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

The Role of SHEAC

The event was closely connected to the work of the Sustainability in Higher Education Across Canada Network (SHEAC) — a grassroots network of faculty, staff, and practitioners working to advance sustainability and climate action across Canadian colleges and universities.

SHEAC brings together participants from sustainability offices, teaching and learning centres, and academic faculties across the country, creating a space for collaboration, shared learning, and collective action in higher education.

The University of Calgary served as the Western host site, supported by Dr. Teri Balser, coordinator of SHEAC and professor in the Faculty of Science.

Connection to SFL

Dr. Teri Balser is also co-founder of the Sustainable Futures Lab (SFL). Through its work on imagination, systems change, and regenerative futures, SFL shares many of the same commitments reflected in Building Resilient Futures — fostering collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and institutions to help shape more resilient and sustainable societies.

Events like Building Resilient Futures demonstrate the growing momentum across Canadian higher education to move from dialogue toward collective, action-oriented change.