Alberta Ecotrust Foundation

10/14/2026

Circular Spotlight: Building Economic Resilience

Circular business models can help businesses and residents use resources more efficiently and save money. One example is the “mobility as an amenity” service by Kite Mobility one of Alberta Ecotrust’s impact investments. Kite offers shared electric vehicles, e-bikes and e-scooters to residents of multi-family buildings.

Learn more about our investment in Kite Mobility and the environmental and economic benefits of its approach: https://albertaecotrust.com/news/impact-investment-kite-mobility

Circular Economy Month

10/13/2026

Our 2025-26 Report to the Community is here! This was a year of turning bold ideas into real change across Alberta. A few highlights:

• $2.2 million awarded to 43 projects ($22M+ to 948 projects to date)
• This year's funded projects could unlock 1.68M tonnes of potential emissions reductions over 20 years
• 45 deep retrofit plans completed through the Retrofit Accelerator, unlocking 30k tonnes of potential emissions reductions and $5.6M in potential annual savings
• Became secretariat of the new Alberta Coalition for Watershed Security
• Launched the Getting to Zero Research Project
• Grew our impact investing portfolio to 10 investments
• Earned a 2026 Gold Quill Award of Excellence for ENBIX

Thank you to the partners, funders and communities who made this work possible.

Read the full report: https://ow.ly/sOXA50ZV9J8

10/09/2026

Circular Spotlight: Protecting the Planet

One of the core principles of the circular economy is “regenerate nature,” which means using approaches that restore and work with natural systems.

Regenerative agriculture is one example of this principle in action. It focuses on restoring soil health, supporting biodiversity and using water and other inputs more efficiently, while still producing food.

Revisit our blog post to learn more about how regenerative agriculture connects to the circular economy: https://ow.ly/nxUF50ZV4nA

Circular Economy Month

10/08/2026

The circular economy is one of Alberta Ecotrust Foundation’s key focus areas, so we’re glad to be co-hosting the Canadian Circular Economy Summit in Edmonton in June 2027. We look forward to welcoming leaders from across the country to learn and explore new opportunities here in Alberta.

🚀 Early bird registration for CCES 2027 is officially open!

Join us June 1–3, 2027, at the Edmonton Convention Centre for the Canadian Circular Economy Summit (CCES) — Canada’s largest event dedicated to advancing the circular economy.

Under the theme Unlocking Canadian Value(s), CCES 2027 will bring together leaders, innovators and changemakers from across government, industry, academia and civil society to explore how we can unlock greater value from Canada’s resources, industries and opportunities.

Following two sold-out Summits in Toronto and Montreal, we’re heading west to Edmonton for three days of connection, collaboration and action.

🎟️ Register now to take advantage of exclusive discounts on registration, accommodations, and transportation.

CircularEconomySummit.ca

10/06/2026

Circular Spotlight: Understanding Circularity

October is Circular Economy Month. As the circular economy is one of our three focus areas, we'll be celebrating all things circular throughout the month.

Curious to learn more about what it means to shift from a linear “take-make-waste" model to a more circular system? Join us and Circular Innovation Council for a Circular Economy 101 Lunch and Learn on October 20th.

Register now: https://ow.ly/UYAJ50ZV48Z

Circular Economy Month

10/06/2026

We are excited to announce that we are making it simpler for organizations to access grant funding by bringing our three existing grants together under one program, the Alberta Ecotrust Grant Program. Beginning Dec. 1, 2026, charities and non-profit organizations can apply for higher funding amounts through one annual intake and a streamlined application process.

Read the full announcement: https://albertaecotrust.com/news/one-grant-program-one-shared-purpose-2-million-for

10/02/2026

Thank you to Alberta Municipalities for a fantastic Convention & Trade Show at the Edmonton Convention Centre! Over two days, the Alberta Ecotrust team connected with more than 130 delegates and fellow exhibitors.

We shared our advocacy with the federal government to expand LC3 | Low Carbon Cities Canada | Ligue des communautés canadiennes sobres en carbone and recapitalize the Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative, along with our work on the Alberta Coalition for Watershed Security, the circular economy and more.

We were glad to welcome visitors from across the province, including Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, Edmonton Councillors Anne Stevenson, Jon Morgan, Aaron Paquette - Ward Dene - City of Edmonton, and Karen Tang, and Consort Mayor Michael Beier.

09/30/2026

Reconciliation is an ongoing journey that requires learning, reflection, relationship building and meaningful action.

In recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we wanted to share some of the steps we have taken over the past year. This includes establishing an internal Truth & Reconciliation Working Group, building relationships with Indigenous Advisors and partnering with Tatâga Inc. to deepen our understanding of Indigenous relations and examine how reconciliation can be embedded across our organization.

