Building Resilient Futures 2026

Higher Education’s Broader Purpose

Date: March 4–5, 2026
Locations: University of Calgary & McGill University

Unlike traditional conferences, Building Resilient Futures was designed as an action-oriented working session, bringing together diverse perspectives to develop ideas, partnerships, and concrete pathways for institutional change.

In March 2026, leaders, educators, practitioners, and community partners from across Canada gathered for Building Resilient Futures, a national working event focused on the role of higher education in addressing the climate and sustainability crisis.

Co-sponsored by Universities Canada and the Sustainability in Higher Education Across Canada Network (SHEAC) and associated with SDSN Canada, the event marked the culmination of Universities Canada’s three-year climate initiative. Participants came together to explore a shared question:

How can Canadian universities leverage their collective capacity to drive the change and innovation needed for climate-resilient and regenerative futures?

The Event Approach

To broaden participation while reducing environmental impact, the event was hosted simultaneously at two Canadian universities:

  • University of Calgary (Western Canada hub)

  • McGill University (Eastern Canada hub)

Participants worked collaboratively across locations, contributing to shared discussions and strategy development throughout the two-day gathering.

The event convened participants from over 20 post-secondary institutions, alongside representatives from community organizations and sustainability networks.

Key Themes

Participants worked in three thematic groups exploring how universities can accelerate sustainability transformation:

  • Teaching and Learning that Creates Action

    Exploring ways to embed climate literacy across disciplines, strengthen faculty engagement, and support interdisciplinary education that leads to real-world impact.

  • Community Engagement that Builds Partnerships

    Examining how universities can collaborate more effectively with communities, Indigenous partners, industry, and public-sector organizations to amplify positive impact.

  • University Governance that Fosters Agility and Innovation

    Considering institutional structures and leadership models that can enable universities to act more quickly and effectively on climate and sustainability challenges.

Outcomes and Next Steps

Building Resilient Futures was designed to generate practical outcomes and ongoing collaboration. Expected outputs include:

  • A national report outlining a vision and recommendations for climate resilience and regenerative futures in Canadian higher education

  • A roadmap for collaborative projects and future funding initiatives

  • The development of a national community of practice to continue advancing climate action across institutions

Stay tuned for more information and updates through Universities Canada and partner networks as this work continues.

Photo credits: P. Mousavi Samimi