Submissions

Who Can Submit?

Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, your organization must meet all of the following criteria:

  1. You are a non-profit society incorporated under the BC Societies Act, or a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency.
  2. Your organization is financially viable and in good standing.

⚠ Not Eligible: For-profit businesses, informal or unincorporated groups, government bodies, and public agencies are not eligible to submit.

How to Submit?

Step 1 — Connect with the Community Partnerships Coordinator
Before putting your submission together, contact the Community Partnerships Coordinator (CPC) at [email protected] to confirm your project is eligible and to get guidance on the process. This step is strongly recommended before investing time in your submission.

Step 2 — Read the Project Submission Guide
Download and read the Community Agreements Project Submission Guide carefully. The Guide explains what each section of the Community Agreements Project Form requires, how projects are evaluated, and what makes a strong submission.

Step 3 — Complete the Community Agreements Project Form
Complete all six sections of the Community Agreements Project Form. Not every question will apply to every project. If a question is not relevant to your project, state that clearly rather than leaving it blank. Incomplete submissions may be returned or not considered.

Step 4 — Attach Supporting Documents
Attach all required supporting documents before submitting. This includes financial statements, letters of support, project timelines, and quotes for major costs. If you reference a document in your submission, it must be attached. Refer to the Submission Checklist in the Project Submission Guide.

Step 5 — Submit by the Deadline
⏰ Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026. Submissions received after this date will not be considered in the 2028 Financial Planning process.

Submit your completed Community Agreements Project Form using the online link provided by the Community Partnerships Coordinator. 

Submission Process and Timeline

Phased Implementation
In 2026, the District will focus on working with Community Collaborators who already have agreements with us.  As the policy rolls out, new submission opportunities and updated timelines will be shared through this website and the District’s social media channels.

Tier 1 and Tier 2
The Community-Initiated process has two tiers. Your tier is based on the total value of your project across all years combined. For example, if your project runs for three years, you add all three years’ total budget together to get your total.

Tier Total Project Value Final Decision Made By
Tier 1 $75,000 or under Director
Tier 2 Over $75,000 Council

General Submission Timeline
Submitted projects are reviewed for the Financial Plan that begins two years later. For example, a project submitted in 2026 will be considered for the 2028 Financial Plan.

2026 Key Dates
Project Submission Deadline: September 30, 2026
Updated Project Plan Submission Deadline: December 31, 2026

⚠ Note: All dates may be subject to change. Organizations will be notified if an updated project plan is required or when their project has been included in the draft budget. Council budget approval is required before any Community Agreement is finalized. 

Information from the timeline image is provided below for accessibility purposes:

# Stage General Timing Description
1 Project Submission Opens June of Submission Year  The project submission period opens. Eligible organizations can access the Community Agreements Project Form and online submission link. Contact the Community Partnerships Coordinator to confirm eligibility before submitting.
2 Project Submission Deadline September of Submission Year Submit your complete Community Agreements Project Form by the published deadline to be considered in the next applicable Financial Planning process. All organizations will receive confirmation of receipt indicating whether their project submission has been accepted, is incomplete, or does not meet eligibility requirements.
3 Technical Review and Evaluation Panel Assessment October to November of Submission Year Projects are reviewed by District Staff and an Evaluation Panel against the Evaluation Guidelines. Shortlisted projects move forward to interviews. 
4

Updated Project Plan Submission
(Tier 2 projects only)

 By December 31, Submission Year If required following the initial evaluation, updated project plan and any additional supporting documentation must be submitted by the date specified by District Staff.
5 Interviews November of Submission Year to January of Following Year Interviews begin in November for all shortlisted projects. For Tier 2 projects where an Updated Project Plan is required, interviews will be scheduled in January after the December 31st submission deadline.
6 Recommendation Report and Director and/or Council Review January to March, year following Submission District Staff prepare a recommendation report for the Director (Tier 1) or Council (Tier 2) for review and direction.
7 Final Review and Sign-Off March to April, year following Submission Final review is completed and the Director and/or Council sign-off is obtained. Approved recommendations are entered into the District's upcoming draft Financial Plan.
8 Draft Community Agreement January, two years after Submission Following Council budget approval, District Staff draft and finalize Community Agreements for approved initiatives.