beyond the grant: Exploring new approaches to financing municipal resilience
Pre-registration is not required. See workshop descriptions below.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Complimentary lunch buffet 1:00 – 1:45 p.m. Award-winning projects: Second showcase
Excellence in practice: Winners of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards
Join us in celebrating the winners of FCM’s Sustainable Communities Awards and discover some of Canada’s most innovative municipal sustainability projects.
Award recipients will share the stories, lessons learned, and impact behind their award-winning initiatives. Participants will gain valuable insights and inspiration from the innovative approaches communities across Canada are taking to advance sustainability.
Awards will be presented in the following categories: Sustainable Transportation, Sustainable Buildings, Community Energy, Climate Adaptation, Biodiversity and Nature-Based Solutions, Waste, Accelerating Net-Zero Transformation, and Reconciliation, Equity, Anti-Racism and Inclusion (R + AREI).
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Study tour
How to read a forest: A winter walk through the woods
Pre-registration is required. See study tour description below.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Panel discussion
Inside the climate mis- and disinformation system: How narratives undermine local climate action
Climate action increasingly takes place in an information environment shaped by misinformation, disinformation, and AI-generated content. Municipal leaders advancing climate adaptation, sustainable transportation, resilient infrastructure, and clean energy projects are often confronted by narratives designed to create doubt, slow decision-making and erode public trust.
Through a realistic municipal case study, this session explores how climate mis- and disinformation campaigns take shape, why they resonate, and what governance vulnerabilities they exploit. Participants will gain practical insights into how transparent decision-making, trusted local voices and strong community engagement can help build confidence and support for climate action in an increasingly complex information landscape.
3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Coffee break (with complimentary refreshments and snacks) 3:30 – 4:45p.m. Workshops
- Indigenous perspectives on resilience: A fireside conversation
- Building trust in climate action: Addressing mis- and disinformation
Pre-registration is not required. See workshop descriptions below.
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Networking event
Sweater weather social
Wrap up the day by connecting with peers from across the country in a warm, relaxed, and interactive setting. Enjoy complementary refreshments and hors d'oeuvres while exploring themed spaces and joining conversations that spark your interest. Whether you're looking to network, exchange ideas, or simply unwind after a full day of learning, make the evening your own.
And don't forget to bring your favourite sweater!
Pre-registration is not required.
- Thursday, February 11
7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Trade show
Industry Showcase
Build valuable connections with sustainability experts and discover innovative solutions at SCC's Industry Showcase.
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Complimentary breakfast 8:30 – 10:00 a.m. Workshops
- Living with risk: Exploring nature-based solutions for climate resilience
- Integrating accessibility into sustainable municipal buildings
- Writing strong funding applications for sustainable community projects
Pre-registration is not required. See workshop descriptions below.
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Coffee break (with complimentary refreshments and snacks) 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Closing keynote
Re-imagining a new way forward with intention
“We must now speak environment, economy, foreign policy, health and human rights in the same breath,” says Sheila Watt-Cloutier.
In this truly globe-spanning talk, Watt-Cloutier provides a clear, meaningful, and comprehensive understanding of the way these issues are interconnected, and what it means for the future of our planet.
With a focus on solutions, Watt-Cloutier brings the realities of the Arctic―where Inuit today face profound challenges to their environment, their economy, their health and their cultural well-being―to light. The challenges they face are clearly connected to the industries we support, the disposable world we have become, and the non-sustaining policies we create. Because her Inuit culture faces the most extreme challenges of globalization, Watt-Cloutier speaks from firsthand experience, and couples that with her extensive experiences as a global leader.
Drawing upon her ancient culture, and speaking from a position of strength, not victimhood, she helps audiences find common ground. Her Arctic voice–not as far away as we might imagine–enlightens and inspires. With inclusive good will, it bridges some extremely divided gaps around the world.
