Dublin Shore Wharf
Resources
Ken Simpson Memorial Conference Fund
The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) is proud to launch the Ken Simpson Memorial Conference Fund, created in memory of Ken Simpson, who served as Executive Director of the former UNSM from 1990 to 2009. Ken was a dedicated leader who championed collaboration, learning, and excellence in municipal government.
About the Fund
Each year, two elected officials will receive:
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Free registration for NSFM’s Fall Conference
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A $500 travel allowance
Who Can Apply
The fund is open to current mayors, wardens, and councillors who:
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Demonstrate commitment to professional development and municipal leadership
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Face financial need or barriers to attending
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Show a clear vision of how participation will benefit their municipality and community
Application Requirements
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A statement (max 500 words) outlining your interest, benefits for you/your municipality, and any financial barriers
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Your municipality’s conference/training funding policy (or summary, if available)
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Optional: 1–3 supporting letters from municipal colleagues or staff
Deadline
Applications are due 4:30 p.m., Friday, October 3
Download the fillable PDF form Click Here
Submit applications and documents to jwebber@nsfm.ca
Successful applicants will be notified no later than two weeks before the conference.
For more information, please contact jwebber@nsfm.ca.
Funding for retrofits and new builds of community and municipal buildings.
Please also see the Climate Change & Sustainability page as it may apply to portions of your project.
HCi3 has developed a guide to funding and financing deep retrofits; see the resource here.
Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (under GMF)
Department - Organization: Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Description: GMF’s Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation (LLCA) initiative provides funding and skills development support to local governments to adapt and build long-term resiliency to the impacts of climate change. By 2031, this $530M initiative will fund more than 1,400 municipal activities.
- Climate-Ready Plans and Processes – Integration of equitable and inclusive climate resilience into municipal plans, processes and management systems, such as asset management systems planning. Up to a maximum of $140,000. Available in 2025.
- Adaptation in Action – Increased implementation of equitable climate adaptation action taken by Canadian municipalities. Spring/Summer 2025.
- Financing Adaptation – Increase in new financing models utilized/leveraged by Canadian municipalities to finance climate adaptation capital projects. Fall 2025.
- Capacity Development Partner Grants – funds partners to design and deliver training that will help local governments advance their climate adaptation knowledge and technical skills. Closed August 7th.
Deadline: See above.
Contact: gmfinfo@fcm.ca or book a meeting with an advisor.
Website: Local Leadership Climate Adaptation
Community Economic Development Fund
Department - Organization: NS Department of Growth and Development
Description: Helps communities become more competitive by funding projects that have a broad impact on a sector or region. The fund considers projects that promote cooperation and partnerships. Municipalities or RENs can apply. Capital projects are eligible, such as waterfront development or placemaking projects. Water and wastewater projects are not eligible.
Example(s): Lighthouse Arts Center, Halifax Convention Center.
Deadline: The fund is open for applications 3 times per year.
Contact: cedfund@novascotia.ca
Website: Community Economic Development Fund
Community Recreation Capital Grant
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: This program is suitable for projects with a total value up to $30,000. This capital grant is cost-shared with the applicant which means the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage could contribute up to one-third of the total project cost to a maximum of $8,000 and the applicant would contribute two-thirds including financial matching and donated labor or materials. REMINDER: The capital application requires demonstration of competitive and accurate price estimates, commonly through multiple quotes. You are encouraged to apply early in the fiscal year. A complete application, with all supporting documents, including confirmed funders (two-third contribution) at the time of submitting, is encouraged.
Deadline: April 1st - December 1st or until the grant program is 100% committed.
Website: Community Recreation Capital Grant
Planning Assistance Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: The program assists community organizations and municipalities in obtaining professional assistance in planning, designing and researching proposed and existing sport and recreation facilities. Funding is available for up to 50% of the total cost of the project to a maximum of $10,000.
Example(s): General facility planning including needs assessments, feasibility studies, master plans and facility operation plans. Schematic Design for new or renovated facilities and landscaping. Schematic design illustrates the scale and character of a project showing how the parts of the project relate to each other. This work includes preliminary cost estimates. The preparation of detailed design or construction documents is eligible under the main capital program and therefore not eligible. Building Audits forecast the replacement of building components by professional consultants and result in the development of a Life Cycle Plan for a facility. Research involves projects which have province-wide application e.g., exploring/testing alternative energy sources, maintenance strategies or usage.
Deadline: April 1st - December 1st or until the program is 100% committed.
