Be a Climate Youth Champion
Help Shape the Future with $30,000!
Through Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery, Wawanesa Insurance is awarding five outstanding youth-led projects $30,000 each to launch or enhance a climate adaptation or climate mitigation project.
Wawanesa Climate Champions
Youth Innovation Grants
Make a Difference
Be the change you want to see. Your project could be the key to a more sustainable, green future.
Financial Boost
Gain a financial boost to get your project idea off the ground or fuel your pre-existing climate-focused solution!
Flexible Timeline
Spend up to a full year implementing your solution.
Expert Support
Are You Eligible to Apply?
- Enrolled full or part-time in, or have graduated within 2 years from a C2R2 partner institute
- 18-30 years of age.
- Obtained approval from a designated C2R2 partner institute contact
- Legally entitled to work in Canada.
Note: You do not need to be in an environmental/climate related program as all disciplines have potential for climate action solutions.
Application
Applying is as easy as 1-2-3!
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Work with your C2R2 partner institute contact to complete the Application Form to share your brilliant ideas for a greener Canada with us.
Still have questions?
Join our virtual Q&A Session on January 27, at 2 pm ET to have all your questions answered (save the date here), or be the first of 5 applicants for a chance to receive feedback on your application.
Applications for the 2026 Youth Innovation Grants are currently closed.
Grant Recipients
Our Current Recipients
Anamika Gupta
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Prairie EcoWatt: Energy Champions of Saskatchewan
Clarissa Getigan
New Brunswick Community College
Sustainable Greenhouse Farming: Securing Food with Resource Efficiency
Dexter Guino
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
Enhancing the Durability Performance of Low-Carbon Concrete using Carbon-Sequestered SCM
Jeshuah Gilroy
Holland College
Novel Bioremediation Approach to Neutralize Nitrous Oxide Precursors from Water
Maninder Kailay
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Supercritical CO₂ Techniques for Lithium-Ion Battery Metal Recovery
Nga Phan
British Columbia Institute of Technology
Supercritical CO₂ Techniques for Lithium-Ion Battery Metal Recovery
Past Grant Recipients
Our Past Recipients
Muhammad Abdullah
Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Flood Zone Mapping with Machine Learning and Augmented Reality
Sophie Walker
Red River College Polytechnic
Climate Resilient Nursing
Navdeep Singh
Seneca Polytechnic
Reducing Carbon Emissions with Variable Rate Technology and Best Practices in Agriculture
Pal Patel
Mohawk College
Asset Management for Climate Resiliency in Indigenous Communities
Maxim Bergeron
CNETE, Cégep de Shawnigan
Creation of Microbial strains producing 2 enzymes for degrading hydrocarbons and plastics
“As someone passionate about environmental stewardship and community resilience, the grant has given me the opportunity to leverage my technical background and passion for environmental stewardship in a collaborative effort to develop a system that meets the unique needs of remote and rural Indigenous communities.”
- Pal Patel
“Applying for this grant was a life-changing decision, and I highly recommend it if you have an idea you’re passionate about and need support to make it happen. Overall, it’s a dream come true moment.”
- Navdeep Singh
“Receiving this grant has been a transformative experience, opening doors to professional development opportunities such as working with Canadian Nurses Association editors to get articles published.”
- Sophie Walker
“I would recommend applying for this grant to the youth who are eager to make a meaningful impact through innovation and technology along with helping communities.”
- Muhammad Abdullah
“To anyone considering applying for this grant, I would encourage you to go for it! These grants are a key step in bringing your ideas to life, inspiring others, and making a change.”
- Jeshuah Gilroy