Speaker
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Closing ceremony 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Complimentary lunch buffet 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Study tour
- Art sparks connections
Pre-registration is required. See study tour descriptions below.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Social event
Ice skating in Ottawa
Join us for a fun afternoon of skating at either the Rideau Canal Skateway or the Rink of Dreams in front of City Hall.
Activity is weather dependent. Skates are not provided; rentals will be available on site.
Trainings and study tours
Join these one-of-a-kind activities to explore practical sustainability approaches, new GMF resources and innovative projects across the National Capital Region.
Pre-registration is required for SCC trainings and study tours. Please make sure to sign up when you register for the conference.
Training sessions are bilingual. Simultaneous interpretation will not be available during study tours. Times are displayed in Eastern Time (ET). Schedule is subject to change without notice.
Training sessions
- Monday, February 8
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET Climate disclosures for municipal staff: The essentials
Learn the essentials and explore best practices for climate-related financial disclosures within local governments. By the end of this session, participants will gain a clear understanding of the disclosure process’ key components, its potential integrations into municipal processes and day-to-day work, and how to approach decisions of scope and materiality.
Bilingual event.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET Addressing homelessness in your community: The Empathy Project
Behind every person experiencing homelessness is a story. What if, for one afternoon, you could step into it?
This immersive, experiential learning exercise is designed and led by people with lived experience of homelessness. This session will make social policy accessible and digestible. You’ll be assigned a fictional but realistic case study representing a pathway through the housing and homelessness system in a changing climate. Following the simulation, you’ll be guided through a facilitated discussion designed to help you connect these experiences to tangible action you can take in your communities.
Bilingual event.
Study tours
- Monday, February 8
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET Exploring the National Capital Region’s urban backyard
In a changing climate, access to green spaces and waterways plays a key role in fostering the conditions for a more liveable urban environment. This study tour will introduce participants to sites designed to encourage local residents to get outside and explore our urban backyard in Canada's capital, highlighting organizations in the Ottawa region that are advancing innovative projects.
Study tour takes place primarily in English.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET EnviroCentre: Local climate solutions in practice
A guided visit to an EnviroCentre project in Ottawa, chosen to showcase local climate action that holds up in winter conditions. Rather than a single-theme tour, this profiles how EnviroCentre, a leading local delivery organization, weaves community climate work into practical, year-round programming. Participants see a real project in action and leave with concrete lessons on program design, funding, and partnerships they can adapt in their own municipality.
Study tour takes place primarily in English.
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET From vision to impact: Sustainable municipal buildings in Gatineau
Discover how the City of Gatineau integrates sustainability, energy efficiency, and innovation into its municipal infrastructure. This guided tour will take participants on a journey to explore flagship projects, including the new Lucy-Faris Library, which is LEED Silver certified, and the Gatineau Sports Center, which is LEED Gold certified.
Through these projects, participants will explore the approaches, technologies, and strategies implemented to design and construct high-performance, resilient municipal buildings. The tour will also provide an opportunity to draw concrete lessons from Gatineau’s experience, share insights on the challenges encountered, and discuss practices that could be adapted in other municipalities.
Study tour takes place primarily in French.
- Wednesday, February 10
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET How to read a forest: A winter walk through the woods
Join Aileen Duncan, a certified arborist and professional forester from the Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, for a guided winter walking tour of a forest. Learn to read the landscape through the lens of forest ecology and biodiversity, identify common tree species, and forest stewardship.
Topics are expected to include:
- canopy layers and light competition
- signs of natural and human disturbance and their impact on forest succession
- identifying and protecting habitat features
- climate resilience in forests and tree species
- the benefits of trees and equitable access to greenspace
- public safety considerations
By the end of the walk, you’ll be able to read the forest with a new perspective. You’ll understand how it functions, responds to change, and thrives.
Accessibility: There are no stairs nor major changes in elevation. The route will not be cleared from snow, although it's expected to be packed down. If snowshoes are necessary, they will be provided. Portions of the walk may fall below a 1.5-metre turning radius. Obstacles are not expected but may be encountered (i.e. logs in the trail). Please dress accordingly for winter in Ottawa.