Through ceremonies, workshops and land-based learning, our team has gained valuable guidance that is helping us move from intention toward implementation. While we recognize there is still work ahead, we remain committed to listening, learning and strengthening our relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

https://albertaecotrust.com/news/our-steps-towards-sustained-truth-and-reconciliati

09/29/2026

Water security is a team sport.

Today, the Canada Water Agency (CWA) and the Canada Water Security Funders Group announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, creating a new forum for shared learning, coordination, strategic investment, and engagement in support of Canada’s upcoming National Water Security Strategy.

The partnership will help identify shared priorities and areas of focus where philanthropy can play a catalytic role in advancing systems-level change and accelerating impact throughout the country.

This is an important milestone for the Canada Water Security Funders Group as we continue building a stronger and more diverse community of funders.

If your organization is interested in helping build a more water-secure Canada, we would love to connect.

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Mark Fisher, President of the CWA and several members of the Funders Group were pictured last week at the Philanthropic Foundations Canada National Conference in Winnipeg: Mark Gifford (REFBC), Dominique Monchamp and Marie-Paule Jeansonne (FDGB), Jenna Duncan (First Nations Fisheries Council of BC) and Jamison Steeve (Metcalf Foundation).

🔗 Learn more about the Canada Water Security Funders Group: https://www.fondationdegaspebeaubien.org/en/water-security/?_gl=1*12h3dpp*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTExMDUyNTUwMi4xNzkwNjk2MTYy*_ga_Q5WRSYKQTP*czE3OTA2OTYxNjEkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTA2OTYxNjEkajYwJGwwJGgw

🔗 Read the full announcement: https://www.canada.ca/en/canada-water-agency/news/2026/09/canada-water-agency-and-philanthropic-partners-sign-agreement-to-advance-water-security.html

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La sécurité de l’eau est un sport d’équipe.

Aujourd’hui, l’Agence de l’eau du Canada (AEC) et le Groupe philanthropique pour la sécurité de l’eau au Canada ont annoncé la signature d’un protocole d’entente, créant un nouveau forum d’échange de connaissances, de concertation, d’investissement stratégique et de mobilisation afin de soutenir l’élaboration de la future Stratégie nationale de sécurité de l’eau du Canada.

Ce partenariat contribuera à cerner des priorités communes et des domaines d’intervention où la philanthropie peut jouer un rôle catalyseur pour favoriser des changements systémiques et accélérer les retombées à l’échelle du pays.

Il s’agit d’une étape importante pour le Groupe, alors que nous continuons à rassembler une communauté de fondations toujours plus forte et diversifiée autour d’un objectif commun : un Canada plus sécuritaire sur le plan de l’eau.

Si votre organisation souhaite se joindre à cet effort, contactez-nous.

***

Le président de l’AEC, Mark Fisher, ainsi que plusieurs membres du Groupe philanthropique pour la sécurité de l’eau au Canada ont été réunis la semaine dernière à la Conférence Fondations philanthropiques Canada à Winnipeg : Mark Gifford (REFBC), Dominique Monchamp et Marie-Paule Jeansonne (FDGB), Jenna Duncan (First Nations Fisheries Council of BC) et Jamison Steeve (Fondation Metcalf).

🔗 En savoir plus sur le Groupe philanthropique pour la sécurité de l’eau au Canada : https://www.fondationdegaspebeaubien.org/fr/securite-de-leau/?_gl=1*1ml7mxb*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTI4NjAwMzMwMi4xNzkwNjk5MTky*_ga_Q5WRSYKQTP*czE3OTA2OTkxOTEkbzEkZzAkdDE3OTA2OTkxOTEkajYwJGwwJGgw

🔗 Lire l’annonce complète : https://www.canada.ca/fr/agence-eau-canada/nouvelles/2026/09/lagence-de-leau-du-canada-et-des-partenaires-philanthropiques-signent-une-entente-pour-renforcer-la-securite-de-leau.html

09/17/2026

Our September newsletter is out, with two reflections at its heart.

Alberta Ecotrust President & CEO, Rod Ruff, reflects on a summer spent on the land, catching wild bees with the Alberta Native Bee Council and witnessing the return of bison to Blackfoot territory through the Blackfoot-led Iinnii Initiative.

And ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, reflecting on our work with Tatâga Inc. and sharing the steps we have taken this past year while acknowledging the work still ahead.

https://alberta-ecotrust-foundation.cdn.prismic.io/alberta-ecotrust-foundation/WNix9qcoF4x183H__September2026Newsletter.pdf