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Community Conservation Grants

Each year, the Grand River Conservation Foundation awards Community Conservation Grants to community groups and elementary schools undertaking conservation projects in communities throughout the Grand River watershed. To be eligible, projects must be located in the Grand River watershed and available for the use or benefit of the entire community and/or for future classroom generations.

Grants of up to $1,000 are available for community groups and up to $750 for elementary schools. Preference is given to greening projects (such as schoolyard naturalizations and other tree and shrub plantings) rather than hardscaping. Community groups must have, or have access to, a registered charitable number. Private schools, homeschool organizations and secondary schools are not eligible. Your school must ensure that your school board is aware that you are applying for a grant, and your school's Principal or Vice Principal must sign the application.  

2026 Grant Winners

Elementary Schools

  • Howard Robertson Public School - Howie Hawks Welcome Garden
  • Trillium Public School - Trillium's Peace and Learning Garden
  • Paisley Road Public School - Paisley Panthers Pollination Station
  • St. Patrick's Catholic School - St. Patrick's Outdoor Classroom

Community Groups

  • Ruthven Park National Historic Site - Vista View Restoration
  • Centre Wellington Native Plant Gardening - Habitat Restoration at Fergus Dog Park
  • St. Joseph's Lifecare Foundation - Therapeutic Rain Garden: Ecological Restoration & Community Wellbeing

 Funding for the grants comes from two main funding sources:

  1. The GRCA's Thiess RiverPrize Endowment Fund. This fund was established in 2000 with the proceeds of the Thiess RiverPrize, which the GRCA won in 2000 for excellence in watershed management.
  2. The General Endowment Fund, established through private donations to support local environmental work.

Community Conservation Grants can help turn your green dreams into reality! Here are just a few examples of the types of projects the grants may help with:

  • Community and pollinator gardens
  • Mindfulness nature spaces
  • Ecosystem preservation
  • Trees to provide shade
  • Naturalization efforts

The grant winners in 2025 were:

Elementary Schools 

  • Tait Street Public School - Pollinator Garden
  • Prueter Public School - Leafy Lane Learning Space
  • Groh Public School - School Sensory Garden
  • Central Public School - Kindergarten Revitalization Project
  • Taylor Evans Public School - Learning Garden
  • Blenheim District Public School - Outdoor Greening Initiative

Community Groups

  • Langs Farm Village Association - Staff and Community Garden
  • Ruthven Park National Historic Site - Meadow Restoration
  • Bethel Stone United Church - Bethel Community Memorial Garden
  • The Guelph Enabling Garden - Riverbank Enhancement Project

The grant winners in 2024 were:

Elementary Schools

  • Saint Anne's Catholic Elementary School - Courtyard Challenge
  • Groh Public School - Groh Public School Garden
  • St. John's Nursery School - Outdoor Education Revitalization Project

Community Groups

  • Bethel Stone United Church - Bethel Community Memorial Garden
  • Ramoth Life Center - Gardening Program
  • Galt Horticultural Society - The Gardens at Ferguson Cottage
  • The Guelph Enabling Garden - Guelph Enabling Garden Pollinator Gardens

The grant winners in 2023 were:

Elementary Schools

  • Courtland Avenue Public School - Native Shade Trees School Yard Greening Project
  • Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School - Haller Gardens
  • Groh Public School - Groh PS Garden
  • Lester B Pearson Public School - LBPs Pollinator Garden and Garden Club
  • N A MacEacharn Public School - Trees to Provide Shade 

Community Groups

  • Kitchener Horticultural Society - Woodland Hillside
  • Crossing All Bridges Learning Centre - Nature-Based Learning
  • West Village Community Development Co-operative - Native Pollinator Garden

The grant winners in 2022 were:

Elementary Schools

  • Country Hills Public School - Outdoor Classroom 
  • Riverside Public School - Nature & Windbreak Area Phase 2 
  • Sacred Heart (Rockwood) - Pollinator Garden/Green Space 
  • Notre Dame Catholic School - Notre Dame Greening Project 

Community Groups

  • Arthur Trails Group - Pollinator Sanctuary 
  • Vista Hill Community Gardens - Native Pollinators Re-introduction to Vista Hill Sundew Park 
  • Ruthven Park National Historic Site - Soil Erosion Management at Ruthven Park

The grant winners in 2021 were:

Elementary Schools

  • Elora Public School
  • Rainham Central School 
  • Sheppard Public School
  • Westwood Public School

Community Groups

  • Elmira District Community Living
  • Haldimand Horticultural Group
  • Vista Hills Community Garden
  • Waterloo Region Children's Safety Village

Contact Us

Grand River Conservation Authority
400 Clyde Road, PO Box 729
Cambridge, ON
N1R 5W6
Phone: 519-621-2761
Toll Free: 1-866-900-4722
grca@grandriver.ca