At their winter meeting, the Real Estate Foundation of BC Board of Governors approved $356,889 in funding for eight projects. Grant dollars will support non-profit organizations leading on food policy development, Energy Step Code implementation, Indigenous housing research, and more.

Winter 2018 grants are listed in alphabetical order below.

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Canadian Housing and Renewal Association will prepare a series of case studies highlighting innovation in land access, housing development, and community collaboration. ($20,000)

The Central Kootenay Food Policy Council will partner with local experts to analyze current plans and available data in order to identify policy amendments that promote sustainable food systems. ($35,650)

The Community Energy Association will work with small and mid-size local governments to implement the BC Energy Step Code and facilitate a peer network to share strategies, approaches, and challenges. ($40,000)

The Cowichan Community Land Trust Society will collaborate with local schools to deliver workshops for high school students on watershed literacy, stewardship, and restoration. ($60,250)

Ecotrust Canada will work with two Indigenous communities to assess housing needs, develop community housing strategies, and secure support for financing and development. Ecotrust is committed to following culturally-appropriate design methods, using local materials, and hiring and training local workers. ($150,060)

The Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC will lead a two-day symposium on land use planning and freshwater protection for the stewardship and local government sectors. ($20,000)

The Skeena Knowledge Trust will deliver a series of workshops in the lower Skeena region to train community groups on data hubs and mapping tools available to gather and manage watershed data. ($19,719)

The University of Northern British Columbia will work with food producers, researchers, and planners to design, develop and deliver a policy lab on agricultural land use. ($11,210)

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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 $85 million in grants to support projects in communities across BC.

Our next grant submission intake is for the General Grant stream. Applications are due March 7, 2019.

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