Press Release
Applications Are Open For The 2026 Ontario Community Changemakers Program
Funding is available to Ontarians aged 19 and over!
TORONTO — June 1, 2026 —
Non-profit organization 8 80 Cities is seeking applications for their 2026–2027 Ontario Community Changemakers, a multi-generational leadership and micro-grant program for people with bold ideas to activate public space, enhance civic engagement, and foster social inclusion in their communities.
Anyone residing in Ontario, aged 19 and above, with creative ideas to improve their community, is encouraged to apply to participate in this innovative, Ontario-based program funded by the Balsam Foundation.
Thirty successful applicants will receive $5,000 to implement their project idea, leadership development training from 8 80 Cities, and peer-to-peer networking with other grassroots community champions. Projects should respond to community needs, build on local assets, and be implemented through collaboration.
The 2026 program will run from October 2026 to September 2027, and successful applicants will have 12 months to implement their ideas. OCC will feature an in-person, immersive studio in Toronto in the Fall, with presentations and storytelling workshops by inspiring community leaders, as well as skills-building workshops on project planning, community engagement, communication, and tactical urbanism. Changemakers will also benefit from ongoing virtual coaching and capacity-building from the team at 8 80 Cities through monthly meetups, as well as access to a network of local and international public-space experts.
“During Studio, I had some rich conversations with so many of the Changemakers. Fellow changemakers – because I am one too. I sometimes forget that. I hold that close,” says Shauna Rae, 2025 Changemaker, Dorchester. “I was inspired by how they show up in their communities. I think that’s what it is: the passion they have for their project and knowing that we’re always going to connect in this way, at least once a month.”
Since launching the program in 2021, OCC has invested in emerging leaders living in Ontario who are developing community-driven solutions. 120 Changemakers have already received $600,000 in microgrants, impacting 48 cities and communities by implementing their projects.
“There’s just something different about being in the room with a bunch of Changemakers and having so many speakers who have inspired great ideas in my mind,” says Sanaaj Mirrie, 2024 Changemaker, Pickering. “I can’t wait to sit with them and create projects and projects out of the things that we’ve learned. I can’t wait to see how we make Ontario a better community.”
OCC aims to provide more opportunities for Ontarians to get involved and take a leadership role in their communities. From storytelling with seniors in parks to enhancing night markets, designing circular waste pilots, and creating programs for art and healing, OCC participants use their energy, creativity, and collaborative partnerships to create real community change. Many have been featured in local and provincial media, awarded additional grants, and have received medals and honours for their efforts.
“Since we opened up the Ontario Community Changemakers program to older age groups, we’ve continued to witness a growing appetite for multi-generational programming – from the incredible projects submitted by older applicants to the rich discussions with Changemakers of all ages and abilities during Studio and Monthly Meetups,” says Katie Konstantopoulos, Project Manager at 8 80 Cities. “Funding connections between youth and older adults is very much aligned with our organization’s vision of cities as places for people to grow up and grow old in, and we encourage applicants to explore this as they submit their projects this year.”
8 80 Cities is striving to create a multi-generational launchpad for civic innovators and placemakers that reflects the diversity of people and geography of Ontario. Applications from residents of communities of all sizes, including rural communities, small towns, cities, and First Nations territories, will be accepted for the OCC program. We strongly encourage individuals with lived experiences that are currently underrepresented in the placemaking sector, including those from Indigenous, Black, racialized communities, people with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQI+ backgrounds, to apply. We invite emerging Indigenous leaders to submit applications which center traditional and evolving approaches to place-making and place-keeping, including art, dance, ceremony, and commemoration.
“Each Changemaker brings their unique lived experiences and identities to the program, informing how they approach public space, civic engagement, and social inclusion in their projects, and enriching the experience of each cohort,” says Jiya Benni, Director of Programs and Development, 8 80 Cities. “We are grateful that the program offers the opportunity to learn alongside thirty Changemakers who are rooted in their local contexts and communities, including those who bring unique strengths and challenges when working beyond large city centres. This year, as we launch our sixth cohort, we will continue to uplift urban, suburban, and rural creativity, inclusion, and resilience in communities across Ontario.”
8 80 Cities powers the Ontario Community Changemakers, with funding from Balsam Foundation. For more information, please visit: ontariocommunitychangemakers.org.
To learn more about the successful OCC applicants and their project ideas in previous rounds, visit our Changemakers page.
To apply to the Ontario Community Changemakers program, applicants must submit their ideas by July 31st, 2026, 5:00 pm EDT (4:00 pm CDT).
About 8 80 Cities
8 80 Cities is a non-profit organization based in Toronto. Our mission is to ignite action and challenge the status quo to create healthier, more equitable, and sustainable cities for all people. We bring people together to enhance mobility, parks, and public space so that we can create more vibrant, healthy, and equitable communities. We are guided by the simple yet powerful idea that if everything we do in our cities is great for an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old, then it will be better for all people. For more information, visit 880cities.org.
About Balsam Foundation
Balsam Foundation exists to enable and galvanize the well-being and potential of our communities. We are committed to a future where all Canadians benefit from a high standard of health and well-being. For this reason, our funding will reflect approaches that put people first, strike a balance between personal and collective wellness, and acknowledge the impact of social determinants of health and the context within which people live, work and play. For more, visit: balsamfoundation.com.
Media Contacts:
Katie Konstantopoulos, Project Manager, 8 80 Cities, kkonstantopoulos@880cities.org, 289-212-3530
Jiya Benni, Director of Programs and Development, 8 80 Cities, jbenni@880cities.org, 647-800-5590