Next Great Save

Next Great Save


The Next Great Save Competition

$50,000 to be won!

The Next Great Save 2025 Competition offers an incredible opportunity to win a $50,000 cash prize to help protect a cherished heritage place! Canadians have a deep love for their historic sites and rise to the challenge when these treasures are at risk. This competition empowers communities with a $50,000 Grand Prize, generously provided by Ecclesiastical Insurance. The prize money will support projects that protect, adapt, renew, or improve heritage places for the future—while inspiring us all along the way!

Questions? Reach out to us via email nextgreatsave@nationaltrustcanada.ca

Call for Applications is Open December 17, 2024 to January 24, 2025. Click Here to Apply!


About our Title Sponsor

Ecclesiastical Insurance is an award-winning commercial insurance company and a proud part of the Benefact Group – a charity owned, international family of financial service companies that gives all available profits to charity and good causes. Ecclesiastical provides specialist insurance solutions to the arts, culture and heritage community, faith organizations, retirement living, educational institutions, registered charities, and non-profit organizations. Protecting Canada’s historic places, both large and small, with regional offices in Dartmouth, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver.


What is the competition all about?

The competition is an exciting opportunity to support and highlight meaningful preservation in Canada. Registered charities and non-profits with plans to protect a heritage site and give it a vibrant, community-enhancing role are invited to apply. By submitting a completed application, you could become a finalist and secure the funding and recognition needed to bring your vision to life!


Competition Timeline

December 17 – January 24
Community groups develop a submission with details of the heritage place they want to be Canada’s Next Great Save.  Ten to twelve exciting projects will be shortlisted and featured in public voting to win $50,000 as the Next Great Save.

February 13, 2025
Competition finalists are contacted.

February 14 – March 15, 2025
Competition finalists put together their case to convince voters their project should be voted the Next Great Save using photos, text, and video.

March 31 – April 17, 2025
People across Canada cast votes for the Next Great Save that will win $50,000.

April 17, 2025
The National Trust for Canada and Ecclesiastical announce the winners of the Next Great Save competition.


What is a Next Great Save?

A Next Great Save is a project that successfully protects, adapts, renews or improves a heritage place in a way that extends its useful life, and more, such as:

  • responds to new pressures and community needs such as climate change or affordable housing;
  • reduces environmental impact; and/or
  • reflects diversity and inclusion of new voices and new stories.

Alumni Speak Up

Joanne Rose, Our Lady of Mercy Complex Committee, Next Great Save 2024
“Participating in the National Trust’s Next Great Save competition has been an exceptional experience for the Our Lady of Mercy Complex. The exposure brought an influx of visitors, reconnecting past guests and welcoming new ones inspired by the competition. By July, we matched last year’s total attendance! Community support was extraordinary—local businesses, individuals, and even voters from as far as Honolulu and BC rallied behind us. Winning the $50,000 prize enabled us to repaint our 100-year-old structure, and a subsequent $227,000 grant in funding further restoration. This experience has been nothing short of transformative, and we are deeply grateful!”

Adrien Comeau, President of Société Vieille Maison, Next Great Save 2023
“Participating in the Next Great Save was a fantastic experience. It not only galvanized our own group of volunteers to work even harder to reach our goal, but we also benefitted from unprecedented national media coverage.  Winning second place, ten thousand dollars, and gaining over fifty thousand votes has allowed us to significantly leverage other funding sources.”

Learn More

2025 Eligibility Requirements

2025 Rules and Regulations


Ecclesiastical is deeply committed to protecting the needs of organizations that enrich the lives of others; to preserving Canada’s distinct communities, cultures, and history; and to supporting initiatives that help improve the lives of people in need. The National Trust for Canada has a long-standing relationship with Ecclesiastical Insurance – our most faithful sponsor – and we are excited to be working with them to fund the Next Great Save!


All inquiries and media requests NextGreatSave@Nationaltrustcanada.ca

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