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RAIN Community Solutions

Slow it down. Soak it up. Keep it clean.

RAIN Community Solutions was a joint venture of Green Communities Canada and our member organizations across Canada. This venture was active from 2009 through 2014 and won the Council of the Federation Award for Excellence in Water Stewardship

Rain Community Solutions worked with GCC’s member organizations and collaborated with municipalities, environmental organizations, and property owners to implement practical rainwater management strategies that build local resilience and treat rain as a valuable resource.

Rain Community Solutions provided community engagement, capacity-building, policy change support, stakeholder connections, environmental assistance, and funding and media opportunities.

Rain Programs provide many benefits

  • Reducing flooding
  • Protecting water quality
  • Saving money
  • Beautifying neighborhoods
  • Improving habitats

Flood Risk Reduction

We believe it is everyone’s responsibility to manage rain where it falls and reduce flood risk downstream. 

Flooding is a major threat to Canadians. Green Communities Canada works with communities to reduce flooding by treating rain as a resource and managing it close to where it falls.

Municipal Implementation Network

RAIN Community Solutions coordinated a network to support municipalities in implementing successful neighbourhood flood prevention retrofits. We hosted webinars, workshops, and peer to peer knowledge sharing. 

Customized support

RAIN Community Solutions worked with municipalities to implement successful community engagement programs around flood risk reduction and stormwater management. See our Action Map and RAIN Garden Groundbreakers for some examples. 

Green Communities Canada continues to provide expert recommendations on municipal policies for Green Infrastructure and managing rain where it falls.  Contact us to discuss how we can work with your municipality.

Ontario urban flooding collaborative

Through our RAIN Community Solutions program, Green Communities Canada worked with municipalities, nonprofits, the insurance industry, academics, conservation authorities, property owners, and funders to come up with a collective action plan to address urban flooding in Ontario. Read our report “Urban flooding in Ontario – toward collective impact solutions” and sign up here to stay up to date on this project.

Success in RAIN Community Solutions

The RAIN Community Solutions program leveraged GCC’s diverse and far-reaching network of expert community service providers, many already working on community-level stormwater programming. Between 2010-2015, the RAIN team and community participants worked hard to achieve some great results.

We’ve got the numbers to prove it!

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people engaged face-to-face
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litres of stormwater diverted from storm sewers
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special events
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hands-on workshops
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RAIN home visits
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History of RAIN Community Solutions

RAIN Community Solutions is part of a long-standing focus on green infrastructure and water conservation and protection at Green Communities Canada. 

2009
A growing need

Urban Stormwater Runoff

GCC recognized the growing impacts of urban stormwater runoff. We began research and testing solutions.

2010
Launch

RAIN Community Solutions Begins

GCC launched RAIN Community Solutions to promote green stormwater infrastructure, also known as low impact development.

2010-2015
Delivery

GCC’s Network Delivers Across Canada

RAIN Community Solutions leverages GCC’s diverse and far-reaching network of expert community service providers, many already working on community-level stormwater programming. The RAIN team and community participants worked hard to achieve great results.

2014
Award

Leadership in Water Stewardship

RAIN Community Solutions was recognized with the Council of the Federation Award for Excellence in Water Stewardship. This award recognizes outstanding achievements, innovative practice and leadership in water stewardship.

2015
Award

Environmental Excellence

RAIN Community Solutions was recognized with the Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the Non-Government Organization category. This award recognizes significant contribution and commitment to environmental protection in Ontario.

2016
Growing Legacy

Continuing Green Infrastructure Work

Green Communities Canada continues to advance many of the programming goals from RAIN in our ongoing work in Green Infrastructure, including through our Living Cities Canada Fund. We also continue to curate many resources – including our free online RAIN Garden Master Class – that support community-level stormwater programming developed through the Rain Community Solutions program.

Take Inspiration

Check out some of the inspiring projects implemented by the RAIN Community Solutions program

Get Inspired by green infrastructure projects

Let it RAIN!

If you’re a municipality, property owner, or a community group interested in implementing nature-based (also known as green infrastructure) solutions to stormwater management, you’ve come to the right place. Benefit from our extensive resources and tips!

Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Stories

Stay up to date on the latest green infrastructure news.

An image of a woman and a young girl at a planting site. They are crouched down around a newly planted tree. There is a dark green block at the top that says "Demonstrate Stream Applications Now Open! Apply by December 1, 2025." Another dark green block at the bottom has the Living Cities Canada and GCC logos.

Intake Open for 2026 Demonstrate Stream of Living Cities Canada Fund

November 14, 2025

Apply by December 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET Apply Now We’re excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Demonstrate Stream…

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A view of Parliament Hill with the text "Response to 2025 Federal Budget" with the GCC logo at the bottom right.

Response to 2025 Federal Budget

November 5, 2025

While Green Communities Canada (GCC) welcomes the confirmation of several commitments in the 2025 Federal Budget, we await crucial details on investments in nature-based solutions, active transportation, and electrifying…

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Four youth gathered around a newly planted tree in fresh soil. One of them is holding a shovel. All of them are smiling into the camera.

Digging Deeper: How Soil Health Research Supports Canada’s Mini Forest Movement 

September 18, 2025

The healthy growth of any planting project depends on its foundation: the soil provides the structure, nutrients, and microbial life that our gardens and forests…

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Green Infrastructure Resources

Green Communities Canada continues to curate many resources – including our free online RAIN Garden Master Class – that support community-level stormwater programming developed through the Rain Community Solutions program.

Green Infrastructure
Tools

What Is a Rain Garden? Benefits, Examples, and How to Get Started

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Tools

What Is a Mini Forest? How Small Forests Create Big Change

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Case Study | Publication | Tools

Select Green Infrastructure Leadership and Resources 2010-2020

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Publication

Pathways to Living Cities Policy Framework

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Online Course

Mobilize Your Living City Online Course

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Online Course

Mini Forest Training: Learn to Plan and Plant Native Urban Forests

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Tools

How to Apply to the Living Cities Canada Fund

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Video

How Depave Paradise Is Reimagining Urban Space Across Canada

Members | Municipalities | Residents
Green Infrastructure
Video

Inspiration for Green Infrastructure Projects

Municipalities
Green Infrastructure
Tools

Soak it Up! Toolkit and Scorecard for Reducing Stormwater Runoff

Citizens | Municipalities
View Our Extensive Resource Library

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