For immediate release
Infrastructure Canada and Community Foundations of Canada unveils Canada Healthy Communities Initiative projects awarded first round of funding
Ottawa, Ontario, May 26, 2021—As Canada makes progress in the fight against COVID-19, Canadians are looking forward to returning to community spaces. To keep residents safe and healthy, support economic recovery, create jobs, and build vibrant, resilient communities, local governments and community partners across the country are adapting their spaces and services.
Today, Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, joined Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador, Melanie Thomas, Vice President of Community Foundations of Canada, and Mary W. Rowe, President and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute, to announce federal funding from the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative. Also in attendance Todd Russell, President of the NunatuKavut Community Council, whose project Building Resilience in NunatuKavut was supported by $241,000 in federal funding from the first round of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.
The Building Resilience in NunatuKavut project aims at transforming public spaces in response to COVID-19 to create stronger connections, sustainability and provide a healthy and safe environment in the NunatuKavuts communities. This project has two components that will help build community resiliency and sustainability benefiting the whole territory. Digital solutions, such as upgrading video conferencing capacity, will bring people together across remote communities, providing opportunities for participation and engagement in a COVID-19 world. Another component will create agriculture infrastructure in the form of two community greenhouses with the ability to grow throughout the year to improve food security and provide education and awareness possibilities for schools and community members.
The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31-million investment to build safer spaces and ensure a higher quality of life for people across the country, by helping communities adapt to the challenges presented by COVID-19. Visit healthycommunitiesinitiative.ca to see an interactive map providing details of projects of all sizes, from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
The second round of funding for the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is open, and the application period will close on June 25, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. PST. Applicants can apply for funding ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 for eligible projects, within an overall envelope of $31 million in federal government funding.
Quotes
“Communities are at the heart of Canada’s towns and cities where people live, work and raise their families. The Building Resilience in NunatuKavut project is a great example of how communities can adapt to the challenges of COVID-19 and ensure a higher quality of life for people across the country using problem-solving ideas. With this funding, the NunatuKavuts communities will be able to better connect to other remote communities, as well as enhance their agricultural infrastructure to improve food security across the territory.”
Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Member of Parliament for Halifax
"We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has put further strain on communities across our country, impacting the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods. Getting the Building Resilience in NunatuKavut project off the ground will positively impact the well-being of the NunatuKavuts communities now and into the future, and I am thrilled that the Government of Canada, through the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative, is a partner in supporting these communities.”
Yvonne Jones, Member of Parliament for Labrador
“The Healthy Communities Initiative is supporting community-led organizations across Canada to bring people together in our communities both in person and digitally, while respecting public health measures. These projects show us the creativity and resourcefulness of communities as they create temporary and longer-lasting solutions that enable people to connect and access public spaces safely.”
Andrea Dicks, President, Community Foundations of Canada
“Round one of the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative supported important, inspiring placemaking projects across the country. Many of these projects were made possible by multiple partnerships, ensuring they serve a wide variety of constituencies, reach new audiences and have great impact. I encourage everyone to explore the interactive project map available online and see the creativity that applicants brought to the challenge of making safer and more equitable cities. The upcoming mobilization sessions will also be a great source for project ideas for the second round of applications, open now to June 25."
Mary W. Rowe, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Institute
Quick facts
Associated links
Canada Healthy Communities Initiative – Application Portal: healthycommunitiesinitiative.ca
Infrastructure Canada: Canada Healthy Communities Initiative: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.html
Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities announces direct help for bright ideas to make safer, pandemic-resilient communities: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2020/08/direct-help-for-bright-ideas-to-make-safer-pandemic-resilient-communities.html
Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities announces open call for applications for the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2020/09/open-call-for-applications-for-the-canada-healthy-communities-initiative.html
Minister McKenna and Community Foundations of Canada launch intake for COVID-19 resilient projects under the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative: https://www.canada.ca/en/office-infrastructure/news/2021/02/minister-mckenna-and-community-foundations-of-canada-launch-intake-for-covid-19-resilient-projects-under-the-canada-healthy-communities-initiative.html
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Contacts
Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-941-0660
Jacqueline Reid
Communications Manager, Community Foundations of Canada
647-901-5225
Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: [email protected]
