FAQs

Projects under the scope of the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program are meant to address Kingston’s community greenhouse gas emissions and therefore cannot involve making adjustments or improvements to property that is owned by the City. This includes parks and outdoor spaces. Champions may still host gatherings at these public spaces so long that the project will not involve changing the property in any way.

The Climate Leadership Division’s role is to support individual champions who are participating in the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program. This is done in the form of training sessions, monthly one-on-one meetings, and a number of cohort check-in sessions. Individual Champions are responsible for planning their project, developing their budget, and executing the project themselves with the Climate Leadership Division available to provide background support and address any questions or concerns from the Champions.

Yes! Community groups are encouraged to apply to the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program. The group can apply all together or have a representative apply on behalf of the group. Please ensure to list your group name in the application form.

Yes! We encourage Champions to apply as many times as they want. As a returning Champion, you are required to complete the application form but will be exempt from the interview process and will automatically be accepted to continue with the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program, subject to funding availability.

While projects should ideally be completed by Champions and their neighbours, we understand that some projects may require input from City departments. If that is the case, Champions are asked to direct all questions to the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions Program Coordinator who will reach out to the relevant City departments. Under no circumstances should Champions be reaching out to City staff outside of the Climate Leadership Division directly.

Each Neighbourhood Climate Action Champion can request up to $2,000 in funding from the Climate Leadership Division. To receive this funding, Champions must provide a proposed budget breakdown of the expected costs of their project. The project agreement must be signed by the champion, a witness, and by the City.

While it may be helpful for your application to start planning your project, a fully planned project is not a requirement to apply to the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions program. In your application form and interview we would like to hear where your interests lie and what ideas you have for potential projects, but the development of your project plan is not a requirement until after you have signed the project agreement.

Only one stream of funding may go towards a project. If there is a larger event that is happening or you and another champion wish to collaborate on a bigger initiative, there may be exceptions made. As long as the champions are each adding different impacts, this may happen.