The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) has announced the recipients of the 2016 Sustainable Communities Awards, showcasing the very best in local environmental practices. Canada’s municipalities are recognized as consistent drivers of innovation, delivering local actions that lead to national results. Primary among them is reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Municipalities were recognized for delivering innovative solutions in the following categories: brownfields, energy, neighbourhood development, transportation, waste and water. The outcomes of municipal sustainability initiatives include more integrated community planning, and economic, social and environmental benefits.

This year, award-winning projects include a ground-breaking financing approach for energy-efficient retrofits for private and residential buildings; a seamless active transportation corridor; a plan to boost local clean technology and sustainable energy sectors; a facility to turn organic waste into gas and generate revenue; and an odour-free facility to turn wastewater into high-quality reclaimed water and class-A compost.

“The 2016 recipients illustrate how municipalities can provide leadership on environmental protection and climate change in their respective communities,” said Raymond Louie, President of FCM. “The benefits of such innovative approaches accrue to neighboring communities and contribute to making Canada more sustainable.”

The 2016 FCM Sustainable Communities Awards winners include:

Water (Project)
District of Sechelt, BC
Sechelt Water Resource Centre project

Neighbourhood Development (Project)
Village of Marwayne, AB
Centre Street Revitalization: From the Bottom Up! project

Transportation (Project)
City of Vancouver, BC
Seaside Greenway Completion, South End Burrard Bridge and York Bikeway project

Brownfields (Plan)
City of Edmonton, AB
Brownfields Redevelopment Grant program

For full list of winners, go to: fcm.ca