Media Release: Town of Paradise recognized for 2020 FCM Sustainable Communities Award

The Town of Paradise has received an Honourable Mention for the 2020 Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Communities Awards.  The Town is being recognized in the Brownfields category for its work with the Octagon Pond Brownfield Redevelopment Project.

 

The Town is one of the 11 municipalities from across the country chosen by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for their outstanding efforts in one of nine categories: asset management, brownfields, climate change, energy, neighbourhoods, transportation, waste, water and a new category in honour of GMF’s 20th anniversary. The awards honour and celebrate the most innovative environmental initiatives in cities and communities across Canada.

 

The award recognizes the Town’s work to redevelop a former industrial site into an environmentally rehabilitated area for recreational and economic use. In doing this work, the Town wanted to remediate a brownfield area, protect the watercourses in the area, and develop the land for the benefit of residents, stakeholders and the business community. The Town achieved that with converting the area into the site of the Paradise Double Ice Complex and Paradise Park as well as making land available for business investment with Paradise Plaza (ALRE Development). 

 

To assist with the development of brownfield areas in Paradise, the Town implemented a Brownfield Development Grant Program. It is designed to promote the redevelopment of industrial areas impacted by environmental concerns by helping to cover some of the remediation costs. 

 

“The Town of Paradise is honoured to be recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for our work at brownfield redevelopment. We have been working on revitalizing a former industrial site for many years, always with a focus to transform it into a cornerstone for our Town. To be recognized nationally for that work, shows our long-term plan for the area was the right vision for our Town and for the environment.” 

 

At FCM’s virtual Sustainable Communities Conference on October 20-22, 2020 awrd recipients will deliver a live, TED-talk-style presentation on their projects at. Recipients in each category are also eligible for the Inspire Award, given to the most creative and innovative project following the conference.

 

“Local solutions—scaled up—deliver major national impact, like economic growth and the emission reductions Canada needs to meet its climate change goals. Whether it is through improved energy efficiency, fewer greenhouse gas emissions or stronger local infrastructure, local governments get the job done efficiently and cost-effectively because they connect solutions to local needs and local realities. This year's FCM Sustainable Communities Award winners embody those principles of sustainability and collaboration. Moreover, they exemplify how municipal innovation can have concrete impacts and deliver for Canadians.”

 

The Sustainable Communities Awards is an initiative of FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF), a $1 billion program, delivered through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. 

 

Additional information:

FCM’s Green Municipal Fund

FCM’s Sustainable Communities Conference

FCM’s Sustainable Community Awards

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) unites more than 2,000 local governments representing more than 90 percent of Canadians in every province and territory. 

 

Media Contacts: 

FCM Media Relations, 613-907-6395, email 

Diane Keough, Communications Manager, Town of Paradise, 709-769-4212, email