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

October 12, 2023 – Today, QUEST Canada along with the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), Community Energy Association (CEA), Éco-Ouest Canada / Eco-West Canada, and Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC) are excited to announce the launch of its inaugural Prairies Cohort, a cohort of 10 communities who will participate in the Net-Zero Communities Accelerator (NCA) Program. 

The NCA Program enables communities in Canada to achieve their energy and emissions objectives. The program provides participating communities with dedicated support and the necessary services, tools, and knowledge to guide them in developing and implementing their Community Energy and Emissions Plans (CEEPs) / Climate Action Plans and initiatives, realizing their environmental, economic, and social benefits.

The NCA Program brings together leading organizations from across Canada in the fields of energy, emissions, resilience planning and implementation, each of which offering proven tools and services to provide participating communities with the capacity they need to develop evidence-based, integrated plans and drive project implementation. The NCA Program’s inaugural cohort, the Prairies Cohort, is strengthened by the experience and expertise of cohort delivery partners: Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), Community Energy Association (CEA), Eco-West / Éco-Ouest Canada, and Municipal Climate Change Action Centre (MCCAC).

The Prairies Cohort is currently comprised of 10 participating communities from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Communities from the Prairies are uniquely positioned to significantly contribute to Canada’s net-zero goals due to the region’s projected renewable energy growth and its historically high concentration rates of fossil-fuels. Communities living in heavy fossil-fuel use provinces are increasingly leading the way by embracing the energy transition and improving economic resilience through integrated societal considerations.  

The 10 participating communities from the Prairies Cohort include:

• City of St. Albert, A.B.
• Town of Pincher Creek, MD of Pincher Creek, A.B.
• Rural Municipality of De Salaberry, M.B.
• Town of Biggar, S.K. 
• Town of Gravelbourg, S.K.
• Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, M.B.
• St. Theresa Point First Nation, M.B.
• City of Lethbridge, A.B.
• City of Medicine Hat, A.B.
• Town of Devon, A.B.

As QUEST Canada continues to build capacity and scale the NCA Program, the organization expects to introduce new cohorts to the program throughout the country. 

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About QUEST Canada

QUEST Canada is a registered Canadian charity that supports communities in Canada on their pathway to net-zero. Since 2007, we’ve been facilitating connections, empowering community champions and influencing decision-makers to implement efficient and integrated energy systems that best meet community needs and maximize local opportunities. We develop tools and resources, convene stakeholders and rights holders and advise decision-makers — all with the goal of encouraging and enabling communities to contribute to Canada’s net-zero goals.

About PrairiesCan

PrairiesCan is the federal department that supports economic growth in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Its programs and services help businesses, not-for-profits and communities grow stronger. Its mandate is to support economic growth and diversification in the Prairie provinces and advance the interests of the region in national economic policy, programs and projects. Learn more at www.prairiescan.gc.ca. 

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