Case Studies

The Town of Cape St. George, NL, is a leader among small rural municipalities with its comprehensive curbside recycling program and resourceful approach to reuse and composting.

A recognized leader in sustainable water management, the Town of Okotoks, AB, has achieved one of the lowest per capita gross water consumption rates in North America through implementing its Water Conservation, Efficiency and Productivity (CEP) Plan.

The City of Surrey, BC, has developed a Community Climate Action Strategy (CCAS) designed to both mitigate and adapt to climate change. First is the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP), Surrey's blueprint for actions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve air quality and decrease energy consumption.

The City of Whitehorse, YK, is taking the lead among northern communities with a Solid Waste Action Plan that aims to divert at least half of its solid waste from landfill by 2015 and achieve zero waste by 2040.

This is part of a series of case studies on wastewater projects funded by the FCM's Green Municipal Fund. Each case study provides technical information, project details and tips on best practices.

The City of Wetaskiwin, AB, retrofitted its aerated lagoon to improve the reliability, performance and capacity of the facility and ensure that it meets provincial environmental standards.

The Town of Amherstburg, ON, consolidated three sewage service areas into one. This allowed the town to close down two sewage treatment plants – one was approaching approved treatment capacity limits and the other would have needed upgrades to meet current requirements for effluent quality.

With its new wastewater treatment plant, Chatham-Kent expanded treatment capacity and dramatically reduced E. coli in effluent. Learn more in this case study.

To help meet phosphorus discharge targets set by the Bay of Quinte Remedial Action Plan and to sustainably handle both projected growth in the Picton-Hallowell urban area and septage from residents in the surrounding rural areas, Prince Edward County, ON, constructed a new pumping station and a new wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).

The City of Saint-Hyacinthe completed all research and development for its new biogas facility, without the assistance of external consultants. The project, a first in Quebec, helps resolve the challenge of managing large amounts of waste while generating revenue at the same time.

Three major upgrades to Vancouver's cycling and pedestrian network have created a seamless active transportation corridor running from the city's western neighbourhoods and across the Burrard Bridge to the downtown core.

With three cities and a regional government pulling together to address climate change, the Region of Waterloo is also boosting its clean technology and sustainable energy sectors. Supported by FCM's Green Municipal Fund.

Discover how municipalities across Canada have redeveloped their brownfield sites and returned them to productive use. Read the case studies.

The District of Sechelt's new Water Resource Centre won an FCM Sustainable Communities Award for its community-friendly facility that uses an innovative, odour-free method to turn wastewater into high-quality reclaimed water and Class A compost.

With the aim of cleaning up former refuelling sites and revitalizing communities, the City of Edmonton's Brownfield Redevelopment Grant Program offers a generous selection of grants for all stages of brownfield remediation, including environmental performance incentives. Supported by FCM's Green Municipal Fund.

The rural municipality of Austin, with its rich biodiversity, developed a sustainable management action plan to preserve the many ecosystems found throughout its territory. Supported by FCM's Green Municipal Fund.

The Region of Waterloo and its partners helped transform an industrial brownfield site in the City of Kitchener's downtown into showcase offices, attracting tenants such as Google and reviving a central neighbourhood.

Homeowners in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), NS, can take advantage of municipal financing through the Solar City program to install solar-powered water heating systems, lower their energy bills, and reduce water consumption.

Toronto's Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) and High-Rise Retrofit Improvement Support Program (Hi-RIS) provide low-interest, long-term loans to finance energy and water efficiency retrofits for private residential buildings.