The City of Kingston's Transit High School Bus Pass Project is the 2018 co-winner of the transportation category of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards. The initiative also received FCM's inaugural Inspire Award for the project that best demonstrates creativity and innovation, as decided by a live vote of delegates at FCM's Sustainable Communities Conference.
Watch the video and read the case study to learn more about this project. Download our guide below to get started on a similar project in your community.
How can a community encourage teens to use a sustainable, active mode of transportation to get to school, work and recreational activities? The City of Kingston, ON, and the local school boards found that giving high school students free bus passes wasn't enough to address this challenge. The solution? They introduced a transit orientation program, and now the students are on board with riding the bus.
Transit orientation generated 20-fold increase in bus trips
The City and school boards work collaboratively by providing a bus orientation program to high school students. The orientation familiarizes students with the transit system, teaches them about the environmental benefits of public transit and the cost savings compared to owning and operating a car, and shows them how riding the bus increases their freedom to travel to school and other activities.
The result? Students took nearly 600,000 trips on public transit between September 2016 and August 2017 alone—a staggering increase from 30,000 trips in the project’s first year.
Project succeeded in increasing travel independence for youth
Students said the transit pass helped them feel more independent and let them participate in more activities-such as volunteering, work, and sports. A study of the program, conducted by the University of Waterloo, showed about half the students' bus trips were to activities outside school hours, and that students tended to take the bus more often as they got older and gained experience using transit. Following graduation, students continued to use the bus to travel within Kingston.
The study concluded that the program is an important stimulant for students' travel independence that could be applied in other mid-sized Canadian communities.
Environmental and economic benefits seen in the broader community
Students, parents, the environment and the community all benefit from this initiative. Students acquire a life skill that gives them more freedom and helps them remain physically active. Parents save the time and money spent driving their children and reduce the environmental impact of using the car. And the transit system has more riders during off-peak hours, bringing the buses to life for the whole community.
Want to develop a similar project in your community?
Download our project guide to learn more about award-winning strategies and use the guiding questions to kick-start your sustainability initiative.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards recognize and celebrate sustainability leaders and trailblazers in municipalities of all sizes across Canada.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
The City of Port Coquitlam's Blakeburn Lagoons Park project is the 2018 winner in the brownfields category of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards.
Watch the video and read the case study to learn more about this project. Download our guide below to get started on a similar project in your community.
The City of Port Coquitlam, BC, wanted to return a former sanitary lagoon to public use, but the location showed unsafe levels of contaminants. When funding became available, the City jumped at the chance to transform the area. They came up with an innovative remediation plan that avoided the costly process of removing contaminants from the site, and created the safe, natural green space residents wanted.
City tests innovative self-remediation techniques
The project team used natural techniques to develop a self-remediating site that avoided the cost of removing and replacing contaminated soil and sludge. By mixing the sludge with clean soil, they diluted contaminants and added nutrients so plants could grow. Any areas that couldn't be diluted enough were capped with new materials. To absorb and immobilize remaining heavy metals, the City planted phytoremediation shrubs, plants, grasses and trees.
Community gets desired park and access to nature
Before starting the project, the City consulted with the community and learned that residents wanted a natural recreation space - a use supported by the City's Strategic Plan. Residents can now connect with nature on the park's 1.6 kilometres of fully accessible walking trails and viewing platforms. Interpretive signs around the park enhance public education, and the nearby elementary school will use the space as an outdoor environmental studies classroom.
The naturalized surroundings create a wetland and nature preserve, including wildlife-only islands and landscape features that enhance wildlife habitat and food supply. The new plants form six ecological habitats and were installed in varying ages and sizes to increase habitat complexity.
Economically sustainable design also boosts area property values
The park's natural landscape limits ongoing maintenance costs, and linking the ponds to the area's storm systems helps manage runoff and reduce flooding in nearby communities. The redeveloped site increases neighbouring residential property values and makes it possible to develop an adjacent site, which will stimulate local economic growth.
Want to develop a similar project in your community?
Download our project guide to learn more about award-winning strategies and use the guiding questions to kick-start your sustainability initiative.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards recognize and celebrate sustainability leaders and trailblazers in municipalities of all sizes across Canada.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
The City of Guelph's Guelph Innovation District Secondary Plan is the 2018 winner in the sustainable neighbourhood revitalization and design category of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards.
Watch the video and read the case study to learn more about this project. Download our guide below to get started on a similar project in your community.
How can the City of Guelph, ON, meet its target to grow the population to 175,000 by 2031 without expanding the city's boundaries? One significant contribution to this goal is the revitalization of a parcel of land that housed a former correctional institution into a new mixed-use community that will embody the municipality's core environmental, economic social and cultural development objectives. The innovative design aims to be carbon neutral and connected to the natural surroundings, and will provide space for people to live, work, shop, play and learn.
