At their winter grants meeting. the Real Estate Foundation of BC’s Board of Governors approved $1,009,180 in funding for 10 projects.

REFBC funding supports research, public and professional education, and policy and law reform.

To date, REFBC has awarded more than $80 million in grants to support sustainable land use and real estate projects in communities across BC.

December 2017 grants are listed in alphabetical order below, by grantee.

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The Canadian Freshwater Alliance (via Tides Canada Initiatives Society) will lead a public engagement campaign to increase BC knowledge and support communities in the implementation of the Water Sustainability Act. This will include local water dialogues, digital engagement, public opinion polls, and opportunities for networking and capacity building among local freshwater organizations. ($120,000)

Clean Technology Community Gateway is partnering with T’Sou-ke First Nation to develop a model for energy-efficient housing for Indigenous communities. This project includes Comprehensive Community Planning mentorship, a housing framework, and resources to help communities navigate common barriers. ($225,000)

Foodlands Cooperative of BC will create a cooperative land trust for BC (starting with a pilot at Ceres Circle Farm, near Kelowna), design a community governance plan, and develop resources (templates, strategic and financial plans, governance models) to support other farms in entering into trust. ($120,000)

The Grasslands Conservation Council of BC will launch the Priority Grasslands Initiative, which will use GIS modelling to create detailed maps of grasslands in the East Kootenay and Cariboo-Chilcotin regions. Each grasslands portfolio will include GIS maps, links to supporting data, and recommendations for managing human impacts. ($20,000)

Islands Trust will launch a pilot project for monitoring groundwater at well sites on Salt Spring Island. ($9,180)

Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation will improve its bioregional food system modelling, tools and policy work, and expand the model to two new jurisdictions: the Okanagan and the Township of Langley. ($225,000)

Living Lakes Canada will work with regional and provincial partners to develop a vision and strategy for an open source water data hub and water monitoring framework for the Columbia Basin. ($20,000)

The Okanagan Nation Alliance will gather Syilx (Okanagan) traditional ecological knowledge and apply learnings (laws, practices, responsibilities) to the watershed planning process for the Kettle River. ($60,000)

Rivershed Society of BC will support their Sustainable Living Leadership Program graduates to develop community watershed projects along the Fraser River, providing education, planning resources and seed funding for community freshwater leaders. ($60,000)

Tsleil-Waututh Nation will develop a community climate change resilience plan, which will include policies for managing resource and development consultations in their territory. The Nation will also create resources to support other communities to develop resilience plans. ($150,000)

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Our next grant submission intake is for the General Grant stream. Applications are due February 28, 2018.

Our next intake of Real Estate Industry Grant applications is in December 2018. For details, visit our grants page or contact Nick Davies, Grants Coordinator, at nick@refbc.com.