|
 |
Home > News and events > Newsletters > >
 |
 |
|
The FCM–CH2M HILL Sustainable Community Awards program celebrates innovative municipal sustainable development initiatives to promote their replication and share their successes with municipalities across the country. In 2009, the Awards program introduced a new category to recognize excellent brownfield initiatives.
Brownfields are particularly challenging for municipal governments. The source of contamination, the liability issues associated with contaminated sites, and the cost and cleanup methods vary greatly from site to site. It can be difficult to choose the best remediation method and process, and the legislative tools and financial support necessary to clean up brownfield sites may not be available to some municipal governments. Given these challenges, it is especially important to celebrate and promote excellent municipal initiatives to remediate and redevelop these sites — initiatives that have achieved significant economic, environmental and social benefits.
The FCM–CH2M HILL Sustainable Community Awards brownfield category provides national exposure for the best Canadian examples of successful projects. The 2009 winner was the City of Victoria’s Dockside Green project. Dockside Green is an internationally recognized mixed-use community built on 15 acres of brownfield land in central Victoria. The project exemplifies the wide variety of economic, environmental and social benefits that a brownfield project can create, and the importance of an integrated approach to sustainable community development. These benefits may include an increase in property values, new employment opportunities and an increase in public space, as well as a decrease in urban sprawl, crime and the need for new infrastructure. GMF is proud to have contributed funding to this innovative project. Along with the winners in the other Awards categories, the City of Victoria will be featured in the 2009 Awards video, and in a case study highlighting the project’s approach and results. The video and case studies featuring the 2009 Awards winners will be distributed across the country and posted on the GMF website.
Do you have an excellent brownfield initiative in your community?
Brownfield programs or projects from communities of all sizes are eligible for an Award, and may include an innovative brownfield policy, remediation technique or successful redevelopment project. For more information on the Awards program and eligibility criteria, please visit the FCM Green Municipal Fund website. The application form for the 2010 winners will be posted this fall. Awards inquiries can be directed to Jessica Mankowski at 613-907-6358 or jmankowski@fcm.ca.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