Design sets out an efficient, sustainable live-work community
The new Guelph Innovation District (GID) community will use efficient and sustainable design to support a range of employment, housing commercial and recreational spaces. The village will focus on higher-density housing, such as apartments and townhouses, to accommodate a planned 6,650 people. Residential areas will be separated from the existing heavy industry on the site, which will remain in the new community to provide employment. About 8,650 research, development and green technology jobs will be created in the new community.
Plan envisions a carbon neutral development
The village is intended to be carbon neutral with a focus on sustainable energy sources. Buildings will be oriented to maximize their potential for solar energy, and efficient building standards and construction methods will be followed. The mix of land uses will encourage a carbon-neutral lifestyle for residents. The village design will favour walking, biking and public transit over cars, and the project will protect, showcase and provide public access to well-loved green spaces to the public.
New village supports City's economic, environmental, social and cultural planning goals
The 436-hectare GID is planned as an integrated mixed-use community, which will connect to the surrounding green space, as well as the downtown and University of Guelph communities. The GID is also closely connected with the City's goals, and plans integrate specific targets that meet the objectives of City plans including the Local Growth Management Strategy, Prosperity 2020 Economic Development Strategy, Agri-Innovation Cluster Strategy and Community Energy Initiative.
Want to develop a similar project in your community?
Download our project guide to learn more about award-winning strategies and use the guiding questions to kick-start your sustainability initiative.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards recognize and celebrate sustainability leaders and trailblazers in municipalities of all sizes across Canada.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine's Terrace Area Integrated Solid Waste Management Program is the 2018 winner in the waste category of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards.
Watch the video and read the case study to learn more about this project. Download our guide below to get started on a similar project in your community.
Building a new waste management facility can be a hot topic in any community. The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, BC, discovered that taking the time for thorough consultation with residents, businesses, First Nations and other stakeholders really made a difference to the project. Incorporating the community's interests and concerns into the plan resulted in the construction of a waste management facility that provides strong economic benefits for the Terrace Area of the Regional District, and is a model for small or rural communities across Canada.
Addressing stakeholder concerns enhanced the project plan
The Regional District's project team applied state-of-the-art techniques to address concerns raised during extensive community consultation. For example, a composite liner with leak detection protects nearby bodies of water, and a comprehensive monitoring program exceeds provincial standards. Steel plates cover garbage 95 per cent of the time, preventing birds from feeding and improving the view from a nearby recreation site. A top-of-the-line fence keeps animals out, protecting the black bears hunted by the local First Nations community.
Integrated program increases waste diversion
The Regional District's new integrated waste management program includes a variety of strategies to increase waste diversion, such as expanding the curbside collection program, and leading community education and awareness campaigns. The program now diverts 532 tonnes of paper and packaging, 100 per cent of sewage sludge, and has a goal of 50 per cent diversion of organics and recyclables in 2018. Liquid discharge (effluent) from waste at the facility will be nearly zero once the phytoremediation orchard on site is fully mature.
Program keeps more money in the community
The Regional District ensured local contractors could bid on the project and, as a result, 83 per cent of the construction work and an ongoing $1.1 million annual contract were awarded locally.
The Regional District can amortize costs over a longer period, since the diversion programs extend the life of the landfill. Plus, the project was designed to meet Recycle BC requirements, making it eligible for future funding, and the Regional District can also generate GHG offset credits.
Want to develop a similar project in your community?
Download our project guide to learn more about award-winning strategies and use the guiding questions to kick-start your sustainability initiative.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards recognize and celebrate sustainability leaders and trailblazers in municipalities of all sizes across Canada.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
The City of Montreal's Pedestrian and Shared Street Program is the 2018 co-winner in the transportation category of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards.
Read the case study to learn more about this project. Download our guide below to get started on a similar project in your community.
Small-scale projects in Montreal neighbourhoods are helping residents walk and bike more, and are adding green space to the urban environment. (Photo: City of Montreal, QC)
How can a large city meet residents' growing demands for active transportation in their local neighbourhoods? The City of Montreal, QC is rising to the challenge with a program that supports small-scale, borough-led street design projects that encourage walking and cycling. The initiative improves public health and safety, and benefits the environment by promoting sustainable transportation and greening urban spaces.
Flexible, phased approach is key to the program's success
The local projects focus on redeveloping streets near public gathering-places, such as shops, schools, museums or markets, to encourage walking and create more shared public spaces. Rather than applying a one-size fits all solution, project teams take a flexible approach, testing different options and improving proposed measures over two years before installing more permanent infrastructure in year three. This gradual transformation gives residents and businesses time to adapt to the changes, and allows for community input. This approach provides valuable insights that are being shared with boroughs across the city.
