Ontario Community Environment Fund
Learn about the Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF) and how not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, schools, colleges, universities and Indigenous organizations and communities can apply for government grants to support local projects that help protect and restore the environment.
About the fund
The Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF) directs money collected from environmental penalties to support important, community-based activities such as shoreline cleanups, habitat restoration and tree planting.
In 2026, we are investing more than $2.9 million in local projects that aim to protect and restore the environment.
By directing these funds to local projects in communities impacted by environmental violations, we are supporting healthy communities and protecting and preserving our land, air and water.
How the fund works
We may issue environmental penalties when:
- industrial facilities or landfilling sites don’t follow Ontario’s environmental rules
- a spill or an adverse environmental effect occurs
- an effluent limit exceedance occurs (such as liquid waste or sewage)
- a flaring event occurs at a petroleum facility and the sulphur dioxide discharge limit is exceeded
OCEF uses money collected from these penalties to support projects that improve the environment in the region where the violation or environmental impact happened.
Projects that are eligible for support focus on:
- environmental restoration and remediation activities which repair environmental harm
- resilient communities and local solutions to environmental issues
We evaluate project applications based on their technical merit and potential to benefit the environment and community.
Who can apply
The fund is open to:
- Indigenous communities and organizations
- schools, colleges and universities
- municipalities
- incorporated not-for-profit organizations
- incorporated community-based groups
Eligible regions and grant amounts
For the latest funding round, projects had to be based in a region where environmental penalties were collected between 2022-2024. Check the interactive map and list below to find out how much funding was available for your area.
Please type in your address and press the Search button to find out your MECP region:
| Region | 2025 grant amount |
|---|---|
| Southwest | $1,602,577.85 |
| West Central | $721,425.00 |
| Northern | $585,875.32 |
| Eastern | no funding available |
| Central | no funding available |
Eligible projects
The last round of funding was available for 2 different kinds of environmental improvement projects. These include projects that focused on:
- Increasing environmental restoration and remediation activities which repair environmental harm. For example:
- planting native trees, shrubs or plants to help mitigate and adapt to climate change
- rebuilding fish habitat and creating fish spawning beds
- stabilizing stream banks and creating buffer strips to reduce erosion and nutrient run-off
- controlling invasive species that disrupt local ecosystems
- restoring streams to improve habitat and water quality
- Resilient communities and local solutions to environmental issues. For example:
- improving the resilience of natural ecosystems by restoring and preserving areas of significant environmental and ecological importance
- installing rain gardens to reduce the risk of flooding and help communities adapt to climate change
- environmental monitoring that provides data to understand and support the protection and conservation of the natural environment
The minimum funding request was $5,000.
How to apply
The application period for the latest round of funding is closed.
Questions
If you have any questions about OCEF, you can:
Call the Public Information Centre:
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4923 TTY: 1-855-515-2759 (for people with hearing disabilities)
Contact the OCEF project manager:
For help and assistance with Transfer Payment Ontario, contact customer service, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET at:
Funded projects
The projects listed on this page are only a portion of the projects funded through the latest funding round. Additional projects will be added in the future.
City of Sarnia — Berger Road Corridor Revitalization
Revitalizing a community trail by removing invasive plants and planting native vegetation to improve biodiversity and habitat connectivity.
Forests Canada — Forests Canada’s Creating Forest Resilience — Southwest Region
Planting and restoring diverse forest habitats while engaging landowners to enhance ecosystem resilience across southwestern Ontario.
Freshwater Conservation Canada — Brook Trout Forever
Restoring in-stream and riparian habitat on Mono Centre Creek to reduce water temperatures and improve conditions for native brook trout populations.
Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve Inc. — Restoring Wetlands and Mitigating Flood Risks through Beaver Smart Solutions
Improving wetlands and reducing flood risks using beaver flow devices to collect valuable monitoring data, as well as community engagement across Eastern Georgian Bay.
Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc. — G2G – Invasive Species Removal & Native Planting
Revitalizing degraded trail sections of the G2G Rail Trail by removing invasive species and planting native vegetation to enhance ecological health.
Heartland Forest Nature — Strengthening Forest Resiliency
Improving ecosystem resilience through invasive species management, native planting, monitoring and education at Heartland Forest.
Invasive Species Centre — Rapid Response to Hydrilla in Hillman Marsh – Responding to the First Detection of Hydrilla in Canada
Eradicating invasive hydrilla in the Hillman Marsh through treatment, monitoring and outreach to protect biodiversity and water quality.
Junction Creek Stewardship Committee Inc. — Community led Action to Address Stormwater Pollutants
Improving water quality and reducing stormwater pollution in Greater Sudbury through installation of filtration devices and community outreach initiatives.
Lakeshore Eco Network — Tree People, an Urban Reforestation Project (Phase 1)
Planting thousands of trees to expand urban forest cover in Lambton Shores through phased community reforestation.
Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association — Mindemoya River Site 670 Restoration and Freshwater Protection
Improving river health and fish habitat through bank stabilization, native plantings and community stewardship activities on Manitoulin Island.
Municipality of Middlesex Centre — Enhancing Medway Creek Through Community Tree Planting
Restoring riparian zones through targeted tree planting and community engagement to improve water quality and biodiversity.
Municipality of North Perth — Municipal Drain Erosion and Surface Runoff Protection Project
Stabilizing a municipal drain with native plantings to reduce erosion, filter runoff and improve water quality.
Municipality of Wawa — Lake Superior Sandy Beach Shoreline Protection and Education Initiative
Protecting fragile dune ecosystems by guiding public use through signage, education activities and designated pathways to reduce environmental degradation.
The Regional Municipality of Niagara — Growing Niagara's Canopy
Planting thousands of native trees and shrubs to expand canopy cover and strengthen ecological resilience across Niagara Region.
Rural Lambton Stewardship Network — Sweet Sombra Honey Naturalization Initiative along the St. Clair River Area of Concern
Converting agricultural land into native tallgrass prairie and wetland habitat to improve biodiversity and reduce nutrient runoff.
Scouts Canada — Restoring the balance of the eco system of the endangered environmentally significant Oak Savanna Forest at Camp Attawandaron
Restoring Oak Savanna habitat by replacing invasive plantation forest with native species while engaging youth in hands on environmental education.
The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation — Green Ribbon Champion Shoreline Restoration Program
Restoring fragile beach dune ecosystems through nature based shoreline restoration activities, such as growing native grasses and community engagement.
The Township of Seguin — Restoring Seguin Township Wetlands: Community Driven Phragmites Management
Removing invasive phragmites and engaging the community to restore wetlands, improve water quality and enhance biodiversity.
Town of Lincoln — Tree Planting and Greening for Climate Change Resilience
Expanding urban tree cover and installing green infrastructure to reduce flooding, increase biodiversity and enhance climate resilience.