The Real Estate Foundation of BC’s Board of Governors has approved $1,602,258 in grants to support 13 projects.

REFBC grants help to fund research, education, and policy analysis related to sustainable land use and real estate. To date, REFBC has awarded more than $80 million in grants to support projects in communities across BC.

Summer 2018 grants are listed in alphabetical order below.

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BC Institute of Technology will increase capacity for high performance building construction through education, training, tools, and programs on energy-efficient building techniques. BCIT’s training will emphasize “envelope-first” approaches that meet higher levels of the BC Energy Step Code. ($350,000)

Cayoose Creek Indian Band – Sekw’el’was will create a land use decision framework that incorporates ecosystem services and traditional knowledge. The framework will help the Sekw’el’was make informed, evidence-based land use decisions in their traditional territory. ($164,638)

ICLEI Canada will bring Vancouver Island municipalities together with other experts (First Nations, businesses, academics, and developers) to assess future impacts of climate change and develop adaptation strategies. By planning together, communities will be better prepared to identify interdependencies and develop realistic implementation plans. ($156,530)

Living Lakes Canada will develop a framework and implementation strategy for an open-source data hub on water health in the Columbia Basin. Living Lakes Canada will work with partners to determine where monitoring is needed, how data will be managed, and who is responsible for the hub. ($200,000)

Living Oceans Society will work with coastal communities to educate municipal staff, residents, and property owners about the impacts of sea level rise and the resources (funding, maps) available to help communities adapt and mitigate damage. ($20,000)

Metro Vancouver Alliance will launch a Civic Academy to help alliance members (community groups, labour organizations, faith and educational institutions) learn about and develop community land trusts for affordable housing. ($20,000)

Pollution Probe will work with Quality Urban Energy Systems of Tomorrow (QUEST) to develop and test a Smart Energy Communities Scorecard in seven pilot communities. ($60,000)

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen will support the South Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Program (SOSCP) to deliver conservation and sustainable land use planning for the region. Specifically, the SOSCP will work to establish a conservation fund, implement a biodiversity conservation strategy, deliver workshops for local governments, and manage partnerships between organizations working towards shared biodiversity goals. ($110,000)

SkeenaWild Conservation Trust will work with the Gitwangak to complete and implement an ecosystem-based land use plan. Project partners will develop a framework for a comprehensive resource management database and work with the provincial government to incorporate their land use plan into law. ($20,000)

Sumas First Nation is developing a “Water Wise” program to identify issues affecting the Fraser River watershed. Program leaders will work with local farmers to develop strategies for conserving water and mitigating agricultural impacts to the watershed. ($17,090)

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association will support the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP) to increase capacity for conservation work. The OCCP includes 36 partners working to integrate conservation and biodiversity research into land use planning, increase engagement with community partners, and work with all levels of government to strengthen policies and regulations. ($104,000)

UBC Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning will work with health authorities and local governments to prepare and share case studies demonstrating best practices for adding green infrastructure (trees, plants, wetlands) to neighbourhood plans. Green infrastructure helps to store carbon, manage stormwater, beautify streets, and clean and cool the air. ($80,000)

UBC School of Community and Regional Planning will hire a full-time coordinator to support the Housing Research Collaborative, a research and policy hub that connects organizations with researchers and housing data. Funding will also support workshops, analysis of existing policies, and the creation of a data portal. ($300,000)

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Our next grant submission intake is for the General Grant stream. Applications are due September 6, 2018.

Our next intake of Real Estate Industry Grant applications is in December 2018.

For inquiries about our funding programs, visit our grants page or contact Noémi Pomerleau, Grants Coordinator, at noemi@refbc.com.