The Resilience Acceleration Lab
We’re working to accelerate and scale the shift to more climate-resilient communities in Canada.
Our mission
Extreme weather and climate risks are increasing, disproportionately impacting communities, and jeopardizing the financial security of Canadians and our communities.
Through the scale of our capital as major investor, our risk expertise as a leading insurer, and our convening power as a purpose-driven co-operative, Co-operators Resilience Acceleration Lab aims to accelerate Canada’s climate resilience.
Communities are on the frontlines of climate change
Increased frequency and severity of floods, wildfires and extreme heat across Canada are putting communities at greater risk. At the same time, aging or inadequate infrastructure and stretched budgets are making the impacts worse.
Recommended resources
The lab is geared towards infrastructure and real assets
Our approach is resilience-focused and risk-informed
We're focused on developing adaptive solutions
We’re building whole-of-society solutions
The Resilience Acceleration Lab is joining forces with all orders of government, Indigenous Communities, various industries, and academia to create the political, economic, and societal conditions to attract private investment in resilience and adaptation projects in communities and regions across Canada.
Together, we're working to transform the system, working in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, ICLEI Canada, Canadian Climate Institute, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, Climate Proof Canada, Climate Bonds Initiative, and others.
Investment partnership
As an investor, we develop, incubate and invest in active projects that are open to private capital to preserve and enhance their resilience features.
What we’re looking for:
- Later-stage infrastructure and real asset projects with climate resilience needs
- Priority sectors: agriculture (especially irrigation), long-term care facilities, wastewater or stormwater systems, and community energy systems
- Project size: $25 to 100 million (with near-term flexibility for smaller)
What we offer:
- A private capital lens to innovate and structure potential solutions enabling project investment.
- Flexible capital that is resilience and adaptation focused.
If your project fits these criteria, get in touch by completing our form.
Innovation partnership
As an innovation catalyst, we explore how alternative finance options might advance high-impact resilience projects or programs that are stuck in development, seeking to accelerate their implementation timeline, or interested in expanding their funding approach.
What we’re looking for:
- High-impact resilience projects in either: infrastructure (especially water and heat), or wildfire risk reduction. Read our case study of an existing innovation project
- Project proponents seeking to explore alternative finance
- Project in mid or late stage of development
What we offer:
- A private investor’s lens on the project, its benefits (including revenue sources), and potential financing options.
- Support building business cases through our insurance and risk-modelling expertise.
- Strategic sector relationships, and ability to bring experts together to problem solve.
- Development funding to advance the project.
If your project fits this description, get in touch by completing our form.
Please note we are not currently accepting proposals, but we can keep you informed once the next project intake round opens.
Innovation case study
Simpcw Wildfire Resilience Coalition: Fire in balance
Me7 yecwemíntem re tmicw es tá7us re stsrepúl̓ecws
We will work together to protect the land from fire.
Working in partnership with Simpcw, a Secwépemc First Nation and The Centre for Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia, the Simpcw Wildfire Resilience Coalition is supporting a Simpcw‑led demonstration project to scale landscape‑level wildfire resilience in British Columbia’s North Thompson Valley. Grounded in Simpcw stewardship and guided by a Fire in Balance approach, the project brings together Indigenous knowledge, leading wildfire and forestry science, and applied economic and risk analysis.
By implementing and testing proactive forest and fuel‑management practices in real conditions, this work will evaluate what reduces risk, what it costs, who benefits, who pays, and where current systems are limiting the scale of solutions. The project is generating practical evidence to inform more durable approaches to delivery and funding, while helping protect communities, forests, and cultural values. Together, we’re working to develop more resilient, long‑term approaches to wildfire risk reduction in Canada.
“Collaboration like this is rare. We have the opportunity to set the stage for other communities.”
Kúkwpi7 (Chief) George Lampreau, Simpcw
The Resilience Acceleration Lab team
The Resilience Acceleration Lab is a dedicated, multi-disciplinary team within Co-operators that works in close collaboration with a range of partners.
