Ecology Ottawa is convening municipal-focussed grassroots organizations to deepen collaboration and build power for provincial action. The gathering will be in-person in Ottawa on Wednesday 12th April 2023, and this will be the first of two in-person gatherings, with the second in the spring of 2024.
Why is right now the moment to bring together city-focussed grassroots organizations? 
We find ourselves at a critical moment for climate action in Canadian cities, and as our nation’s capital, Ottawa has a critical responsibility and opportunity to serve as a national environmental leader and model for municipalities around the country.
With a narrowing window for preventing the worst of climate change’s impacts, cities have a vital role to play, due to their outsized influence on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, forming housing and land-use policy, and reducing waste and pollution. On the heels of multiple municipal elections across the country, with a provincial government lagging on climate ambition, and federal political uncertainty in the years ahead, we find ourselves in a strategic moment for city-led climate action and environmental leadership.
To fully seize the potential of this strategic moment, we are excited to announce that we will be convening grassroots environmental organizations focussed on municipally-rooted action from across Ontario.
Who will participate in Grassroots Groundswell?
Environmental organizations will be invited, as well as groups focussed on justice, Indigenous rights, housing, and other interconnected issues such as health, to facilitate deep expert collaboration.
We will be hosting a gathering of organizations already deeply embedded in climate action at the grassroots level, to grow the groundswell of grassroots influence and people power.
What will the day focus on?
The gathering will feature an agenda co-created by participant organizations, with interactive climate-focused sessions where participants share knowledge, form connections, and make plans to continue collaboration on solutions. We plan to develop strategies for deepened collaboration and impact, as well as strengthen our coalitions. 
Please note that space is limited and the event is invite only.
This project is made possible through the generous support of the Echo Foundation.