Study tour takes place primarily in English.
- Thursday, February 11
1:00 – 4:00 p.m. ET Art sparks connections
Unwind after the conference with an afternoon of art and connection. This ARTivity begins with a guided tour of the Ottawa Art Gallery, followed by an interactive collage-based workshop and concludes with drinks and networking at Jackson Café.
More about the workshop:
- (Re)mapping : Discover pre-colonial Anishinaabe mapmaking traditions and learn to (re)map your neighborhood or city.
- Designed by the Anishinaabe (Odawa) artist Barry Ace, this workshop encourages critical thinking about colonialism in Canada. Your group will build cultural competence and respect for diverse Indigenous peoples, while learning more about each other and where you come from.
Study tour takes place primarily in English.
Workshops
Interactive workshops will be held throughout SCC 2027, allowing participants to learn from expert presentations and case studies, explore adaptable real-world tools and ask questions relevant to local challenges. Explore the topics of our workshops below—more information will be added soon.
Pre-registration is not required for the workshops below.
All workshops will be offered in English and French with simultaneous interpretation. Times are displayed in Eastern Time (ET). Schedule is subject to change without notice.
- Tuesday, February 9
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Fleet electrification in practice
Fleet electrification presents a great opportunity for municipalities to reduce their emissions, advance their climate goals and reduce the impacts of fuel cost volatility. In practice, we know that transitioning fleets requires much more than purchasing new vehicles. It’s a strategic organizational and cultural shift that touches nearly every aspect of municipal operations.
In this workshop, you’ll hear from municipal practitioners from across Canada, representing a range of community sizes, as they share lessons learned, practical tips and best practices on electrifying light-duty vehicles and heavy- duty vehicles in a variety of municipal services.
Our panelists will explore the full spectrum of the transition from the technical considerations such as procurement, vehicle selection and infrastructure upgrades to the human side, including inclusive staff engagement, overcoming resistance and advancing equity.
You’ll leave the workshop with a better understanding of how to successfully navigate your fleet electrification journey. You’ll also get a preview of GMF’s new suite of municipal fleet electrification tools, as well as tips on how to leverage GMF funding to support your fleet electrification transition.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. From risk to action: Translating priorities into climate resilience projects
This interactive session will help participants explore how to best translate community climate plans into actionable climate resilience projects, bridging the gap between planning and implementation. Participants will engage in a role-playing activity, evaluating various climate resilience initiatives against community priorities, navigating barriers to implementation, and identifying potential partners.
10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Preserve what we have: Affordable housing retrofits for climate and resilience
This interactive workshop will explore how municipalities and affordable housing providers can work together to advance affordable housing retrofits that reduce energy use and emissions, improve resident comfort and health, strengthen resilience to extreme weather and climate impacts, and extend the life of affordable housing assets.
Participants will hear practical examples from housing organizations that have successfully implemented retrofit projects and municipalities that have successfully championed and enabled retrofit projects, highlighting key lessons learned, partnership approaches, and strategies for overcoming common barriers.
Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, participants will examine the unique role municipalities can play as planners, conveners, funders, policy enablers, and champions of retrofit initiatives. The session will provide practical tools and insights for aligning housing and climate objectives and identifying retrofit opportunities.
Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the benefits of affordable housing retrofits, awareness of Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) funding opportunities, new connections with peers, and concrete actions they can take to support, enable, or champion retrofit projects in their communities.
3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Planning for climate-resilient communities: A game-based approach
Climate adaptation requires collaboration between local government staff, elected officials, residents, Indigenous communities, equity-deserving groups, and other community partners. Knowing where and how to get started can be a challenge.
