The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) announced the winners of the Sustainable Communities Awards at its Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show in Charlottetown, P.E.I.

The awards recognize innovation in municipal development in six categories — brownfields, energy, neighbourhood development, transportation, waste and water.

“The winning projects and communities, as well as the runners up, have several things in common, not the least of which is a bold vision,” says Raymond Louie, chair of the Green Municipal Fund Council, and councillor for the City of Vancouver. “Add to that effective partnerships and community engagement, as well as measurable targets.”

Three of the wining projects received support from FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, endowed by the Government of Canada to provide funding and knowledge to municipal governments for environmental projects.

The winners are:

• Brownfields: Main Street Smithers: Brownfields to Public Square, Smithers, B.C.
• Energy: City of Guelph Community Energy Initiative, Guelph, Ont.
• Neighbourhood development plan: Iqaluit Sustainable Community Plan, Iqaluit, Nunavut
• Neighbourhood development project: Corktown Common, Toronto, Ont.
• Transportation: Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Implementation Program, Vancouver, B.C.
• Waste: The Rethink Waste Collection Program, Surrey, B.C.
• Water: Elm Drive Right-of-Way Retrofit, Mississauga, Ont.