The Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program is part of Canada 150 Celebrates, the Government of Canada’s celebration of our country’s 150thanniversary. Through investments in community infrastructure, the Government of Canada will invest in projects that celebrate our shared heritage, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for Canadians.
Under the theme Giving back to Canada: shaping the future, leaving a lasting legacy and giving a gift to Canada, the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will invest $150 million over two years to support projects that rehabilitate existing community facilities across Canada. These projects will ensure a lasting legacy as a result of Canada 150 and strengthen communities from coast to coast to coast.
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD), on behalf of the Government of Canada, will deliver the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program in Western Canada. WD will invest in projects that rehabilitate or improve cultural and community infrastructure, which will help communities realize long-term growth and vibrancy in the years to come.
Applications in Western Canada will be accepted from Tuesday, May 19th, 2015
until Wednesday, June 17th, 2015 @
1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
2:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time
3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time.
Those interested in applying to the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program are strongly encouraged to review the following, which includes important details on eligibility, application requirements and program priorities:
- Applicant Guide and Instructions (HTML | PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program Application Form:
(Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line)
Eligible Activities
As the objective of this program is to ensure a lasting legacy resulting from Canada 150, in Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia), strong preference will be given to projects that are undertaking meaningful upgrades to existing cultural and community facilities; upgrades that will provide long-term benefits to a community, will be viewed with pride by a community, and are recognized as a lasting legacy from Canada 150.
Examples of the type of community infrastructure that can be supported include:
- Community centres (including legions);
- Cultural centres and museums;
- Parks, recreational trails such as fitness trails, bike paths and other types of trails;
- Libraries;
- Recreational facilities including local arenas, gymnasia, swimming pools, sports fields, tennis, basketball, volleyball or other sport-specific courts or other types of recreational facilities;
- Tourism facilities;
- Docks;
- Cenotaphs; and,
- Other existing community infrastructure for public benefit.
Eligible projects must meet the following criteria:
- The amount of funding being requested under the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program cannot exceed 50% of the total costs of a project, up to a maximum of $500,000.
- The maximum contribution from ALL Government of Canada sources (including the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program and other sources such as the Gas Tax Fund) cannot exceed 50% of the total costs of a project;
- Be for the rehabilitation, renovation, or expansion of existing infrastructure for public use or benefit;
- Be community-oriented, non-commercial in nature and open for use to the public and not limited to a private membership;
- Be for facilities located in Western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba); and,
- Be materially complete by March 31, 2018.
*A project is considered to be materially complete when a substantial part of the improvement is ready for use or is being used for the purposes intended; costs for activities such as parking, paving, landscaping, exterior/interior finishes are potentially excluded from the definition of substantial completion.
In addition, an applicant must:
- Submit a fully complete application form by June 17, 2015 (and all mandatory attachments) and,
- Be available for follow-up from June – August 2015.
Eligible Organizations
Eligible applicants include:
- A local or regional government established under provincial or territorial statute;
- A public sector body that is wholly owned by an eligible applicants listed above;
- A not-for-profit entity;
- A provincial or territorial entity that provides municipal-type services to communities, as defined by provincial or territorial statute (including school boards); and,
- A First Nation government, including a Band or Tribal Council or its agent (including wholly-owned corporation) on the condition that the First Nation has indicated support for the project and for the legally-designated representative to seek funding through a formal Band or Tribal Council resolution, or other documentation from Self-governing First Nations.
In addition, eligible applicants must:
- Directly own the infrastructure assets, facility or land which are being renovated or have a long-term lease in place (with permission from the owner to undertake renovations); and,
*If you have a long-term lease in place please attach to your application proof that you have permission from the owner to undertake renovations.
- Be Incorporated.
Funded Projects
It is critical that applicants submit a complete application form that clearly shows how their project meets the elements listed above. Incomplete applications will not be deemed eligible.
First, each application will be assessed to determine if it meets the eligibility criteria.
Further, in Western Canada, preference will be given to projects that meet the following criteria:
- Projects that will rehabilitate existing cultural and community facilities that will leave a meaningful lasting legacy resulting from Canada 150;
*As the objective of this program is to ensure a lasting legacy resulting from Canada 150, in Western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia), strong preference will be given to projects that are undertaking meaningful upgrades to existing cultural and community facilities; upgrades that will provide long-term benefits to a community, will be viewed with pride by a community, and are recognized as a lasting legacy from Canada 150.
- Projects where the funding from sources other than the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program is confirmed or intended. Funding will only be considered confirmed or intended if written proof is provided; and,
- The applicant has strongly demonstrated an ability/capacity to complete the project by the fall of 2017.
Application Process
In Western Canada the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program will be delivered through a Call for Proposals process where applicants will have 30 days from the beginning of the application period to submit their application.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online. Please follow this link to complete your application online.
Applications will not be accepted outside of the application period. Saved applications that have not been submitted prior to the end of a deadline period will not be assessed by Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Western Economic Diversification Canada will be accepting applications to the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program from:
Tuesday, May 19th, 2015 until Wednesday, June 17th, 2015.
The online application portal will close at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time/2:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time/3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on Wednesday, June 17th, 2015.