We worked with the Region of Waterloo to complete a Community Climate Adaptation Plan (CCAP). Carried out through  the Building Adaptive and Resilient Communities (BARC) Program, the CCAP was a regionally-led, community-supported initiative to help organizations and stakeholders in the Waterloo Region adapt to climate change. The project included extensive engagement with community stakeholders, including core organizations such as the four area municipalities and the Conservation Authority, the University of Waterloo, Reep Green Solutions, Public Health Unit, etc. as well as a number of social service providers, local businesses, and the agricultural community.

We develop tailored engagement activities for these stakeholders in order to collect feedback and expertise on climate change impacts, vulnerability and risk assessments, as well as possible adaptation actions to improve resiliency. Engagement methods ranged from formalized workshops with the Region’s Expert Task Force, meetings with specific subject-matter experts, public forums, online surveys, and Workshops-in-a-Box. 

Many will know BARC as a national capacity building program for municipalities focused on adaptation and resilience. Well over 100 Canadian municipalities, large and small, have used BARC’s framework, tools and resources to guide their adaptation and resilience building efforts. However, BARC has grown to become much more than a program. BARC is the window through which ICLEI engages in adaptation and resilience policy development, planning, applied research, resource development, capacity building, networking and much more.