This interactive workshop introduces a game-based learning experience that helps municipal staff explore GMF’s Climate-Ready Communities Assessment Tool in an engaging and collaborative way. Through a series of team-based challenges and real-world scenarios, participants will explore the key milestones of climate adaptation, practice assessing a local government's progress using real-world scenarios, and identify priority actions to help move adaptation efforts forward. The game provides a fun, interactive way to become familiar with the tool while exploring common opportunities and challenges faced by local governments.
3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Advancing energy-oriented development in Canadian municipalities
As communities grow and change, decisions about where and how development occurs also shape how energy is produced, distributed and used. Energy-oriented development means considering these connections early—aligning land use, infrastructure and energy planning to unlock cleaner, more resilient and locally beneficial energy systems. Community energy systems (CES), including thermal energy networks and community-scale solar, can help municipalities reduce emissions, stabilize energy costs, support local economic development and put this approach into practice.
Drawing on lessons from the Green Municipal Fund’s Accelerating Community Energy Systems (ACES) initiative, this interactive workshop will introduce a practical framework for identifying high-potential opportunities based on factors such as planned growth, anchor loads and municipal influence. Through real-world examples and interactive exercises, participants will explore the business case for CES and learn how municipalities can use planning, policy, municipal assets, incentives and partnerships to catalyze projects. Participants will leave with practical tools and concrete first steps to advance energy-oriented development in their communities.
- Wednesday, February 10
8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Advancing climate action in an age of uncertainty
Municipalities are facing growing levels of uncertainty around their capacity and momentum for climate action, as competing priorities, including limited capacity, affordability and navigating ever-changing political landscapes are more challenging than ever.
In this session, participants will explore national trends in municipal climate action, and how they’ve shifted in recent years. The Municipal Net-Zero Action Research Partnership will offer a first glance at data collected in 2026 on municipalities’ common barriers, level of ambition and project implementation trends across important sectors—transportation, buildings, land use, etc.
A panel of municipal practitioners will also present approaches to moving from ambition to implementation, with a focus on stronger accountability, collaboration, and governance.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how municipalities are pursuing climate action, examples of approaches being used by leading municipalities, and practical insights into navigating today’s challenges in advancing GHG emissions reductions.
8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Engagement for impact: Co-creating solutions with communities
Building lasting resilience depends on meaningful collaboration with communities, Indigenous Peoples and those most affected by the impacts of climate change. This workshop begins by establishing a foundation in anti-racism, equity and inclusion, exploring how systems, power dynamics and lived experiences shape participation in decision-making, namely in the climate space. Participants will examine principles and practices for inclusive engagement and community collaboration, including how to design processes that reduce barriers, build trust, and create space for diverse perspectives.
Building on this, the workshop will focus on Indigenous perspectives and approaches to engagement, highlighting the importance of relationships, Indigenous knowledge systems and self-determination.
Through practical tools, real-world examples, and facilitated discussion, participants will learn how to design and deliver engagement processes that are equitable and capable of supporting more effective and resilient climate adaptation outcomes.
Note: This workshop runs over two consecutive agenda blocks; participants are expected to attend both blocks.
8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Trees as infrastructure: Practical asset planning for small and mid-sized municipalities
Small- and mid-sized municipalities are often left out of urban forestry conversations because they lack the capacity to build a formal case for tree investment. This hands-on session, delivered in partnership with Tree Canada, reframes trees as critical green infrastructure, on par with roads and stormwater systems, and introduces participants to practical approaches for integrating them into asset management planning. Working in breakout groups, participants will assess the infrastructure costs and benefits a tree canopy provides for a mock community, building a concrete case for including trees in an asset management plan. By the end of the workshop, attendees will leave with a practical framework they can adapt to make the case for trees as infrastructure back home.
Note: This workshop runs over two consecutive agenda blocks; participants are expected to attend both blocks.
