/R E P E A T -- Media Advisory - Federation of Canadian Municipalities
honours municipal and individual excellence at its 73rd Annual Conference in
Toronto/

OTTAWA, May 27 /CNW Telbec/ - The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) will recognize Canadian municipal expertise during the FCM Awards of Excellence to be presented on Saturday, May 29, and on Sunday, May 30, at its 73rd Annual Conference and Municipal Expo(TM) in Toronto, Ont.

On Saturday, May 29, the FCM Awards of Excellence in Sustainability will be presented. The FCM Sustainable Community Award winners will be announced in eight categories. Also awarded this year will be the newly launched annual Watershed Awards which will be presented by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and FCM to Canadian municipalities that have demonstrated leadership in their efforts to adapt to climate change by reducing their vulnerability to flooding and water damage. Winning entries selected from each of five regions - British Columbia, the Prairies and the North, Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Canada - as well as a national winner will be introduced by FCM President Basil Stewart and IBC President & CEO Don Forgeron.

    
    WHAT:  FCM Awards of Excellence for Sustainability (presenting the FCM
           Sustainable Community Awards and the inaugural Watershed Awards)

    WHEN:  Saturday, May 29
           5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

    WHO:   FCM President Basil Stewart, FCM Third Vice-President Karen
           Leibovici and IBC President & CEO Don Forgeron to address
           participants during the ceremony

    WHERE: Grand Ballroom East
           Sheraton Centre
           Toronto, Ont.
    

Award winners will be available following the ceremony.

On Sunday, May 30, at a special gala evening hosted by the City of Toronto, FCM President Basil Stewart, IBC Director of Research Robert Tremblay, FCM Third Vice-President Karen Leibovici, Councillor Marvin Hunt, and FCM CEO Brock Carlton will announce the 2010 winners of the FCM Awards for Outstanding International Volunteer Contribution, along with the newly created FCM Individual Award for Sustainability, the FCM Municipal Award for Sustainability, and the national Watershed Award.

Since 2001, FCM has recognized the outstanding contribution to international cooperation made by Canadian municipalities and municipal volunteers to its international programming. The individual and municipal awards for sustainability were created this year to promote and reward municipal champions, inspire municipal governments to commit to further action, and showcase and encourage the exchange of best practices among Canadian communities.

    
    WHAT:  City of Toronto Gala Dinner
           (presenting the FCM Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Contribution,
           the FCM Individual Award for Sustainability, the FCM Municipal
           Award for Sustainability and the National Watershed Award)

    WHEN:  Sunday, May 30
           6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

    WHO:   FCM President Basil Stewart, GMF Council Chair Karen Leibovici,
           FCM Standing Committee on International Relations Chair Marvin
           Hunt, IBC Director of Research Robert Tremblay, and FCM CEO Brock
           Carlton to address participants during FCM Awards of Excellence
           gala

    WHERE: Ballroom
           Allstream Centre
           Exhibition Place
           105 Princes' Blvd.
           Toronto, Ont.

    Award winners will be available following the ceremony.

    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.

                                 Backgrounder

                        2010 FCM AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE
    

This year, the FCM Awards of Excellence recognize individuals and initiatives in four areas: the FCM Sustainable Community Awards, the FCM Individual and Municipal Awards for Sustainability; the FCM International Awards; and the Watershed Awards.

FCM Sustainable Community Awards

Since 2000, best practices in sustainable community development have been celebrated each year with the FCM Sustainable Community Awards.

The Awards are open to all municipal governments and their private-sector partners. To be eligible for an award in one of eight categories, projects must have been completed within two years of the date of application, or be in the final stages of implementation, and must have achieved measurable results. Submissions are judged by an expert panel of judges selected by FCM.

The eight categories are: Brownfields, Buildings, Energy, Planning, Residential Development, Transportation, Waste, Water.

FCM's Green Municipal Fund is the primary sponsor of the Sustainable Community Awards. The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal FundÔ (GMF). The Fund is a long-term, sustainable source of grants and below-market loans for municipal governments and their partners. The Fund provides below-market loans and grants, as well as education and training services to support municipal initiatives that improve air, water and soil quality, and protect the climate.

CH2M HILL Canada is also a key sponsor. The Affordability and Choice Today (ACT) program sponsors the residential development category.

The categories

Brownfields

Projects or programs that focus on the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites.* Eligible initiatives include municipal-led programs that have succeeded in creating incentives for the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites, and brownfield projects that demonstrate leadership in soil remediation (e.g. presenting viable alternatives to "dig and dump") and redevelopment based on sustainability practices (e.g. LEED(R) or equivalent, heritage preservation, community economic development, mixed land-use/zoning, etc.).

*A brownfield site is an abandoned, vacant, derelict or underutilized commercial, industrial or institutional property where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination or threat to public health and safety and where there is an active potential for redevelopment.

