Faithful Footprints Projects
More than 300+ United Church properties across Canada have received a Faithful Footprints Grant
Explore funded projects
Discover the projects that United Church communities have completed with the support of a Faithful Footprints Grant.
Explore how United Church communities of faith are decarbonizing their building operations through upgrades and find out the measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved.
300+ buildings
More than 300 building projects funded across the country
16 regions
Projects funded across all 16 United Church Regional Councils
Project Case Studies
Arden United Church explores heat pump options that balanced cost, performance, and nd the everyday realities of their building.
Years of thoughtful efficiency upgrades led St. John’s United Church to replace its aging steam system in 2023, but just months later, an unforeseen pipe failure revealed the realities of tackling aging infrastructure.
First United Church in Vermilion, Alberta decided to take a closer look into their ongoing heating issues to better understand what practical improvements could make their buildings.
Conducting a comprehensive energy study can reveal new opportunities and strategies to improve building efficiency. An assessment at Whitehorse United Church in Whitehorse, Yukon led to the church’s largest energy project to date, a full HVAC upgrade incorporating air source heat pump technology.
Hope United Church in Alvinston, ON took many steps to reduce energy use. However, aging infrastructure led them to finally replace their 1926 steam boiler with a new heat pump system.
St. James & St. John United Church in Miramichi, New Brunswick is transitioning to energy-efficient mini-split heat pumps across its buildings, with current efforts targeting its Church Centre, its most space.
More people in the building means higher expectations for comfort, rising energy demands, and growing costs, especially in older buildings. At Trinity United Church in Grimsby, Ontario, this reality came to a head and, in response, upgraded its building to ensure their space could remain both welcoming and sustainable.
Responding to growing concerns about global warming, Camp Kee-Mo-Kee has made sustainability a strategic priority and has set out ambitious goals as part of its vision for the future.
Stamford Lane United Church (Niagara Falls) has made it a priority to ensure its longevity and sustainability of its church, and are committed to maintaining its building for the future.
Siloam United Church (London, ON) is stepping up as a local leader, with a goal to cut its operational carbon emissions by 15% annually over the next two years, for a total reduction of 30% by 2026.
Some renovation projects are talked about long before they happen. Salisbury United finally executes a long-anticipated upgrade of over 100 lights throughout its entire building.
Over the last decade, Five Oaks Centre (Paris, ON) has made significant upgrades to improve the energy efficiency and sustainability of its facilities. To further investment into its property, the Centre adopted a business model in 2016, introducing a commitment to develop a 5-year property rejuvenation plan.
In 2019, Fifth Avenue Memorial faced another critical project when its heating system unexpectedly failed. The scope of the replacement became larger than just simply swapping out its boiler and included a complete overhaul of its existing heating system.
In 2023, United Churches encountered an unexpected challenge when their boilers broke down, resulting in an urgent need to replace them. Glenwood United Church sources out Faithful Footprints funding to replace its boilers rapidly approaching the end of their 25-year lifespan.
With more than a decade of experience working on energy conservation projects, Runnymede United Church retrofits for greater energy savings, replacing ceiling fans and installing heat pumps.
Many renovation projects depend on outsourced grants and funding opportunities to complete, but raising the necessary funds can be challenging. However, St. Paul’s United Church in Oakville, Ontario, was confident that their congregants could rise to the challenge and come up with a significant sum of money for the lighting retrofit they were planning.
A mere 20 minutes from mainland Vancouver, Camp Fircom is a far cry from hectic city life. Located across the Howe Sound on Gambier Island, and accessible only by water taxi, the remote United Church camp has offered a “place of rest and healing” for 100 years.
Across regions, many faith communities are unable to meet annual fees and maintenance costs and are struggling to keep up with the operational needs of their buildings. As a solution, a number of United Church properties are retrofitting their buildings with the goal of reducing their energy bills. They are creating rental opportunities by renovating old and unused spaces within their buildings.
Like many churches across Canada, regular attendance is not what it used to be. In rural communities especially, an aging population and a global pandemic have also kept people away. Old Barns United in Lower Truro, Nova Scotia is no exception, averaging about thirty people every Sunday, according to Bob Francis, a member of the Board of Stewards and Trustees.
With a belief that God calls us to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world, Westworth United Church strives to be “the hands and feet of Christ within Westworth and beyond”. Living with respect for Creation, Westworth United took on two energy retrofit projects to green their sacred space.
The Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Centre is an accredited theological college located one mile east of Beausejour, Manitoba that offers cross-cultural learning and Indigenous ministry training, as well as a peaceful place on the land for retreats, meetings and gatherings. Its vision is to create a place where First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Christian spiritual beliefs are respected, shared, and understood.
Following through with large-scale building renovations requires commitment and persistence, as there are many obstacles that are likely to arise. Financial barriers, resource shortages, and global issues can cause delays and even full on restructuring of project plans.
Without the right tools, resources and team in place, renovating and updating a faith community building can seem difficult and overwhelming. In the case of Topsail United Church in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, a supportive church community was key to the success of the church’s first efforts at greening its building and reducing their energy footprint.
Camp Scugog is one of the oldest camps in Canada. Its buildings were not designed for all weather use. Camp staff knew that in order to maximize the use of the property, and expand capacity for winter operations, a building retrofit that involved installing a heating and cooling system to their property’s main facility was not only critical but necessary.
Nestled in a beautiful village at the feet of the Canadian Rockies, Ralph Connor Memorial United Church (RCMUC) in Canmore, Alberta has a 130 year old sanctuary and a 40 year old hall.
RCMUC’s Faithful Footprints story is one of how congregants’ connections and working together as a team led to incredible energy savings and conservation within their church building.
McClure United Church in Saskatoon is shining new light on its congregation.
Across the country, United Churches are doing their part to address the climate crisis by getting their houses in order and reducing their own carbon emissions. Through a partnership with Faith & the Common Good, the United Church of Canada is offering grants and support for churches to measure their energy use and reduce their climate pollution, in ways that save money and strengthen congregational renewal.
Across the country, United Churches are doing their part to address the climate crisis by getting their houses in order and reducing their own carbon emissions. Through a partnership with Faith & the Common Good, the United Church of Canada is offering grants and support for churches to measure their energy use and reduce their climate pollution, in ways that save money and strengthen congregational renewal.
In 2018, Crescent Fort Rouge United Church participated in a National Trust and Faith & The Common Good seminar in our building and benefitted from an energy audit. We discovered the possibility of a Faithful Footprints grant for energy upgrades which aligned perfectly with planning and built on our activities to date.
Hear from United Church congregants behind the projects
Meadowwood United Church
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Woodlawn United Church
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

Bissell Centre
Edmonton, Alberta
With a shared ecumenical ministry spanning 13 years, Deer Park United Church and Calvin Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Ontario, serve as a compelling example of the impact that a united mission can have in the realm of climate action.