Canada Healthy Communities Initiative - Frequently Asked Questions

The application period is now closed.

Funding under the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative was made available through Community Foundations of Canada who oversaw the application process, including the selection of successful project proposals based on program eligibility and evaluation criteria.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada selected Community Foundations of Canada to deliver the initiative through an open and competitive call for applications.

The second call for applications closed on June 25, 2021. As such, Community Foundations of Canada is no longer accepting project proposals for the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.

The first call for applications opened February 9, 2021 and closed on March 9, 2021.

To learn which projects received funding as a result of the first call for applications, visit healthycommunitiesinitiative.ca which includes an interactive map of funded projects across the country.

Round 2 applicants will receive results this Fall.

The second call for applications closed on June 25, 2021. As such, Community Foundations of Canada is no longer accepting project proposals for the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative.

The first call for applications opened February 9, 2021 and closed on March 9, 2021.

Eligibility criteria and examples of eligible projects under the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative are available in the Applicant Guide on the Community Foundations of Canada website.

An interactive map of projects funded as a result of the first call for applications is available at healthycommunitiesinitiative.ca.

Round 2 applicants will receive results this Fall.

Community Foundations of Canada was selected following a competitive open call for applications. With the help of its partners, it has the capacity, experience and existing networks to quickly and cost-effectively engage with communities across the country to identify and provide funding for viable projects and encourage idea sharing so that communities can quickly put into place solutions that will improve the quality of life of residents.

The combined expertise and reach of the Community Foundations of Canada and its group of technical and advisory partners will ensure communities of all sizes across Canada – urban, rural and remote – can access the Initiative and apply for funding to support the local solutions that will have the biggest impact for their residents.

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is providing up to $31 million in federal contributions for this initiative. Community Foundations of Canada will work directly with communities to identify opportunities and deliver funding to selected local projects.

The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is one of a suite of measures that Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada is putting in place to support communities across Canada. Specifically, the initiative is designed to support the implementation of innovative small-scale, community-led infrastructure projects that can have a big impact on people's lives – especially amidst COVID-19 restrictions.

While this initiative supports community improvements everyone can benefit from, it will especially help those who find themselves with limited- to no access to green or private spaces where they can work, exercise, play or take part in other activities.

Other measures that seek to address challenges brought on by the pandemic include Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada's temporary COVID-19 Resilience stream under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program which provides provinces and territories with additional flexibility to fund quick-start, short-term projects that might not otherwise be eligible under the existing funding streams. Visit the COVID-19 Resilience stream page for more information.