Small, local initiatives add up to city-wide benefits
The program supports the City's Sustainable Development Plan, Pedestrian Charter and Transportation Plan. Closing or narrowing traffic lanes or reducing speed limits calms traffic, and eliminating street parking and enlarging sidewalks reduces car dependency. Two streets have been closed to traffic altogether, and a pilot project is underway to evaluate sharing pedestrian streets with slow cyclists in areas where there are no bike lanes. Converting local commercial streets into pedestrian areas helps local businesses by increasing foot traffic, promoting window shopping and improving neighbourhood appeal. Projects also create green space to reduce heat islands by adding urban agriculture and greening impervious surfaces.
Installing recreational features and urban furniture encourages people to spend more time in the new spaces, benefiting their physical and mental health. Residents can enjoy features and play structures made from sustainable materials, such as obstacle courses, carousels, seating to stop and rest, as well as water fountains and bike repair stations.
Want to develop a similar project in your community?
Download our project guide to learn more about award-winning strategies and use the guiding questions to kick-start your sustainability initiative.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards recognize and celebrate sustainability leaders and trailblazers in municipalities of all sizes across Canada.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
Evaluating your municipality's brownfield programs on a regular basis can help you identify ways to improve and enhance their performance and impact. Reporting on your progress and showcasing your successes demonstrates the value of brownfield redevelopment projects to key stakeholders, such as residents and decision-makers. This guide presents case studies illustrating the evaluation process and its benefits, and offers lessons you can apply in your city or community.
In this guide, learn how to:
Improve your brownfield programs by regularly evaluating and reporting on their performance
Adjust your program offering based on lessons learned and enhance your impact in the future
Communicate your successes to generate interest and support from your community and stakeholders
The guidebook is designed for municipal staff, such as brownfield coordinators, planners and economic development officers, who are responsible for overseeing brownfield redevelopment in their community.
This free publication is part of a series of guidebooks on brownfield redevelopment, created through FCM's Green Municipal Fund and the Leadership in Brownfield Renewal program.
Case study: Unique approach helps Durham Region, ON, plan effectively for climate change
The plan will reduce the municipality's exposure to uninsured losses and mitigate loss of revenue for businesses due to climate events. During emergencies, it will reduce the need for assistance from other jurisdictions, and lower the risk of loss of life
The Regional Municipality of Durham's Community Climate Adaptation Plan is the 2018 winner in the climate change category of FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards.
Watch the video and read the case study to learn more about this project. Download our guide below to get started on a similar project in your community.
When it came time for the Regional Municipality of Durham, ON to develop its community climate adaptation plan, no single method suited its needs. So, staff developed a hybrid approach that combined two methodologies along with local expertise and scientific projections of future weather conditions in their area. The result is a far-reaching plan that will help the community adapt to the realities of climate change over the next 25 years.
Pioneering approach to developing a community climate adaptation plan
To develop its community climate adaptation plan, Durham Region blended the ICLEI Adaptation Methodology and Toronto WeatherWise Partnership process, and used the best available scientific data from a Future Climate Study of projected weather in the 2040s. They gathered over 60 experts from local municipalities and agencies, who used the projected weather data to identify hazards and risks to buildings, roads, electrical systems, human health, the natural environment and food security.
Socially-minded plan will look after residents' future needs
The result of this integrative process is a socially-minded plan that focuses on using and supporting natural systems and green infrastructure as much as possible. Programs supporting social adaptation include protecting outdoor workers from exposure to extreme weather and providing wellness checks during weather events for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or ill, and low income households. Plans include educating high-rise dwellers on emergency protocols, implementing higher building standards for new construction, retrofitting older homes to better protect against climate change, and strengthening the electrical grid and extreme weather alert and response system.
Plan protects community from economic losses due to extreme weather
The plan will reduce the municipality's exposure to uninsured losses and mitigate loss of revenue for businesses due to climate events. During emergencies, it will reduce the need for assistance from other jurisdictions, and lower the risk of loss of life. The plan will also improve infrastructure and social recovery time from extreme weather events.
Want to develop a similar project in your community?
Download our project guide to learn more about award-winning strategies and use the guiding questions to kick-start your sustainability initiative.
FCM's Sustainable Communities Awards recognize and celebrate sustainability leaders and trailblazers in municipalities of all sizes across Canada.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
After the roof collapsed on the Springhill Arena in 2001, the Town of Springhill constructed a new multi-purpose community centre to accommodate sports, recreation, culture, tourism and business activities. The centre is the largest facility in Atlantic Canada to rely on geothermal energy for heating and cooling. A particularly innovative feature is the use of geothermal energy to chill the arena ice. A piping system draws warm water from a nearby abandoned coal mine, and heat exchange technology generates power that freezes the ice. Waste heat created during this process is used to provide radiant heat to the building.
