It’s just over a week since the third annual Community Land Trust Summit: Gaining Ground. This year, members and allies of the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts gathered in Mi’kma’ki for four incredible days: two in downtown Halifax and two visiting African Nova Scotia and Mi’kmaq sites of resilience. Joy was at the forefront…
The federal government’s new Build Canada Homes (BCH) program signals a bold return to building housing at scale. The goal—accelerating the delivery of affordable homes—is critical. But BCH risks missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity: activating community land trusts (CLTs). CLTs already deliver on many of the directions stated within the BCH Market Sounding Guide: They lock…
Help shape the future of the community land trust movement in Canada. Nominations are now open for the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts’ (CNCLT) Board of Directors. Four directors will be elected at our Annual General Meeting on October 17, 2025 (1:00–3:00 PM ET). Read the full call and apply by October 10, 2025
Context From May 27 to 29, just steps from the White House, this CNCLT team attended Grounded Solutions Network’s first conference since 2022: Policy. Power. Practice. Grounded Solutions is a U.S.-based national network advancing equitable housing solutions through community land trusts, shared equity homeownership, and inclusive development. Amid political uncertainty and devastating funding cuts, the…
The Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts commissioned Adam Thompson to create of this legal guide for community land trusts navigating the prospect of affordable homeownership. Please note, this guide should be considered legal information, not legal advice. We strongly encourage you to seek legal advice before moving forward.
What is the Community Resilience Cohort? Launched in March 2024, the Community Resilience Cohort (CRC) is a program that helps new community land trusts (CLTs) grow and secure land for community benefit. Run by the Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT), this initiative supports five start-up CLTs led by Black, Indigenous, and People of…
The Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts commissioned Fatema Jivaji to create of this legal guide for community land trusts navigating donations of property. Please note, this guide should be considered legal information, not legal advice. We strongly encourage you to seek legal advice before completing a property donation process.
Back for its second edition, In Soil-darity will next explore an Indigenous-led land trust in Kingston, Ontario as well as a new set of educational resources designed for emerging agricultural land trusts. In Soil-darity is designed to dig deep into the transformative potential of community-owned farmlands. It is a first time collaboration between the Canadian…
The Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT) is proud to launch a dedicated page highlighting our commitment to supporting Black-led and Black-serving Community Land Trusts (B3 CLTs) across the country. What you’ll find on the page: Black-Specific Resources – Tools to support community engagement and organizational development. Black CLT Practitioner Group – A space…
The Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts (CNCLT), in partnership with the Balanced Supply of Housing Research Node, is excited to announce the release of foundational research papers on Canadian community land trusts (CLTs). Developed in partnership with leading academics and practitioners across Canada, this six-part series is the first of its kind and provides…
Did you know the first community land trust was designed to steward farmland? Since the founding of New Communities in 1969, community land trusts have continued to be successful vehicles for shared farmland stewardship. In Soil-darity is designed to dig deep into the transformative potential of community-owned farmlands. It is a first time collaboration between…
On June 10th 2024, the CNCLT held a “Lunch and Learn” presentation with Dr. Alan Walks to answer CNCLT members’ questions about how governments subsidize home ownership. “Subsidized housing,” a term that is often stigmatized, conjures affordable and supportive rental housing. Dr. Walks convincingly showed that the term should be equally applied to home ownership.…
The Canadian Network of Community Land Trusts commissioned Benjamin Miller from Nonprofit Law Ontario to create of this legal guide for community land trusts exploring obtaining charitable status. It presents three trajectories for community land trusts wanting to enjoy the benefits of charitable status: Applying for charitable status Creating a separate legal arm of the…