Applications are NOW CLOSED
Program: Community Outreach and Engagement for Adaptation
Are you having difficulty bringing people out to community engagements for adaptation?
Are you in need of volunteers to support your local efforts?
Do you require the buy-in of stakeholders to move your adaptation goals forward?
The ORCCA Outreach and Engagement Program is an opportunity for communities in the Great Lakes Basin and Ontario to mobilize community-wide action on climate adaptation. Ontario communities can apply to work with the ORCCA team in developing their initiative to address vulnerabilities and enhance resilience through community engagement for adaptation. Participants receive training, access to experts, targeted resources, and general support to establish an outreach and engagement initiative that is tailored to their unique local context, audience, and adaptation needs.

Applications are CLOSED
Who can apply?
Applicants must meet the following conditions to be eligible:
- Be incorporated in Ontario
- Represent a local community or communities as one of the following:
- A Municipal or regional government;
- A First Nation, Métis, or Inuit group including community, regional, and provincial Indigenous organizations;
- A conservation authority;
- A public health unit;
- A publicly-funded school board;
- A post-secondary institution; or
- Any organization functioning as a non-profit or charitable entity representing a local community in Ontario.
(Downloads as a Word Document)
What makes a project eligible?
All project submissions must prioritize climate change adaptation and resilience as part of their outreach and engagement goals. Projects should either be geared towards specific actions or targeted audiences.
In addition, the proposed project must:
- Prioritize the engagement of or outreach to a defined audience (internal, external, whole or portion of a community);
- Be accomplished within a 12-month period (between March 2024 and February 2025);
- Demonstrate that applicants have adequate internal capacity to carry out the project as scoped by the ORCCA team;
- Be undertaken by an eligible organization located within the Province of Ontario;
- Have a scope which clearly prioritizes a climate change adaptation goal; and
- Include learnings and outcomes (including any photos, videos, or community stories) which can be shared publicly (subject to approval by both the participant and ORCCA).
This program is designed for communities that have a clear adaptation project or output in mind, and require engagement and outreach support to meet their defined goals. Proposals can be for new initiatives or for initiatives that are ongoing and have expanded in scope, and must prioritize climate change adaptation and resilience as primary outcomes.
Applicants can apply to one of the following two streams:
Stream 1) Approach Development and Stakeholder Engagement:
For communities that have a specific audience in mind and are starting to strategize around their adaptation needs. This stream includes the co-creation of an engagement and outreach approach designed to generate buy-in to your adaptation efforts. The approach is targeted toward a specific audience or set of stakeholders, and includes an initial stakeholder workshop delivered in collaboration with the ORCCA team.
Apply to this stream if you are looking to define a strategy for engaging key stakeholders.
Stream 2) Champion Program Development and Training:
For communities that have a specific adaptation action in mind and are looking to mobilize direct community involvement. This stream will help you design a program which seeks to mobilize community members such as “champions” and/or volunteers in direct support of your goal. Included in this stream is the facilitation of an initial “Train-the-Trainer” workshop.
Apply to this stream if you have a specific action in mind, and need people power to make it happen.
Our Other Programs
ORCCA programs are designed using a cohort approach where groups work on similar issues while receiving direct technical support from the ORCCA team.
Climate Communication Program
Effective communication plays a vital role in climate adaptation. ORCCA offers support to Ontario communities in implementing specific communication and outreach activities that promote climate resilience including communicating and engaging behaviour change to reduce vulnerability to climate hazards and developing strategies and products to bring climate initiatives to life.
The Climate Communications Program includes trainings, workshops, one-on-one support, and resources.
Staff Capacity Program
The Staff Capacity Program supports adaptation efforts throughout Ontario by connecting participants with ORCCA staff to receive direct support. The Program provides staff support towards a defined task for a predetermined set of hours over a one-year period. By providing staff capacity, this Program enables participants to complete a climate adaptation project that would otherwise be unrealized due to insufficient capacity or expertise.
2024 programs are underway. Applications are closed.