Website: Planning Assistance Program
Green Municipal Fund
Department - Organization: Federation of Canadian Municipalities Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Description: Grants and loans for all stages. Stackable with other funding sources. Dedicated staff to help you apply. Free resources to help build business cases and improve project outcomes. Grants from $100-500k for up to 50% of eligible costs, combined grant and loan to a maximum of $10M for up to 80% of eligible costs. Note that accessibilty upgrades can be done as part of a efficiency project.
- Sustainable Municipal Buildings: Funding for high-efficiency new construction of municipal and community buildings, and retrofits of municipal buildings.
- Community Energy Systems: Support for the adoption of renewable energy solutions that meet community needs and are aligned with a net-zero future.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: gmfinfo@fcm.ca or book a meeting with an advisor.
Website: Green Municipal Fund
Energy Rebates & Solutions
Department - Organization: Efficiency Nova Scotia
Description: These programs include rebates, for a variety of measures to make municipal operations more efficient. Non-electric retrofits, which allow for the installation of heat pumps in municipal buildings. There is also support for engineered studies and models. You can use their online form to explain what you’re looking to achieve.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Website: Energy Rebates & Solutions
Legacy Fund
Department - Organization: Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The program provides funding for community-initiated capital projects. Recipients may receive up to 50% of eligible project expenses up to a maximum of $500,000. Funding supports community-initiated capital projects that:
- commemorate a significant local historical event or pay tribute to a significant local historical personality;
- mark a 100th anniversary or greater, in increments of 25 years (e.g., 125th, 150th);
- involve the restoration, renovation, or transformation of existing buildings or exterior spaces with local community significance that are intended for community use;
- encourage arts and heritage activities in the local community that are intended for and accessible to the general public.
Deadline: Continuous intake. Projects must be submitted before the anniversary date of the event or personality to be commemorated.
Email: dcap-bcah@pch.gc.ca
Website: Legacy Fund
Canada Cultural Spaces Fund
Department - Organization: Federal Department of Canadian Heritage
Description: The objectives of the fund are to contribute to: improved physical conditions for professional arts and heritage-related collaboration, creation, presentation, preservation, and exhibition; and to increase and improve access for Canadians to arts and culture. The CCSF achieves these objectives by supporting the construction and/or renovation of arts and/or heritage facilities, including creative hubs; and the acquisition of specialized equipment and the development of feasibility studies for the construction or renovation of arts and/or heritage facilities, including creative hubs.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Email: atlantique-atlantic@pch.gc.ca
Innovative Communities Fund
Department - Organization: Atlantic Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Description: The fund is for economic development projects and initiatives that lead to long-term employment and a stronger local economy. The fund enables communities to: develop thriving industry sectors, strengthen infrastructure in rural areas, invest in projects to help communities overcome economic issues and take advantage of new opportunities.
Example(s): Projects with links to tourism, for example, waterfront development capital projects. Events that bring in a national or international audience. Expansion of municipal services can be eligible if it is linked to economic development in the private sector.
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: ACOA Regional Manager
Website: Innovative Communities Fund
Community ACCESS-Ability Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: This program offers cost-shared grants to community groups for accessibility-related capital improvements. The grants may cover up to two-thirds of the direct and indirect costs of renovations, installations, and/or equipment. The sponsoring organization must raise at least one-third of the funding from other sources. Organizations can receive funding for one project per year under the program.
Example(s): Ramps, power door operators, accessible doors, and levered handles. Barrier-free washrooms. Elevators lifts, and other mobility assistive devices. Audio signals and loops and lighting/colour contrasting for the visually impaired. Accessible portion of community playgrounds.
Deadline: February 14th (annually).
Contact: accessabilitygrants@novascotia.ca
Website: Community ACCESS-Ability Program
Recreation Facility Development Grant/ Rink Revitalization Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: This program assists community groups and municipalities in developing or upgrading facilities to increase public participation in sport and physical recreation. Projects approved for funding are eligible to receive up to one-third of the total capital cost of the project to a maximum of $150,000. The rink revitalization program is under this program. The program can assist municipalities that operate rinks to invest in the revitalization or upgrading of capital infrastructure to support the sustainability of the facility. Rinks include curling clubs and arenas as well as outdoor rinks of a permanent nature. The rink must be open to all members of the public at reasonable times and at a reasonable rate.
Example(s): Recreation centres and halls, pools, arenas, athletic fields, parks playgrounds and trails. Enhanced schools for community use. Purchase of large permanent furnishings and equipment integral to the functioning/operation of a facility. (i.e. soccer goals, ice re-surfacer, ice plant components). Construction of community centres, pools, rinks, athletic fields, parks, playgrounds, and enhancements to schools for community use and other recreation facilities that promote active living. Capital conservation work involving repair and/or replacement needs of any major components directly related to a facility’s structural or operational integrity.
