Recovery and Resilience Planning Cohort 2 (Fall 2026) 

The Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience is pleased to announce the launch of its second Recovery and Resilience Planning Cohort.

Beginning in October 2026, this eight-month virtual program provides a structured and supportive process to help communities develop their own pre-disaster recovery plans.

As a national initiative, the cohort brings together communities from across Canada including urban centres, rural and unincorporated towns, and Indigenous communities to share experiences and learn from one another.

Through facilitated workshops, practical planning activities, peer learning opportunities, and dedicated 1-on-1 support from the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience, participating communities will develop pre-disaster recovery plans to increase their readiness to recover effectively from disasters. Communities of all sizes across Canada including municipalities, regional governments, and Indigenous governments are encouraged to apply.

We will be holding two information sessions for the cohort: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET, Thursday and September 17, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. ET. Please register here for the info sessions.

What the Program Includes:

A guided process that works alongside communities as they develop a pre-disaster recovery plan. The program includes:

• Facilitated virtual workshops to familiarize participants with the key steps in recovery planning, delivered over eight months
• Practical tools, templates, and planning resources
• Dedicated support from the Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience to review drafts, offer guidance, and answer questions
• Opportunities to connect and learn from communities from across Canada
• Peer discussions that allow participants to share experiences, challenges, and promising practices

What Participants Will Gain:

By the end of the cohort, participants will have:

• A completed or substantially developed pre-disaster recovery plan
• Increased understanding of recovery governance, planning, sectors, and resilience-building
• Greater confidence in leading recovery planning efforts within their communities
• Connections with a national network of practitioners and communities engaged in recovery planning

Participant Commitment: 

The cohort is designed to support communities as they develop their own pre-disaster recovery plans. Each workshop introduces the next step in the process, and then participants develop that component of the plan before the next workshop. To get the most from the program, participants will need to work on their plans between workshops.

Participants will be expected to:

• Attend and actively participate in scheduled virtual workshops and program activities (approximately 3 hours per month but varies depending on when participants schedule their stakeholder workshop, a recommended step in the planning process)
• Complete planning activities between sessions, to the extent possible
• Collaborate with internal and community partners as appropriate
• Develop their pre-disaster recovery plan over the duration of the program (approximate time per month varies, estimated to be 15 hours)

Application Process:

Applications for the program will be accepted from September 1^st, 2026 – October 1^st, 2026 and reviewed on a rolling basis. Centre staff will interview prospective participants to confirm expectations and readiness to work on a recovery plan during the program. Eligible applicants include municipalities, regional governments, and Indigenous governments from across Canada.

Testimonials from Cohort 1 Participants

Recovery and Resilience Planning Cohort 1

The Canadian Centre for Recovery and Resilience held its first cohort in 2026. Over the course of 6-months, twenty communities received guidance and network support to lead recovery planning in their communities.