Case Studies

To revive a downtown drained of stores and shoppers by malls on the highway that has skirted the community since 1990, the district of West Kelowna drafted a 25-year plan to remake the central Westbank Centre neighbourhood as a pedestrian-friendly place to live, work and play.

Eager to showcase green technologies and save on electrical costs, Toronto's Exhibition Place replaced 50 high-pressure sodium lampposts along a pedestrian walkway with light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures.

To increase the efficiency of its water treatment process and reduce the use of chemicals, the City of Thunder Bay studied different methods for cleaning filtration membranes at its Bare Point Drinking Water Treatment Plant.

To make this northern Manitoba mining community a healthier, more sustainable, and recreation-rich place to live, the City of Thompson adopted a plan to enhance the wintertime appeal of its parks.

The City of Cold Lake studied the feasibility of different wastewater treatment systems to improve effluent quality.

The City of Grande Prairie studied the feasibility of turning a four-lane thoroughfare into a mixed-use street with bike lanes, wider sidewalks, shopping and other amenities.

Marwayne, AB revitalized its Center Street and reduced village's carbon footprint while creating an appealing space for residents doing day-to-day business and attending public events.

The Rural Municipality of St. François Xavier created a sustainable community plan to influence planning and development decisions affecting village infrastructure, transportation, community design and the environment.

Already known for environmental sustainability, the City of Vancouver has adopted a plan to become the world's greenest city by 2020.

The northwest B.C. Town of Smithers has completed comprehensive sustainability plans that will reduce public and private sector energy use and GHG emissions.

To foster job-generating growth without undermining its laid-back cottage-country lifestyle, the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands adopted a plan to extend the local tourist season and attract investment in golf courses, small breweries, honey farms and other businesses that appeal to visitors.

The John Street Apartments (now called Chapelview) was undertaken in response to a growing need for affordable housing in the Regional Municipality of Peel.

The Town of Grand Falls created a five-year sustainable community plan that articulates the town's goals across eight themes, including economic development, environmental leadership and healthy living.

The City of Bromont, a tourist haven, is experiencing a population boom. The municipal council is taking steps to ensure that this growth occurs while respecting the environment, the surrounding countryside and the quality of life in the community.

The United Counties of Leeds and Grenville developed a Regional Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) that provides a strategic framework for its 12 municipalities (10 members and two partners) to address sustainability objectives and priorities.

Partners in Project Green (a partnership managed by the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority) created tools to help harmonize land-use policies in the eco-industrial area around Toronto's airport.

The Campbell River Community Plan charts a course to preserve the environment, develop the economy and manage growth.

The City of Parksville has developed a new Official Community Plan to address issues such as smart growth, climate change, downtown revitalization, sustainable tourism and shoreline protection.

The City of Mississauga has a master plan to instill environmental consciousness in its corporate DNA.

The City of Corner Brook developed a 10-year integrated municipal sustainability plan (IMSP) that serves as a hybrid document, combining the goals and objectives of an integrated community sustainability plan with the legislative authority of a municipal plan.