Grants and contributions program

By Svenja Hansen and Sarah Rauh

Parks Canada has set aside a portion of the annual budget for Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) for grants and contributions to external organizations working on projects or initiatives that further Parks Canada’s mandate, as well as the site’s objectives and priorities.

This August will be the second year that Lake Superior NMCA issues a call-out inviting partners and stakeholders from adjacent communities to apply for funding. The funding pot isn’t huge, but it has paid for some interesting projects with an array of ecological, cultural, social, and economic benefits.

Here are some examples of grants and contributions from 2025-2026 according to how they align with the protected area’s priorities:

• Resource Conservation:
  Lakehead University received a grant totalling $29,900 over three fiscal years for the “North Shore Walleye Telemetry” project.
• Marine Access:
  Rossport Harbour Non-Profit Marina Inc. received a standard contribution totalling $130,000 over two years for the “Marina Development (Phase 1)” project.
• Strategic Planning:
  Superior Country received a standard contribution totalling $60,000 over 5 fiscal years for a “Digital Tourism Inventory and Management” project.
• Community Well-being
  The Township of Nipigon received $15,000 in a grant for “Museum Upgrades”.
• Visitor Experience
  Lakehead Regional Conservation Authority received a $5,000 micro-grant toward the “Dorion Birding Festival 2025”.
  

Projects must clearly demonstrate a connection to Lake Superior NMCA and the work of Parks Canada. A great way to show such a link is to collaborate on a project with Parks Canada.

Applications are reviewed and scored based on the above-mentioned connections. It is also important to clearly explain the project objective, expected results, key activities and timeline. Although it helps if the applicant has experience working with Parks Canada, it is not a necessity. Successful applicants are notified in early December. More information about the 2027-2028 application process, including forms, is available on the Lake Superior website.

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