Environmental Community-led microgrants

Our mission is to empower community leadership to address environmental challenges, and we love being able to empower you with some funding to help you overcome financial barriers!

Small grants. Big community impact.

The Biosphere Institute is thrilled to announce the successful recipients of our Environmental Community‑Led Microgrants program. This program supports local people and grassroots groups in the Bow Valley to bring environmentally oriented and community‑building ideas to life. We believe that everyday community members are already leading meaningful change, and often just need a bit of funding, support, and amplification.

This program offers small project grants (up to $1,000) alongside mentorship support, helping ideas move from spark to reality.

2026 Successful Recipients

1. Indigenous Film Night (Soul of Miistaki & the HOWL Experience): A community film night featuring Indigenous filmmakers, Elders, and environmental advocates exploring relationships with land, water, and outdoor recreation.

2. Reuse Rendezvous (The Banff-Canmore Mountain Grannies): A community circular market bringing together local makers, residents, and vendors to promote second-hand goods, upcycling, affordability, and waste reduction.

3. Community Sports Gear Swap and Clean-up (Canmore Filipino Canadian Society): A community sports gear exchange promoting reuse, affordable recreation, and environmental awareness through gear sharing and simple repair activities. Since they avoided venue costs due to our partnership with the library, they organized an additional community clean-up in the fall.

4. United Fest Waste Reduction (Ukrainian Canadian Congress of the Bow Valley): Introduced waste reduction, improved waste sorting, and environmental education into a large Ukrainian community celebration celebrating Ukraine’s Independence Day.

5. Indigenous Intercultural Listening and Healing Circle (Ariole K. Alei and Tobias Ear):
   Gatherings incorporating Indigenous teachings, dance, ceremony, and deep listening to foster reconciliation, healing, and connection with one another and the Earth.

6. Short Form Videos for Long Term Action (Overheard Podcast Banff):
   A series of accessible educational videos exploring the environmental implications of proposed local developments, encouraging younger audiences to engage in community decision-making.

7. Creating Pollinator Habitats (Alison Pennie): With guidance from Parks Canada ecologist and the Suzuki Foundation’s Butterfly Rangers program, a neighbourhood initiative helping residents convert traditional lawns into pollinator-friendly spaces while building awareness of local biodiversity.

8. Bow Valley Songwriting Workshop for the Environment (Scott Diehl): A creative workshop bringing local singer-songwriters together to write songs with Grade 4 students at the Banff Public School  about environmental issues and inspire community action.

9. Gondola Takes ( Justin Khuong):
   Inspired by the famous Subway Takes, short-form interviews highlighting local environmental ideas, community voices, and opportunities for environmental stewardship on the Sulphur Gondola.

10. Community Clothing and Gear Swaps (Bow Valley Homelessness Society):
    Community exchanges encouraging reuse, reducing textile waste, and making clothing and outdoor gear more accessible.

11. Indigenous Environmental Leaders Circle in the Bow Valley (Brittney Balcaran): An initiative supporting Indigenous environmental leadership, knowledge sharing, and stronger relationships around stewardship of land and water.

12. Traditional Medicine Walk (Canmore Pride Society): An Indigenous-led walk exploring traditional medicines, local plants, and relationships with the land while centring Two-Spirit and Indigenous queer perspectives.

What are the microgrants?

These microgrants support community‑rooted environmental projects that strengthen connection, belonging, and care for place.

Funded projects might include (but are not limited to):

• Community workshops or gatherings

• Youth‑led environmental initiatives

• Intercultural or land‑based learning

• Creative projects (art, music, storytelling) connected to environmental themes

• Neighbourhood‑scale climate or stewardship actions

We know that small, well‑supported projects can create powerful ripple effects across communities!

application process and timeline

We are no longer accepting applications for this year. Stay tuned for another round of funding in 2027.

Applications are reviewed by a small committee made up of Biosphere staff and an external community reviewer.

timelines

• We will accept applications until March 30, 2026.

• Decisions are communicated within one month of the application deadline (by April 30, 2026).

• Projects must be completed by November 30, 2026.