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Beyond the grant: Exploring new approaches to financing municipal resilience
Local governments have recognized a large and growing need for investment in climate-resilient municipal infrastructure, which outstrips the capacity of government funding alone. In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn about emerging financing models that municipalities can use to invest in adaptation priorities like stormwater management, flood prevention, fire protection, and resilient energy and transportation systems. You’ll explore key considerations that would make an adaptation project a good candidate for financing and learn about upcoming GMF funding opportunities to build the business case for financing adaptation in your community.
3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Indigenous perspectives on resilience: A fireside conversation
Effective climate action goes far beyond technical solutions. It is about equity and requires building meaningful relationships, embracing diverse ways of knowing, and elevating Indigenous leadership, knowledge, and approaches to stewardship, resilience, and adaptation.
Join us for a conversational chat hosted by an Indigenous speaker who will share reflections on climate change, adaptation, stewardship, and community resilience. Participants will explore what meaningful engagement and collaboration can look like in practice, and how organizations can move beyond consultation toward respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
This session is designed as a relaxed dialogue that encourages listening, learning, and authentic exchange.
Participants are encouraged to bring questions, reflect on their own practice, and engage in a discussion that puts connection and shared learning first.
3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Building trust in climate action: Addressing mis- and disinformation
When climate misinformation spreads in your community, municipal staff and elected officials need to be ready. This hands-on session combines a short presentation on how misinformation works, with practical tools and a scenario-based activity drawn from real municipal contexts. Participants will leave with practical resources and strategies they can use right away to recognize, respond to, and navigate climate misinformation in their communities.
- Thursday, February 11
8:30 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Living with risk: Exploring nature-based solutions for climate resilience
By integrating nature-based solutions into climate adaptation projects, communities across Canada are not only improving their resilience to climate change, but also helping to sustain local biodiversity, improving air and water quality, and offering physical and mental health benefits.
This session will explore how communities across the country are mobilizing nature-based and hybrid solutions to address various climate hazards. Following presentations on a variety of approaches addressing different climate hazards across the country, participants will explore and evaluate different nature-based solutions to help them address climate risks in their communities and deliver co-benefits.
At the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Recognize how proactive climate resilience work through the implementation of nature-based solutions can help reduce the climate risk in communities.
- Identify communities who are advancing projects and programs in these spaces.
- Describe next steps to advance local nature-based solutions and identify resources that will help go farther, faster.
8:30 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Integrating accessibility into sustainable municipal buildings
How can municipalities ensure that investments in sustainable and energy-efficient buildings also create spaces that are accessible and inclusive?
This session will explore how accessibility can be integrated into municipal building projects alongside sustainability and energy-efficiency goals. Participants will gain practical insights into incorporating accessibility considerations early in the planning and design process, as well as lessons from a municipal retrofit project.
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Writing strong funding applications for sustainable community projects
Applying for funding can be challenging, especially when balancing project development, technical requirements, stakeholder expectations, and limited staff capacity. This interactive workshop will help municipal staff and sustainability practitioners learn how to strengthen their funding applications for GMF sustainable community projects.
Through practical examples, peer discussion, and hands-on exercises, participants will learn how to navigate funding opportunities, navigate the funding portal, build strong project rationales, quantify expected benefits, complete application workbooks, and understand the peer review process. Participants will also gain insights into common application challenges, best practices for communicating project benefits, cost estimation, and funding stacking.
Whether they are preparing a first application or looking to improve future submissions, attendees will leave with practical tools, greater confidence, and a clearer understanding of how to position projects for funding success.
Building prosperity and resilience, piece by piece
Discount pricing now available
Every community has the power to shape a stronger future. At the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Sustainable Communities Conference (SCC), discover how municipalities are creating the conditions to thrive—providing climate-resilient infrastructure, reliable local energy systems, affordability and protection from extreme weather.
Register early and save $200 with limited-time rates.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Conference
SCC 2027: Registration
Discount pricing now available: Register early for FCM’s Sustainable Communities Conference
Read moreSCC 2027: Plan your trip
Access travel and accommodation discounts for your trip to FCM's Sustainable Communities Conference 2027 in Ottawa, Ontario.
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