The first Adaptive and Resilient Communities Cohort (ARCC) in 2025, led by Tamarack’s Community Climate Transitions team, aimed to strengthen Canadian communities’ capacity to respond to climate change impacts such as flooding, extreme heat, and wildfire smoke. Across the country, many municipalities and local organizations recognize the urgency of climate adaptation but face barriers including fragmented partnerships, limited capacity, insufficient resources, and challenges in embedding equity and reconciliation into their efforts. ARCC was designed to address these challenges by supporting community-based collaborative teams to move from planning to action.
In 2025, ARCC brought together 10 collaborative teams, each including at least two partners, typically a municipality or regional government alongside a local non-profit, community group, or neighbourhood association. Over a 10-month applied learning journey, teams strengthened relationships, developed practical skills, and built confidence to implement climate adaptation and resilience projects. The program emphasized equity-centred engagement, relationship-building, shared leadership, and learning-by-doing, supported through coaching, peer input, and access to Tamarack’s tools and resources.
Participants reported that the most valuable aspect of the cohort was the opportunity to connect with peers both within and outside their communities. These connections facilitated stronger collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a sense of shared purpose. One-on-one coaching and group support were also highlighted as critical for building confidence, momentum, and practical skills, particularly in storytelling and communication to articulate community impact. Participants noted that equity-centred approaches require time, trust, and intentional design, while relationship-building emerged as a key form of technical knowledge essential for advancing climate justice.
The cohort demonstrated that applied learning directly tied to real-world challenges enhances community readiness and resilience. Teams appreciated resources such as the “10 GUIDE – A Guide for Building a Sustainable and Resilient Collaboration” and storytelling templates, which supported both project implementation and broader community engagement. While participants faced some challenges, such as staff turnover and occasional communication gaps, overall satisfaction was high, and lessons from the cohort have informed improvements for future iterations.
Building on these learnings, a second ARCC cohort is planned for 2026, with opportunities for personalized coaching, monthly communities of practice, and ongoing support to strengthen climate adaptation and resilience efforts across Canadian communities. The cohort is made possible through the support of the Government of Canada, alongside partnerships with Climate Caucus and Partners for Action, reflecting a commitment to equity, reconciliation, and long-term community-led climate action.
