1 October 2025

The Community Buildings Retrofit initiative helps Canadian municipalities, Indigenous communities, and their partners (including non-profits) upgrade existing community and cultural buildings (like arenas, pools, libraries, recreation centres, etc.) to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operating and maintenance costs, and enhance comfort and service for the community. It covers projects at any stage — from early planning / feasibility to full retrofit implementation.

ELIGIBILITY:

Municipal governments, Indigenous communities (First Nations, Inuit, Métis), and non‐profits that own or operate community buildings are eligible to apply.

• Buildings must provide recreational, cultural, or community services and be widely accessible.
• Projects can be single‐building or portfolio (multiple buildings) within a municipality or across municipalities.
• Depending on the stream, prerequisites may apply (e.g. feasibility studies or alignment with the Green Buildings Pathway).

FUNDING AMOUNT/ FUNDING STRUCTURE:

• Total program funding: $167 million.
• Capital retrofit projects: up to 80% of eligible costs, with a maximum of $10 million (combined loan + grant, with the grant portion covering up to 25%).
• Study/feasibility funding: up to $65,000 for a single building and up to $200,000 for multiple buildings.

GWAII INSIGHTS:

The Community Buildings Retrofit Initiative offers First Nations in BC a powerful opportunity to reduce the long-term costs of operating community facilities while improving comfort, safety, and resilience for members. With access to funding of up to $10 million per project, communities can retrofit spaces like cultural centres and recreation facilities to lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. These investments not only free up resources for other priorities, but also support sustainability goals.

The Community Emergency Preparedness Fund is a suite of funding streams administered by the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and funded by the Province of BC.

Its purpose is to help First Nations and local governments increase resilience to emergencies and natural hazards, especially under the growing effects of climate change.

The CEPF streams include:

• Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation
• Emergency Operations Centres Equipment and Training
• Emergency Support Services Equipment and Training
• Extreme Temperatures Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning
• Flood Risk Assessment, Flood Mapping and Flood Mitigation Planning
• Indigenous Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility Training
• Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning
• Structural Flood Mitigation
• Volunteer and Composite
• Fire Departments Equipment and Training

ELIGIBILITY:
Eligible applicants include First Nations (bands, Treaty First Nations), municipalities, regional districts, and other local governments in BC.

PROJECT CRITERIA:

• Be a new or further phase of a project (retroactive funding is generally not allowed).
• Be completable within one year of grant approval, unless otherwise specified.
• Meet any required permits, authorizations etc.
• Show alignment with the purpose of the specific funding stream, including any required engagement with Indigenous communities where applicable.

FUNDING:

Most CEPF grants range from about $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the stream.

• Smaller streams (like Emergency Support Services, EOC equipment, evacuation planning) usually cap around $25K–$40K.
• Larger streams (like Disaster Risk Reduction or Structural Flood Mitigation) can go up to $150K+.

Deadlines range from October 2025 through April 2026 depending on the stream.

Gwaii Engineering can support your community every step of the way — from assessing project eligibility and scoping, to securing funding, and managing implementation.

If you are interested in securing funding from one or more streams, get in touch with our team below.