Deadline: February 14th (Annually).
Community Facility Improvement Program
Department - Organization: NS Dept of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
Description: Not for municipally owned community centers, please share widely within your municipality. Aids in repairs and upgrades to community facilities open for public use, such as community halls.
Deadline: February 14th (Annually).
Contact: Communitiesns@novascotia.ca
RBC Community Investment Fund
Department – Organization: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) / RBC Foundation
Description: RBC’s Community Investment program provides funding for innovative, expanding, and ongoing community projects through four main streams. The program supports initiatives that align with one or more of RBC’s core impact areas: climate/environment, skills and jobs for the future and community prosperity.
Funding Streams & Details:
- Seed – Supports new or early-stage initiatives to incubate innovative ideas.
Provides up to $1,000,000 (maximum $500,000 per year) for projects up to 2 years in duration. RBC can fund up to 100% of the project budget (no more than 20% of the organization’s total operating budget).
Purpose: Helps launch experimental or untested approaches. - Scale – For proven projects aiming to expand their reach or impact.
Provides up to $1,500,000 (maximum $500,000 per year) for projects up to 3 years. RBC will fund up to 50% of the project budget (up to 20% of operating budget).
Purpose: Helps successful initiatives serve more people or new areas. - Sustain – For ongoing, established programs that require long-term support.
Provides up to $2,500,000 (maximum $500,000 per year) for projects up to 5 years. RBC covers up to 25% of the project budget (up to 20% of operating budget).
Purpose: Maintains established projects with lasting community impact. - Respond – For immediate or urgent community needs, such as disaster relief or crisis response.
Provides up to $500,000 for projects up to 1 year. Generally funds up to 20% of the organization’s operating budget.
Purpose: Rapid deployment for urgent or short-term critical issues.
Deadline: Applications are accepted year-round with a typical response time of 90 days.
Eligibility: Canadian registered charities, non-profits and qualified donees (including municipalities, Indigenous governments and public institutions).
How to Apply: Applications must be submitted online via the RBC Community Investment Portal.
Website: Community Investments - Canada
RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund
Department – Organization: Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) / RBC Foundation
Description: The RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund (Build Stream) provides substantial capital funding to support the construction, renovation, and retrofit of community spaces across Canada. Grant Size & Term: $25,000 to $2,500,000 for projects up to 5 years. The fund focuses on two core priorities:
- Environmental sustainability (e.g., energy efficiency upgrades, reducing greenhouse gas emissions)
- Physical accessibility (e.g., making spaces fully accessible for people of all abilities)
Eligible Projects:
- New construction or major renovations of community-use facilities
- Energy efficiency retrofits (e.g., insulation, HVAC upgrades, solar panels, LED lighting)
- Accessibility upgrades (e.g., ramps, elevators, accessible washrooms, automatic doors, signage)
Deadline: Next intake anticipated Winter 2026.
Eligibility: Canadian registered charities, public institutions and other qualified donees (including municipalities and Indigenous governments).
How to Apply: Applications must be submitted online via the RBC Community Investment Portal.
Contact: social-impact@rbc.com
Website: Community Investments - Canada
Currently Closed, Next Intake TBD:
Enabling Accessibility Fund
Department - Organization: Employment and Social Development Canada
Description: This funding opportunity aims to make communities and workplaces across Canada more accessible for persons with disabilities. It will fund new construction, renovation and/or retrofit activities that will contribute to reducing waitlists for persons with disabilities to access programs, services and/or support.
Deadline: Closed July 23rd for Small Projects.
Contact: nc-hip-pip-eaf_odi-gd@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Website: Enabling Accessibility Fund
Green Construction through Wood
Department - Organization: Natural Resources Canada
Description: The program encourages the use of innovative wood-based building technologies in construction projects. GCWood invests in wood construction projects that generate many benefits, including:
- reduced GHG emissions from renewable and sustainable resources that help decarbonize the built environment
- accelerated adoption of innovative building technologies and systems
- updated building codes that allow for taller and larger wood buildings
- affordable housing and community infrastructure
The foresty sector in your community could benefit from additional funding that municipalities are ineligible for, such as Nova Scotia Foresty Innovation Transition Trust or federal funding programs.
Deadline: Closed June, 2024
Contact: gcwood-cvbois@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
Website: Green Construction through Wood
Information Session: You can find the webinar recording here.
