Tomorrow’s Towns is a forward-thinking placemaking program from Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador designed to help communities become more sustainable, resilient, and vibrant—all while saving valuable time and resources. By connecting you with strategic partners and expert guidance, Tomorrow’s Towns lightens the load of research, feasibility studies, and funding applications, so you can focus on what truly matters: improving the well-being of your municipality.
Our approach is rooted in the concept of placemaking, which builds on a community’s local assets—its people, culture, and natural surroundings—to shape healthier, happier, and more economically robust towns. As part of ESDC’s Sustainable Development Goal Program, Tomorrow’s Towns also helps communities align with the United Nations’ Agenda 2030, promoting social and environmental initiatives that meet the Sustainable Development Goals.
When you sign up, you join a network of partners and specialists who are ready to assist with projects in one or more of our five key streams:
From training sessions and webinars to tailored support for meeting facilitation and funding connections, Tomorrow’s Towns offers practical tools to bring your ideas to life.
Becoming a Tomorrow's Town also means joining our recognition program. As you complete projects and engage with partner-led training, your efforts will be acknowledged through various means. Each accomplishment is a testament to your dedication to building a stronger, more sustainable future.
We believe every municipality in Newfoundland and Labrador can be a Tomorrow's Town. By uniting under this banner, we encourage a shared attitude of sustainability and a collective commitment to creating spaces that meet the needs of today—while preserving and nurturing them for future generations.
Sign up to become a Tomorrow's Town and explore how our streams, resources, and partnerships can help you make meaningful, lasting improvements in your community. Let’s work together to shape a brighter tomorrow, starting today.
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.
Program partners are comprised of the province’s top organizations and specialists in their respective fields. To see a current list of partners, click here
Tomorrow’s Towns has five key streams of focus: Heritage and Arts, Healthy Built Environment, Food Security, Environmental Stewardship and Climate Action.
Absolutely. In fact, we encourage you to explore all streams within the program. Towns who participate in more than one stream will be recognized as such.
The scope of projects in each stream is broad by design. We want communities to think outside the box when coming up with new ideas of what can make their town more sustainable. For inspiration, head to the Streams section to see a list of possible projects under each stream.
Towns receive recognitions by completing projects under a particular stream and earning points by attending webinars and training sessions put off by our partners. How many projects and points required are determined by your town’s population. Click Here to learn more
Tomorrow’s Towns facilitates connections to funding sources but is not a direct funding provider. We help connect you with experts and funding sources in order to help complete your project.
The idea of Tomorrow’s Towns is to start something new. If you have a project you started recently that fits a particular stream, consideration may be given.
No. There’s no limit, big or small, under the program. We want to see sustainable community improvement projects that will make your town a better place to live for everyone.
Rudy Norman is a passionate advocate for rural sustainability, and brings a wealth of experience in business, economic development, and marketing to the role. As the Mayor of Burlington, NL, he has been instrumental in revitalizing his hometown, leading initiatives to boost tourism and foster community growth.
Rudy’s work includes playing a key role in the development of Shaun Majumder’s eco-tourism venture, ‘OME, where his expertise helped establish a sustainable business model that remains a cornerstone of Burlington’s tourism industry. In fact, Rudy is no stranger to MNL, having recently taken the stage at the 2024 MNL Conference alongside Shaun during the keynote address.
Born and raised in Burlington, Rudy has dedicated his career to showcasing the unique charm and potential of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. His insights and leadership continue to inspire positive change across the province, making him an ideal choice to spearhead the Tomorrow’s Towns program.
