Langley City is a winner in the 2015 Sustainable Communities Awards by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for its brownfield planning.
Nine Canadian communities won in various categories. Brownfield is industrial land and the City has been working on how to redevelop such lands, including remediation.
“Together, this year’s winning communities stand out as leading examples of how citizens, stakeholders and municipal councils can work together on a range of sustainability initiatives,†said Brad Woodside, FCM president and mayor of City of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
The nine winners and one honourable mention will be formally recognized at a special ceremony and in workshops planned for the FCM Sustainable Communities Conference Feb. 10–12, 2015, in London, Ont.
The awards are for innovation and excellence in municipal sustainable development in six categories: brownfields, energy, neighbourhood development, transportation, waste and water. This year’s winning initiatives all share a focus on partnerships and community engagement to ensure environmental, economic and social benefits.
“It’s one thing to have a vision for a sustainable project – it’s quite another to engage citizens, stakeholders and council in making it a reality,†Woodside said. “As FCM president, I have been across this country and met municipal officials and citizens from the smallest towns to the largest cities, from remote northern areas, to rural coastal villages, to bustling urban centres. These award-winning projects are inspiring for all community leaders, and they demonstrate that municipalities are on the frontlines in facing environmental challenges.â€
In addition to the 2015 ceremony, the winners will also be showcased over the coming months through case studies, videos, and as part of FCM’s free webinars. Since 2000, the awards program has provided national recognition for 140 winners.
“Through its awards program, the SCC, and Green Municipal Fund program activities, FCM offers valuable resources to help communities build local capacity to invest in sustainable infrastructure,†said Raymond Louie, chair of the Green Municipal Fund Council and acouncillor in Vancouver. “I encourage elected municipal officials and municipal staff, as well as their private-sector partners and other collaborators to come to the SCC, meet the award winners in person and learn from them directly.â€
The 2015 FCM Sustainable Communities Awards winners are:
* Indicates initiatives supported through GMF
See project summaries <http://www.fcm.ca/home/awards/fcm-sustainable-communities-awards/2015-winners.htm> online.
- Brownfields (plan): City of Langley, Brownfield Redevelopment Strategy
- Brownfields (project): Kingston, Groundwater Remediation Project, Emma Martin Park
- Energy (plan): Surrey, Community Climate Action Strategy*
- Energy (program): Halifax Regional Municipality, Solar City*
- Neighbourhood Development (plan): Borough of Saint-Laurent, Montréal, “Bois-Franc TOD†Plan
- Transportation (project): Ottawa, Laurier Avenue Segregated Bike Lane Project
- Waste (program): Whitehorse, Solid Waste Action Plan Implementation
- Waste (program): Town of Cape St. George, Nfld., Small Town Waste Reduction and Recycling
- Water: Okotoks, Alta., Water Conservation, Efficiency and Productivity Plan Programs
FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective and accountable municipal government.