This project saw the completion of two out of three planned phases of construction. The first phase includes an arena with an NHL-sized ice surface, seating for 800, a walking track, five dressing rooms, a room for officials, storage facilities, a canteen and kitchen, a meeting room and town administrative offices. The second phase includes a 3,100 square foot multipurpose room and teen centre. The third phase, still in the planning stages, will include a 4,285 square foot community gymnasium with two extra dressing rooms.
Results
Environmental
Economic
Social
Estimated annual energy savings of 5.6 to 5.88 MJ
Reduced GHG emissions, with no conventional fuel required for ice-making and heating/cooling systems
Potential to supply waste heat to nearby school and other buildings, further reducing GHG emissions
Estimated annual energy savings of $85,000
Relatively short-term payback in energy savings compensates for higher capital cost
Economic spinoffs to the community throughout the year through capacity to host events
Source of stable employment
New recreational and sporting activities for health and wellness
Community revitalization through state-of-the-art centre that hosts concerts, festivals, conferences and events
Community is a showcase for the use of geothermal energy
Challenges
The site originally proposed for the community centre (the site of the old Springhill Arena) was unsuitable because it was built on top of old mine workings, and a new location had to be found that was close to a good source of mine water.
Construction costs were significantly higher than originally projected, because of market factors and underestimation, and some features had to be redesigned.
Finding a well with enough water to meet the facility's needs required five exploratory drillings, and designing the system to circulate the water was complex.
Lessons learned
Consider using waste heat from the ice-making process to heat the building, maximizing the resource.
Include contingency funds in the project budget in case contractors underestimate expenses or market fluctuations affect prices and timelines.
When designing a geothermal system that uses mine water for energy, consider the building's proximity to the resource. Mine water could be pumped to the building, or heat could be extracted at the source.
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
Hydrology Study for Non-mechanical Cooling of a Proposed LEED Silver Municipal Police Building
The City of Prince George investigated the possibility of cooling its new RCMP headquarters with groundwater. This could reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and the water would be returned to the aquifer.
A pump test on an 80.8-metre deep test well suggested the aquifer could provide the flow rates and yields needed for the proposed open-loop geothermal cooling system. The water was, however, slightly warmer than would be ideal for cooling. As the water was found to be quite hard, the well would need to be refurbished every two to three years to prevent scaling and clogging.
The groundwater system would be backed up by a small conventional system.
Results
Environmental
Economic
Social
Reduces electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
Eliminates the need for harmful refrigerants used in a conventional cooling system
Halves the installation and operating costs, compared to a conventional cooling system
Provides the community with an example of a sustainable cooling system
Challenges
Initial groundwater testing showed high levels of contaminants, requiring a thorough flushing of the well.
Rainfall and capacity limitations of the municipal sanitary system, which received the purged water, made it difficult to schedule the pump test.
High levels of bacteria suggested the well would need regular maintenance to avoid clogging.
Lessons learned
Review all available information about the suitability of an aquifer for thermal energy extraction before drilling.
Avoid drilling twice by making the test well large enough to serve as the permanent well.
Despite the added cost, run the pump test long enough to thoroughly flush the well before testing for contaminants.
Greg Anderson
Civic Facilities Manager
City of Prince George, BC
T. 250-561-7615
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
To prepare for a projected 12 per cent population increase by 2035, this bedroom community 15 kilometres southeast of Winnipeg built an energy-efficient community centre featuring a large daycare facility, a 500-seat banquet hall and 6,000 square feet of rental space for medical and government services.
To reduce energy costs and attract more government funding, the municipality opted for a district geothermal heating and cooling system that serves not only the community centre but a refurbished arena and fire hall nearby. The 30,000-square-foot centre, built in anticipation of a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) silver certification, has many energy-saving features, as well as low-flow toilets and water-saving taps.
Energy costs for the new centre, arena and fire hall are expected to be about 60 per cent lower than those for ordinary buildings of similar size.
Results
Environmental
Economic
Social
Uses geothermal heating and cooling and other energy-efficient building features to achieve 60 percent energy savings
Reduces GHG emissions with geothermal heating and by reducing vehicle travel of residents seeking recreation and health services elsewhere
Rental income from daycare, banquet hall and offices offset operating costs
Roger Perron
Economic Development Officer
RM of Ritchot
T. 204-899-0035
Want to explore all GMF-funded projects? Check out the Projects Database for a complete overview of funded projects and get inspired by municipalities of all sizes, across Canada.