• Your brief report will be due by December 18, 2026.

how this program came to be

This microgrant program grew directly out of the Community Climate Conversations, a monthly series hosted by the Biosphere Institute and Bow Valley Climate Action to create space for dialogue, learning, and connection around climate, community well-being, and local action. As a direct outcome of these conversations, we heard a clear and consistent message: people had ideas and energy — but needed small amounts of funding, support, and encouragement to act.

With support from the Banff Canmore Foundation from their 2025 Community Grants, we developed this program by learning from leading initiatives and adapting them to the Bow Valley.

We connected with peer organizations, engaged local partners, and identified community needs to shape a program that’s relevant and impactful. We then launched a public call-out, met with applicants to refine ideas, and built the systems needed to deliver the program from application, risk mitigation, to reporting and evaluation metrics.

The result is a community-driven program designed to support meaningful, local action.

In response, in 2025, we launched a call for community-led project proposals. From a strong pool of submissions, we selected and supported five projects that reflected the creativity, care, and passion of local residents. These initiatives were envisioned and led entirely by community members, with the Biosphere Institute providing light-touch funding, mentorship, and administrative support.

The results were inspiring… from intercultural healing circles, to youth-led sustainability initiatives, to creative environmental education through art and music. The success of this pilot confirmed what we believed all along: when local people are trusted and resourced, meaningful change follows.

Keep reading below to learn about some of these amazing projects.

Past projects (2025)

1. Building Soil, Building Knowledge

Workshop at Star6 Ranch with Christian and Sarah

On July 2nd, we hosted a community workshop where we explored the role of worms in soil health and what they need to thrive.

Participants had the opportunity to interact with our new vermi-composter, help transfer the worms into their new home, and enjoy fresh, wood-fired pizza together. We had a great turnout and meaningful conversations about sustainability and stewardship. Your support made it possible, so thank you!

2. Jam for Jasper: A night of music, community and connection

Benefit concert for wildfire resilience with the Digital Hobo and the Climate Changers

Nearly 200 people joined us for Jam for Jasper on May 31! The evening included an elegant combination of incredible live music, storytelling and a spirit of collective care, which brought our community together in a powerful way to support wildfire resilience and recovery.

Together, we raised $2,795.91 in support of the Jasper Community Team Society Fund and a new wildfire resilience initiative.

3. Grow and Glow workshop

A Community Workshop with Fathima and Ethiocare

On May 30, 2025, Ethiocare hosted “Grow & Glow: A Community Wellness & Sustainability Day” at the Canmore Public Library—generously provided at no cost by the library—and made possible by funding from the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley and the Calgary Foundation. Although 21 community members had signed up, twelve participants (eight adults and four children) joined us to paint biodegradable flower pots with uplifting affirmations, plant herbs or wildflowers, and prepare their creations.

Attendees uniformly rated the evening as “Good” or “Excellent,” sharing that they felt more connected to their neighbours, learned new planting and mindfulness techniques, and experienced genuine emotional uplift.

4. The State of the Earth, The State of the World

An Indigenous Intercultural Talking Circle with Ariole and Tobias

Organized by Canmore community member Ariole K. Alei and led by Tobias Ear of Mini Thni, this evening brought together 35 participants ranging in age from 2 months to 80 years at Ralph Connor United Church in Chuwapcîpchiyan Kudebi / Canmore.

The event blended Indigenous and non-Indigenous teachings, centered around a Talking Circle where attendees felt deeply heard and respected in a safe, welcoming space. Two trained therapeutic support people were present, ensuring emotional care was available if needed.

5. Watt’s Up With That?

Community Educational Videos with Amy and Edmund

We wanted to make a series of short videos explaining complex topics in simple ways. It seems that many people have questions around climate science, greenhouse gas emissions, and green technology, but getting a clear answer can be hard. Two of our team members worked together to make a series of short videos answering questions that come up a lot, but most people might not find the energy to puzzle out themselves. We made about ten short videos and edited them with this money. We will release them on our social media and in our newsletter in the coming months!

Thank you to the Calgary Foundation for funding this work.

Thank you to the Banff Canmore Foundation Community Grant for supporting the development of this program, amplifying stories of impact, and enabling us to pursue another successful round of funding.