Intro CLR

The funding landscape in Canada has long focused on supporting research within post-secondary institutions. Yet, community-based research plays an equally vital role in understanding our waters, ecosystems, and the impacts of climate change and other environmental challenges on local communities.

The Marine Environmental, Prediction, and Response Network (MEOPAR) is helping reshape how research is supported in Canada, breaking down barriers and expanding opportunities to include communities at the centre of discovery. Through its Community-Led Research (CLR) Fund, MEOPAR is creating space for diverse perspectives and unconventional approaches that bring together local insight and scientific inquiry.

Maéva Gauthier, MEOPAR’s Project Manager leading the CLR Fund, has seen first-hand how transformative this approach can be:

“I’ve worked with communities up north in the western Arctic for a few years and I’ve seen how much benefit communities can get from leading their own research and how much it can really support youth leadership and opportunities as well. That’s why I’m passionate about it, because it’s so important for communities to be a part of research so they can have a say in policymaking and major ocean conservation decisions.”

This approach builds on a strong foundation. MEOPAR’s Seed Fund, which recently closed, gave communities the time and flexibility to cultivate relationships, co-design projects, and imagine research that truly reflected shared priorities.

“It’s an important step, and it’s not always funded,” Maéva explained. “It’s rare that you’re going to have a fund that helps you build relationships. It’s not really a deliverable that some funders believe in. So, I’m proud that MEOPAR is actually taking the lead on that.”

Now, MEOPAR is taking this approach even further with the Community-Led Research (CLR) 2026–2028 Fund, supporting established partnerships that have already built trust and co-designed research initiatives. This next phase enables communities to lead sustainable ocean research over several years, generating locally relevant knowledge, building resilience, and strengthening Canada’s coastal hubs to support innovation and adaptation.

What makes it unique

Community-led ocean research is still far too rare, even though Indigenous and other coastal communities have been observing, studying, and caring for the ocean for generations — carrying knowledge that is essential to understanding change today.

“I think it’s about time that, as funding institutions, we support community members to lead their own research,” Maéva reflected. “In supporting partnerships between communities and researchers, there can be an exchange of knowledge between Western science and lived experience that makes science stronger.”

Successful applicants can expect to build stronger foundations for research in their community, create meaningful connections through a national peer network, and establish best practices for future initiatives.
Building trust is only the first step, lasting resilience comes from partnerships that continue to grow. That’s why MEOPAR has launched the Community-Led Research 2026–2028 Fund, designed to help communities and researchers take the next step together. With support of up to $150,000 per year for 2.5 years (to a maximum of $300,000), the fund enables established partnerships to deliver community-led research that advances shared priorities and long-term impact.

How to Apply

With these considerations in mind, Maéva wants to ensure that the application process is accessible to everyone:
“Sometimes funding institutions can feel like quite colonial structures with very specific administrative requirements. I would like applicants to feel like they can reach out to us and know we can support them in that process. We’re trying to reduce barriers for people to apply and that means being flexible and trying to find ways to support their process because it’s not always easy to navigate for those who haven’t gone through it before.”

Learn more about the Community Led Research Fund, check out MEOPAR’s webpage, or reach out to Maéva for support at maeva.gauthier@meopar.ca