Clean Fuels Fund (Provincial)
Department - Organization: NS Department of Energy
Description: The Clean Fuels Fund can provide municipalities funding to replace traditional fossil fuels with cleaner fuels for heating, transportation and industrial processes. Including; biofuels, clean wood energy from forestry waste products, hydrogen, and renewable natural gas. Eligible projects include studies supporting the adoption of clean fuels, existing facilities and operations ready for implementation of clean fuel use, and new infrastructure to facilitate clean fuel adoption. Projects with a total value up to and including $500,000 (excluding taxes) are eligible for funding up to 75% of the project cost. Projects over $500,000 are eligible for up to 50% of project costs.
Deadline: Closed October 8th, 2024
Contact: CFF@novascotia.ca
Website: Clean Fuels Fund
Green and Inclusive Community Buildings
Department - Organization: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities CanadaInfrastructure Canada
Description: The program supports retrofits, repairs or upgrades of existing publicly-accessible community buildings and the construction of new publicly-accessible community buildings for underserved and high-needs communities across Canada. Small and medium retrofits: ranging in total eligible cost from $100,000 to $2,999,999. Large retrofits and new builds: total eligible costs ranging from $3 million to $25 million.
Deadline:
Large retrofits and new builds, closed October 16, 2024.
Small and medium retrofits, closed October 16, 2024.
Contact: gicbp-pbcvi@infc.gc.ca
Sustainable Communities Challenge Fund
Department - Organization: The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
Description:. The program provides competitive opportunities to encourage communities in their climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Adaptation includes built environment and climate-ready infrastructure, ecosystems and nature-based solutions, community coordination and planning. Mitigation includes buildings, transportation, energy generation and storage, waste management and circular economy, carbon storage and sequestration.
Deadline: Closed April 22, 2025.
Contact: info@sccfns.ca
Website: https://nschallengefund.ca/
Low Carbon Communities
Department - Organization: NS Department of Energy
Description: Aims to: Help communities complete the preparatory work required to develop their projects. Advance community-led, innovative solutions for clean energy. Support learning by doing and information sharing. Contribute to social and equitable investments in Nova Scotian communities. Support projects that have multiple benefits including economic, jobs, health, resilience and cost savings. Provides up to 75% of total eligible project costs.
- clean buildings (up to $75k)
- clean electricity (up to $75k)
- clean transportation (up to $75k)
- clean energy education (up to $50k)
Example(s): Net-Zero Design for New Affordable Housing in Musquodoboit. Electric fleet and charging infrastructure planning in Kings County.
Deadline: Closed May 20, 2025.
Contact: lowcarboncommunities@novascotia.ca
Website: Low Carbon Communities
If you can't find a grant that suits your municipality's needs, please reach out. Similarly, if your municipality is applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.
Mark Ohanyan,
Fund Navigator
mohanyan@nsfm.ca
Fund Navigator
mohanyan@nsfm.ca
Main Streets represent distinct points of pride and sustainability for Nova Scotian communities. They facilitate safe and comfortable movement of people of all age and abilities, whether they are walking, cycling, driving, or using mobility devices. Shops and services on Main Streets are predominantly locally-owned and clustered together to benefit each other on streets that are vibrant, human-scaled, and express genuine local culture. The Main Street experience responds to local resident needs and attracts visitors and newcomers to explore, spend time, develop roots, and invest in the community.
The intent of the Nova Scotia Main Streets Initiative is to create momentum and identify opportunities for community-based approaches to improve Main Streets, while also providing considerations for government strategies, programs and policies.
Community Main Streets Assessment Method
Published in September 2021 and building on the momentum created by the Community Workbook, Phase 2 of the Main Street Initiative has gone a step further with a Main Street Assessment Method. The goal is to be a resident-friendly self-service tool for community members and leaders to assess Main Street elements in their own community by identifying what’s working well and what could work better. It will be a missing link to guide municipal and community leaders in leveraging their unique community strengths and opportunities.
A series of conversation prompts (in the pdf Conversation Guide and Ideas Book(22.54 MB) ) and worksheets (in the pdf Conversation Worksheets(7.04 MB) ) guide community members to ask themselves realistic and tough questions about what they need to do to strengthen their Main Street areas. This is intended to be a collaborative process bringing together multiple actors to develop a community vision for identified Main Street areas and, based on that vision, prioritize efforts and investments to support placemaking, economic vitality, and connectivity.
