There are 163 volunteer-led Community Leagues in Edmonton. Community Leagues are often the hub of a neighbourhood, providing a place for gathering, recreation and community events. The buildings are well-positioned to provide safe spaces during extreme weather, power outages and days with poor air quality, the number of which is increasing dramatically due to the climate change-fueled wildfires of recent years.
The purpose of Community Leagues is evolving, and many are now taking on climate resilience and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion projects, capitalizing on this long-established framework to act as a platform for community-led initiatives. The goal of this project is to develop the plans and processes needed to enable Community Leagues to act as Climate Resilience Hubs for vulnerable residents in their neighbourhoods.