2025 Challenger City Accelerator
Apply now.
Is your city redefining its future?
Become a Challenger City
(or town!)
*Applications for the Fall/Winter 2025 program are now open.
Is your city on the cusp of its next chapter? Are you looking to accelerate collaboration, define a bold vision, and invest in pillar projects that make your city great? If so, you might just be a Challenger City.
Challenger Cities are driving the next wave of community-led innovation and economic prosperity in Canada. Not ones to sit idle in the shadow of the big cities, these small and mid-sized cities are ready to make bold bets that attract investment, create jobs, and accelerate innovation.
Challenger Cities form their unique proposition around what they can bring the world - rather compare themselves to the established hubs. In doing so, they strengthen their local economy, regional economy, and foster equity, ingenuity, resilience, and community pride. They know their strengths and their unique stories – and they’re ready to go toe-to-toe on the global stage.
ABOUT THE ACCELERATOR:
Inspired and informed by Canada-wide research into the challenges facing mid-sized municipalities, the Challenger Cities Accelerator helps teams representing cities and communities identify and grow the transformational projects that will make them legendary.