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Northern REACHE Program
Clean energy support for northern communities
Funding available
$ 50,000,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, Canada
Who can apply
Indigenous communities, governments, tribal councils, development corporations, and other Indigenous organizations.
See full eligibility
Overview
Northern REACHE funds clean energy projects and related capacity building and planning for northern and Indigenous communities in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Labrador. It aims to reduce diesel use for heating and electricity through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and feasibility or community energy planning activities.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Optimize production processes
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Strengthen organizational capacity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 50,000,000 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Research
- Environment
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- Rural / Remote communities
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
- Provincial
- National
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Capacity building activities such as training, skills and curriculum development, energy coordinators, energy literacy, energy planning, workshops, events, and engagement.
- Energy efficiency projects, including small-scale retrofits, building optimization, heat recovery, efficient lighting, controls, and energy audits.
- Project planning activities such as feasibility studies, resource assessments, engineering and design, environmental assessments, and stakeholder engagement.
- Deployment of renewable electricity and heating systems, including solar, wind, hydroelectricity, energy storage, grid modernization, biomass heating, district heating, combined heat and power, geothermal, and solar thermal.
- Research, development, demonstration, monitoring, and optimization activities for clean heating and/or electricity technologies.
Documents Needed
- Written proposal
- Statement of work
- Signed application by an authorized representative
Sources and recorded changes
- Source change captured
- Change recorded
- Record updated
A captured source change or record update does not confirm eligibility. Check the funder’s current rules before applying.
Northern REACHE program details updated
Northern REACHE now describes Labrador in its service area, adds priority for projects with strong Indigenous or community leadership, and updates the contact email to northernreache@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca.
Northern REACHE now lists Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik and Labrador in its project area, and it says priority is given to projects with strong Indigenous and/or community leadership, engagement, or partnerships. The page also removes the separate hydroelectricity feasibility and planning funding section that previously stated $40.4 million over 3 years starting in 2021 to 2022, while keeping the general clean-energy program description and ongoing intake language tied to Wah-ila-toos funding opportunities. The contact email is now northernreache@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Indigenous communities, governments, tribal councils, development corporations, and other Indigenous organizations.
- Legally registered or incorporated Canadian for-profit or non-profit organizations.
- Provincial, territorial, regional, or municipal governments and related organizations.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and benefits for staff on the beneficiary organization’s payroll for time spent on the project.
- Direct project overhead, limited to 15% of total eligible expenses.
- Professional, scientific, technical, and contractual services, and associated fees.
- Capital equipment and material costs, including purchase, installation, testing, commissioning, warranty, diagnostic tools, and test instruments, as well as project travel, meals, and accommodation based on National Joint Council rates.
- Training, workshops, and other direct project costs such as field testing, printing and translation, construction insurance, accreditation, licences and permits, lab and field supplies, data collection, and, for Indigenous organizations, ceremony costs and honoraria.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Land purchases.
- Financing charges and loan interest.
- Costs incurred before project approval.
- Recoverable federal and territorial/provincial tax.
- Cash or in-kind costs.
Eligible geographic areas
- Nunavik
- Labrador
Selection criteria
- How clearly the project aligns with one or more program objectives.
- The expected technical, economic, social, environmental, and other project benefits and results.
- Project ownership and governance, team expertise and capacity, and the strength of the project work plan and risk mitigation approach.
- The extent of Indigenous and community leadership, engagement, support, and partnerships.
- Budget quality and financial strength, including other funding sources; if needed, regional and distinction-based distribution may also be considered.
How to apply
- Contact the Wah-ila-toos program team to discuss your community vision, idea, or project.
- Submit a contact form or send an application by email to nrcan.remoteenergy-energieadistance.rncan@canada.ca.
- To apply, send an email indicating your intention to remoteenergy-energieadistance@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be connected with a program officer.
- Consult a project officer before completing the application form.
- Submit a written proposal, including a statement of work.
- Ensure the application is signed by an authorized representative of the applicant organization.
Processing and Agreement
- Complete and signed applications that meet the criteria are considered on a first-come, first-served basis; the receipt date is the date the application is considered complete.
- Regional program officers review applications for completeness and to confirm that all requirements are met.
- Applications are assessed individually on an ongoing basis while funding is available, and regional or distinction-based distribution may be considered if necessary.
- The initiative may request additional supporting documents to assess and confirm an application.
- Successful applicants must sign a written contribution agreement, and funded recipients must provide reporting on activities, expenses, and project benefits as required by that agreement.
Additional information
- Northern REACHE is part of Wah-ila-toos, a single-window approach to federal clean energy funding and resources.
- Applicants can use a common application across Wah-ila-toos programs.
- The initiative includes simplified project reporting and more flexible terms and conditions.
- An Indigenous Council and ongoing information sessions support program delivery and Indigenous climate leadership.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Northern REACHE Program Program
What is the Northern REACHE Program?
Northern REACHE funds clean energy projects and related capacity building and planning for northern and Indigenous communities in Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Labrador. It aims to reduce diesel use for heating and electricity through renewable energy, energy efficiency, and feasibility or community energy planning activities.
How much funding can be received?
Northern REACHE Program Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $50,000,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The program is accepting continuous intake
Who is eligible for the Northern REACHE Program program?
To be eligible for the Northern REACHE Program program, you must:
The project must support a community that uses fossil fuels for heat and/or electricity and is transitioning to clean energy.
The project may involve capacity building, energy efficiency, project planning, deployment, research and development, or demonstrations.
What expenses are eligible under Northern REACHE Program?
Salaries and benefits for staff on the beneficiary organization’s payroll for time spent on the project.
Direct project overhead, limited to 15% of total eligible expenses.
Professional, scientific, technical, and contractual services, and associated fees.
Capital equipment and material costs, including purchase, installation, testing, commissioning, warranty, diagnostic tools, and test instruments, as well as project travel, meals, and accommodation based on National Joint Council rates.
Training, workshops, and other direct project costs such as field testing, printing and translation, construction insurance, accreditation, licences and permits, lab and field supplies, data collection, and, for Indigenous organizations, ceremony costs and honoraria.
Who can I contact for more information about the Northern REACHE Program?
You can contact Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) by email at remoteenergy-energieadistance@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.
Where is the Northern REACHE Program available?
The Northern REACHE Program program is available the province of Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon.