QUEST Canada and Partnering Organizations Launch the NCA Program’s Inaugural Prairies Cohort of Participating Communities

On October 12, 2023, QUEST Canada, in partnership with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), Community Energy Association (CEA), the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC), and Eco-West Canada, launched the inaugural Prairies Cohort of the Net-Zero Communities Accelerator (NCA) Program. This program is designed to help Canadian communities achieve their energy and emissions goals, offering dedicated support, essential services, tools, and knowledge to develop and implement Community Energy and Emissions Plans (CEEPs) and Climate Action Plans.

The NCA Program unites leading organizations across Canada in the fields of energy, emissions, and resilience planning, providing participating communities with proven tools and services to create evidence-based, integrated plans and execute projects. The inaugural Prairies Cohort comprises ten communities from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, regions with substantial potential to contribute to Canada’s net-zero objectives due to projected growth in renewable energy and historical reliance on fossil fuels. The Prairies Cohort’s ten participating communities include the City of St. Albert, Town of Pincher Creek, MD of Pincher Creek, Rural Municipality of De Salaberry, Town of Biggar, Town of Gravelbourg, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, St. Theresa Point First Nation, City of Lethbridge, City of Medicine Hat, and Town of Devon.

The NCA Program’s launch has been made possible, in part, through a $2 million federal investment from PrairiesCan, with funding from the Community Economic Development and Diversification program. This investment supports sustainable, inclusive economic growth and clean energy solutions, enabling the Prairies to participate in Canada’s journey towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

The NCA Program’s implementation has been made possible through the support of its funders, including Cenovus, the Government of Alberta via the MCCAC, and Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). The program is instrumental in advancing Canada’s transition to a sustainable, net-zero future, bringing environmental, economic, and social benefits to participating communities.