Don’t Be At It
Presented by HeritageNL
Recorded
July 3, 2025 11:00 am
Introducing Tomorrow’s Towns—a forward-thinking placemaking program from Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador. Funded by the Government of Canada through the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) SDG Grant Program, this project empowers your community to become more sustainable, resilient, and vibrant.
By connecting you with strategic partners and expert guidance, the program helps you save valuable time often spent on research, fact-finding, feasibility, and funding applications for various projects, as well as provides valuable learning through webinars and training programs.
With five key streams, Tomorrow’s Towns supports you in launching impactful projects and seizing new opportunities, while also recognizing and rewarding your efforts to strengthen and give back to your community.
Sign up to become a Tomorrow's Town today and get started on your first stream!
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A community’s identity is deeply rooted in its history, culture, and artistic expression. The Heritage & Arts stream is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the unique traditions and stories that define Newfoundland and Labrador’s towns.
The way a town is designed and built has a profound impact on the health and well-being of its residents. The Healthy Built Environment stream promotes community planning and infrastructure development that prioritizes accessibility, active living, and social connectivity.
Access to safe, nutritious, and locally sourced food is a fundamental pillar of a thriving community. The Food Security stream supports municipalities in building resilient food systems that reduce reliance on imported goods and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s natural landscapes—its rugged coastlines, vast forests, and freshwater ecosystems—are among its most valuable assets. The Environmental Stewardship stream focuses on the responsible management and protection of these natural resources to ensure they remain healthy and accessible for generations to come.
The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident in Newfoundland and Labrador, with rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and more frequent extreme weather events threatening communities. The Climate Action stream equips municipalities with the knowledge and tools needed to mitigate these risks and adapt to a changing environment.
Tomorrow’s Towns is a program available to any member of Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador in good standing.
No. Tomorrow’s Towns is an MNL program offered through your regular membership fee.
Municipalities who participate in Tomorrow’s Towns join a network of partners and experts who can help you complete projects in your town. You also receive assistance in facilitating meetings with these partners; webinars relevant to your proposed project; and access to training designed to bolster your municipal council and staff’s skill sets.
Gander is a town unlike any other—a crossroads of history, humanity, and hope. Nestled in central Newfoundland, Gander’s story begins with aviation, when it became a strategic stopover for transatlantic flights. Its airport was once one of the busiest in the world, a vital link connecting continents. But Gander is more than its runway; it is a town defined by its compassion, resilience, and global spirit.
The world came to know Gander on September 11, 2001, when this small town welcomed nearly 7,000 stranded airline passengers with open arms. In kitchens, churches, and schools, the people of Gander offered not just food and shelter, but kindness and community. That remarkable generosity inspired the hit Broadway musical Come From Away and made Gander a global symbol of humanity at its best.
But long before and long after that moment, Gander has stood as a hub of innovation and community spirit. With its modern infrastructure, health care facilities, schools, and vibrant arts and culture scene, it serves as a regional center for central Newfoundland.
The town blends urban amenities with small-town values. Parks, walking trails, and nearby wilderness areas offer residents and visitors a chance to connect with nature. Annual events like Festival of Flight bring the community together in celebration of its rich aviation heritage.
Gander’s strength lies not only in its location or history, but in its people—people who care deeply for one another and for the world beyond their borders. It is a place where stories take flight, where kindness lands softly, and where every arrival feels like a homecoming.
In Gander, the past soars, the present thrives, and the future is built on a runway of hope, generosity, and enduring Newfoundland spirit.
