Smart Prosperity Institute

06/10/2026

Food connects us all — but the systems that produce it face growing environmental, economic and social pressures.

In the latest edition of the "Our thinkers in focus" series, we sit down with Olivia Richardson, a Research Associate on our Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-food Systems team, to discuss her journey into agricultural research and the question driving much of her work: How do we build a more resilient agricultural sector?

From ecosystem outcome markets to regenerative agriculture and food security, Olivia's research explores how farmers, policymakers and industry can work together to strengthen resilience across Canada's food system.

👉 Read the full profile (LINK): https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/thinkers-focus-olivia-richardson

06/01/2026

New environmental policy research for uncertain times — check out this guest post from Kyle Samson, sharing key insights from the Smart Prosperity Institute’s 2026 Economics & Environmental Policy Research Network Symposium.

👉 (LINK): https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/New-Research-Uncertain-Times

05/26/2026

In April, our in-house Sustainable Finance team hosted a webinar on climate transition planning, blended finance and nature-related financial disclosures.

These innovative approaches are gaining attention in Canada, but more research and clearer policy framing are needed to move them from concept to practice.

Watch the recording for highlights from SPI’s foundational research in these areas, including how international approaches can work in Canada’s policy, market and institutional context.

Join our Sustainable Finance team for a frank discussion on climate...

05/25/2026

Looking forward to attending the first-ever Summit in Gatineau on June 3! If you’ll be there too (or following along virtually), catch the Smart Prosperity Institute’s Executive Director, Geoff McCarney, speaking on a panel about critical minerals.

05/15/2026

Need some long weekend reading?

Explore our publications library for new releases on sustainable finance, climate transition planning, resilient agriculture, the circular economy, and more.

📚 (LINK): https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/library

05/07/2026

Last week, the Smart Prosperity Institute’s Olivia Richardson and Talha Awan gave a virtual talk for the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan’s Native Prairie Speaker Series.

Missed their fantastic presentation “Rooted in Resilience: The Importance of Grasslands in Prairie Climate Adaptation”?

Fear not! A recording is available online (LINK): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJTD0ucOs78

Thanks to SK PCAP for inviting us to share our work and for hosting such a wonderful event!

05/04/2026

Missed last week’s monthly update newsletter?

It covered:
- The case for nature-related financial disclosures
- New frontiers in Canadian sustainable finance
- Building domestic food security
- Boosting economic competitiveness
- Bolstering Canada's critical mineral production, and more!

👉 Stay in the know and subscribe to future updates here (LINK): https://mailchi.mp/smartprosperity/newsletter

05/01/2026

“Maximizing value for public money: The role of Canadian public financial institutions” — check out this new blog post from our colleague Anik Islam, which explores how boosting the impact of public financial institutions can help strengthen resilience, finance nation-building projects, and accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more competitive economy.

👉 (LINK): https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/Canadian-Public-Financial-Institutions

04/23/2026

What are the new frontiers in Canadian sustainable finance?

A recent webinar hosted by the Smart Prosperity Institute explored three emerging topics in Canada’s sustainable finance ecosystem: blended finance, climate transition planning, and nature-related financial disclosures.

These innovative approaches are gaining attention in Canada but require more rigorous research and clearer policy framing to move from concept to practice.

👉 Read our new summary blog for key takeaways from this timely conversation (LINK): https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/New-Frontiers-Sustainable-Finance

👉 For more information, including supporting materials and a video of the discussion, explore the event page (LINK): https://institute.smartprosperity.ca/New-frontiers-in-Canadian-sustainable-finance

👉 The webinar recording is also available on SPI’s YouTube channel (LINK): https://youtu.be/nTi1eU6zzzI?si=4caxta50Vf6hDEYZ

04/13/2026

Join us for our next Native Prairie Speaker Series Webinar!

Rooted in Resilience: The Importance of Grasslands in Prairie Climate Adaptation

Speakers: Olivia Richardson and Talha Awan, Research Associates, Smart Prosperity Institute
April 29th, 2026 at 12:00pm MT

Register Free: https://shorturl.at/iwFvk
This presentation is FREE! Tune in from anywhere! Everyone welcome!
More Information: SK PCAP at 306.352.0472 or [email protected]

About this Webinar:
This presentation explores how investing in the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of Prairie grasslands offers a cost-effective natural climate solution. This presentation showcases how grasslands buffer against drought, floods, and other climate impacts while delivering co-benefits for biodiversity, water management, carbon sequestration, and regional economies. Drawing on recent research from the Smart Prosperity Institute, the presentation examines policy tools and market mechanisms that can help unlock the full value of Canada's grasslands and build climate resilience from the ground up.

PCAP’s Native Prairie Speaker Series is a monthly webinar about prairie conservation or species at risk.
Hosted by: Caitlin Mroz-Sailer, Stewardship Coordinator, Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan