Community Grants Support Local Climate Resilience and Sustainability

The District of Sooke’s 2026 Community Grant Program is helping advance the goals of the Sooke 2030 Climate Action Plan by supporting grassroots projects that strengthen local resilience, environmental stewardship, food security, emergency preparedness and community connection.

Council has approved 32 community grants and sponsorships, totaling $71,753, to support organizations whose services, programs, events and initiatives contribute to the well-being, vibrancy and connection of the Sooke community.

While not every funded project is climate-specific, many support the broader foundation of climate resilience: strong neighbourhood connections, local food systems, environmental education, inclusive community spaces, youth engagement, emergency readiness and care for the natural environment. These are all important parts of a community that can adapt, respond and thrive as climate-related pressures increase.

The Community Grant Program is guided by Council-approved criteria that include environmental, social and emergency preparedness value. Projects are assessed, in part, on how they promote environmental stewardship, climate awareness, social sustainability, place-based learning, or community readiness and resilience.

Several funded initiatives directly support the goals of the District's Climate Action Plan, including:

Food security and local growing
Community garden, school garden and food literacy projects help residents build practical skills, strengthen local food systems and connect with each other close to home. Funded projects include accessible garden beds, youth gardening, school garden and food literacy work, and food security programming.

Environmental stewardship and education
Projects such as the Children’s Garden Program, Sustainability Superstars, Friends of Sooke Parks’ parks enhancement work, and the 606 Water Group’s streamkeeping initiative support hands-on learning, habitat care, water stewardship and community-based environmental action.

Emergency preparedness and community safety
Funding for marine rescue equipment and other community safety initiatives supports local readiness and the volunteer capacity needed to respond during emergencies. Emergency preparedness is also recognized in the Community Grant Policy as activities that strengthen the community’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies or natural disasters.

Health, inclusion and social connection
Climate resilience is also about people. Programs that support youth, seniors, food access, mental health, recreation, cultural participation and community connection help reduce vulnerability and build the relationships communities rely on during times of stress or disruption.

The Community Grant Policy describes the program as a way to cultivate “a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community” by encouraging collaboration, creativity and shared experiences. It also recognizes that investing in grassroots initiatives strengthens community connections and promotes environmental and social sustainability.

Through this funding, the District is supporting community-led action that complements larger climate initiatives. Together, these projects show that climate action is not only about infrastructure and emissions reduction — it is also about building local capacity, caring for ecosystems, strengthening food systems, supporting volunteers and creating more opportunities for residents to participate in community life.

Residents are encouraged to follow Climate Action Plan implementation updates on this page and visit sooke.ca/events for upcoming grant-supported events and opportunities to get involved.