Engagement and the development of this project were facilitated by FBM in partnership with the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities’ Active Transportation Committee in 2020/2021. Input was provided by staff at Bicycle Nova Scotia, the Ecology Action Centre, Develop Nova Scotia, and the province of Nova Scotia (departments of Public Works; Public Health; and Communities, Culture and Heritage).
This project is supported by a Connect2 community capacity-building grant. These grants support reductions in Nova Scotia’s greenhouse gas emissions through community initiatives and local projects that promote clean transportation solutions, including active transportation.
The organizations below provided further support in input, with community engagement in Elmsdale, St. Peter’s, Westville, Hubbards, Canning, North Sydney and Sydney Mines.
Community Workbook
The pdf Main Streets Initiative Community Workbook(13.20 MB) was released on July 6, 2020 (read the news release), It summarizes research and community engagement conducted in early 2020 by a collaborative team focused on the Main Streets in Nova Scotia’s smaller towns, villages and communities, typically with populations of under 10,000.
This project was initiated by the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Active Transportation Committee, working with FBM Architecture, Interior Design and Planning, and Bicycle Nova Scotia.
Community engagement and research for the Nova Scotia Main Streets Initiative was led by FBM, with assistance from the Ecology Action Centre, Develop Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and Dalhousie University School of Planning students.
The work and associated engagement was also made possible by support and input from the following organizations: Cape Breton Partnership, Halifax Regional Municipality, Municipality of Chester, Municipality of East Hants, Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network, Municipality of the County of Richmond, St. Peter’s Economic Development Organization, and Town of Westville.
The combined interest of these organizations highlights the multi-faceted importance of understanding and investing in Main Streets in Nova Scotia.
Main Streets Summit
The culmination of the Nova Scotia Main Streets Initiative was a summit of people and organizations working on main street issues throughout the province. The Nova Scotia Main Streets Ideas Exchange happened on April 27, 2023, in Antigonish and was a chance for community leaders, elected officials, advocates, and placemakers to share aspirations and success stories for Main Streets and Downtowns in communities across the province
Agenda and Presentations
Nova Scotia Main Streets Ideas Exchange
Welcome Remarks
Main Streets Health Check
David Paterson, Brianna Maxwell - FBM Planning
Our introduction to the conference was an opportunity to hear from leading practitioners in the province active in creating Mainstreet strategies. FBM provided an overview of the Nova Scotia Main Streets Initiative and the resulting Workbook and Main Streets Assessment Method, along with examples of other communities taking steps to assess, identify and define their main street visions. Fathom Studios and Upland Planning + Design shared practical examples and lessons learned from main street projects across the province that have helped to reinvigorate main streets with respect to mobility, connectivity, health, and economic resilience.
Morning Keynote
Opening Session – Mobility and Safety for All
With a diverse cross-section of panellist perspectives from the public sector, private sector and local advocacy, we heard about the challenges they have faced as well as the successes as they relate to creating safer streetscapes for pedestrians, cyclists, and/or those with other mobility challenges. The panel discussed how a balance of modes can be achieved while recognizing that traditional vehicle movement is integral to bringing people to and through the main street areas, whether as regional residents or visitors.
Luncheon Keynote
Afternoon Session – Health & Belonging in Main Streets
Penelope Kuhn - N.S. Public Health
Main Streets are more than just places for buildings and streets, they must offer necessary and welcoming spaces for social and emotional connection and belonging. Along with nostalgia, main streets are important for bringing people together and creating a sense of renewal and reinvention, which affects our physical and mental health. Building upon the idea of Mobility and Safety for All, our panelists shared the often hidden value that main streets have in embodying peace and wellness, as well as creating an environment for active lifestyles that benefit our physical health and wellbeing.
Closing Session – Economy of Place – Cultivating Commerce
Craig MacMullin - CEED (Centre for Entrepreneurship, Education and Development)
David Phillips - Truro Colchester Partnership
pdf A Beating Heartland - Quality of Place in the Truro Colchester Region(11.57 MB) pdf ve(3.03 MB)
The economy of place speaks to the value that businesses bring to a community and a main street, where every community has something to market. The closing session looked at the successes and challenges facing local businesses in main streets and how a renewed or reinvented main street can lead to the attraction and retention of businesses. We heard about the importance of business incubation or succession planning and how a vibrant main street environment in smaller communities is necessary to attract new residents, as well as entice passing motorists to slow or stop in the town, when they otherwise may not have. With practical examples, panellists shared positive changes or initiatives in other communities across the province.
Closing Remarks
Kieron Hunt, FBM (Chair)