Buildings

Projects or programs that focus on improving the environmental performance of new or existing buildings. These integrated initiatives address sustainable building practices in two or more areas (energy, water, waste, transportation) in relatively equal proportions. Eligible initiatives include LEED buildings or equivalents.

Energy

Projects or programs that focus on producing, conserving or distributing energy. Eligible initiatives include the production of energy from renewable sources (e.g. solar, wind, geothermal, small-scale hydro), energy-efficiency retrofits, energy conservation programs, and district energy systems.

Planning

Plans that focus on advancing the sustainable community development objectives of a municipality, community or neighbourhood. Eligible initiatives include sustainable community plans* and neighbourhood and site-level plans.(xx)

*Sustainable community plans establish a vision for sustainability, integrate sustainability issues across municipal departments and service areas, and set environmental targets for the municipal government and the community.

(xx)Neighbourhood and site-level plans use integrated design and a systems approach along with a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process in the development of a neighbourhood site design and development.

Residential Development

Projects or programs that focus on making changes to the municipal regulatory environment to improve housing affordability and housing options. Eligible initiatives include the development of or changes to municipal bylaws, building codes, development standards, renovation guidelines and approval procedures that help reduce the cost of housing or increase housing options.

Category sponsored by Affordability and Choice Today.

Transportation

Projects or programs that focus on reducing dependence on single-occupant vehicles by encouraging modal integration and accessibility within the transportation network. Eligible initiatives include those that address road design (e.g. traffic calming measures, complete streets); walking and cycling (active transportation) programs and facilities; transportation demand management (e.g. car sharing, changes to parking pricing and supply, telework, transit pass programs etc.); conversion of vehicles to more efficient or innovative technologies; intelligent transportation systems (to improve service); transit service development; system-wide projects to optimize routes and enhance service delivery.

Waste

Projects or programs that focus on reducing, diverting and managing waste. Eligible initiatives include recycling programs, composting programs, landfill gas management initiatives (e.g. capture, containment, flaring, etc.), energy production from landfill gas, and waste-to-energy projects.

Water

Projects or programs that focus on the consumption, quality, treatment and distribution of water. Eligible initiatives include those that address water management (including watershed protection), drinking water, water conservation, wastewater treatment, leachate treatment and stormwater run-off.

FCM Awards for Sustainability*

New this year, the FCM Individual Award for Sustainability and the FCM Municipal Award for Sustainability promote and reward municipal champions, inspire municipal governments to commit to further action, and showcase and encourage exchange of best practices among Canadian communities.

FCM Awards for Outstanding International Volunteer Contribution

Since 2001, FCM has recognized the outstanding contribution to international cooperation made by Canadian municipalities and municipal volunteers to its international programming.

The Awards are open to all municipalities and municipal practitioners who have participated in one or more of FCM's international programs. To be eligible for an award in one of two categories, applicants must demonstrate their leadership in FCM's international programs and contribution to improved quality of life. Submissions are judged by members of FCM's Standing Committee on International Relations.

The recipients of the institutional and individual awards must demonstrate their ability to adapt Canadian municipal expertise to an overseas context; show leadership, innovation and creativity; engage their community in international cooperation; and, contribute significantly to sustainable development goals. FCM has named its individual contribution award in honour of the late Mike Badham, the former Regina councillor and Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association president, in recognition of the leadership and dedication he brought to FCM's international programs.

Watershed Awards*

Canada's aging infrastructure systems are not able to handle the increased precipitation that is now a reality. The insurance industry is committed to helping communities adapt to climate change by advocating for better municipal infrastructure and by creating innovative programs and partnerships that advocate for the creation of more sustainable communities.

The Watershed Awards is a new annual awards program presented by the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and FCM to Canadian municipalities that have demonstrated leadership in their efforts to adapt to climate change by reducing their vulnerability to flooding and water damage. The Watershed Awards recognizes infrastructure investments and urban development policies and practices that demonstrate leadership by forward-thinking communities. It will shine a spotlight on communities that have taken the initiative to adapt to the effects of climate change to protect its citizens and, in the process, inspire other communities to follow their lead.

One winning entry was selected from each of five regions: British Columbia, the Prairies and the North, Ontario, Québec and Atlantic Canada as well as a national winner. The newly launched Watershed Awards will be part of FCM's annual Awards of Excellence, which, for the past decade, have recognized the best in municipal sustainability and in international cooperation.

* New awards program

For further information: FCM Sustainable Community Awards: Maurice Gingues, Media Relations Officer, Green Municipal Fund, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected], www.fcm.ca/gmf; FCM Awards for Outstanding International Volunteer Contribution: Elena Harder, Governance, Policy and Networks Officer, FCM International, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Tel.: [phone], E-mail: [email protected], www.fcm.ca/international; Watershed Awards: Ellen Woodger, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Tel.: [phone]; Pete Karageorgos, Insurance Bureau of Canada, Tel.: [phone] ext. 4329