Major storms, floods, heatwaves and other extreme weather events have become powerful reminders of how much we rely on one another. When an emergency hits, it is often neighbours who check in on one another, share resources, help someone get somewhere safely, or make sure those who may be vulnerable are not left behind.

These moments show us that climate resilience is not only about infrastructure and emergency response - it is also about the relationships, knowledge and trust that help communities get through difficult times. 

Across the city, communities are already building this kind of resilience. People are growing food in their community gardens, creating shade, preparing for floods and heat waves, supporting neighbours, and sharing knowledge and skills. 

But too often, this work depends on short-term grants and volunteer time. Communities need stable, flexible funding to build on what’s working and plan for the long term. 

That’s why from 2024 to 2026, TEA brought together community leaders from neighbourhood volunteer groups to imagine ways to build local climate resilience together. They developed a vision to sustain and grow the work they’re already doing through a dedicated fund. Now - they’re asking 2026 election candidates to champion this idea and bring it to City Hall if elected.

An Idea built by communities

The idea grew from multiple discussions on the need to scale and continue sustainable funding for local climate solutions. Small pots of funding exist now, but as climate impacts ramp up, communities are being called on to support each other in ways we couldn’t imagine before, through floods, heatwaves, food instability, and other crises.

A dedicated Neighbourhood Resilience Fund could support neighbourhood projects such as expanded urban farming, community gardens, community composting, flood prevention, and emergency preparedness initiatives. It will provide flexible, longer-term community-led funding for local projects that strengthen resilience. This would support communities most impacted by climate change and other shocks.  

Communities know their neighbourhood best. They understand local challenges and have the relationships needed to respond. The proposed fund would put resources - and decision-making power - directly in community hands. 

The City of Toronto already has a strong foundation to build on through existing neighbourhood climate action grants which have helped community groups take action on local climate priorities. These grants show what is possible when resources reach communities directly, but they are often limited in size and scope - supporting communities to purchase supplies or deliver small projects, rather than giving them resources to grow, sustain, and scale what is working. A Neighborhood Resilience Fund could build on this foundation by providing longer-term more flexible funding that allows communities to move from one-off projects to sustained neighbourhood resilience. 

Why now?

Neighbourhoods are facing growing and overlapping challenges - from climate-driven emergencies to rising social isolation and economic precarity. These impacts are not felt equally. Communities that are already under-resourced are often the first and hardest hit, yet they are also the most knowledgeable about what their neighbourhoods need to stay safe, connected and resilient. 

How would this work and where would the money come from?

A neighbourhood climate fund could help local groups, nonprofits, schools, youth and other community partners lead climate and resilience projects in their neighbourhoods. Funding decisions could be shaped by community members alongside City staff, with resources drawn from government and innovative sources such as polluter-pay approaches. Grants could start small and grow over time, with mentorship and support helping communities build capacity and deliver bigger, more impactful projects. Other levels of government also need to step up to support more climate action. 

Investing in neighbourhoods

Resilience is not just about infrastructure. It is also about relationships, knowledge, skills, and trust. Local community groups, organizations, leaders and residents across the city have people doing this work. The Neighbourhood Resilience Fund would give them the stable resources they need to do more of it. 

A more resilient Toronto starts with resilient neighbourhoods. And resilient neighborhoods start with people. 

What can you do to help?

If you like this idea, make sure to share it with your local candidates for City Council and Mayor! You can find their information here on the City’s website here. 

This campaign is made possible through the generous grant support of the Catherine Donnelly Foundation. Their support helps strengthen community-led efforts to build more connected, prepared, and climate-resilience neighbourhoods across Toronto.