It was a special celebration last night at the 25th Anniversary of the Brownie Awards, as a sold-out crowd of 300 environment industry colleagues came together at the Delta Marriott in the heart of downtown Toronto.
The Brownie Awards are presented in proud partnership with the Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) and Actual Media Inc., parent company of Environment Journal. This year, in honour of the silver anniversary, the award categories were updated and a special edition 25th anniversary award was presented. Nominations were received from across the country from a variety of remarkable projects, large and small, urban and northern. But there’s one thing that all brownfield projects have in common. They all require a great amount of perseverance to overcome roadblocks, risks and financial challenges. However, the benefits of successful brownfield projects have been proven to be worth it — including the revitalization of communities, environmental and health improvements, and new revenue streams for municipalities.
There were many familiar friends and colleagues as well as several new guests in attendance — a combination of brownfield champions, visionaries, practitioners, and professionals working to cleanup and revitalize communities across Canada. Attendees enjoyed an informative and inspiring overview of innovative projects and insights into how to achieve successful brownfield projects.
Master of Ceremonies Todd Latham, president of Actual Media Inc, kicked the evening off with a welcome to the best and brightest in brownfields redevelopment, and set the stage for a special awards ceremony.
Master of Ceremonies Todd Latham, president of Actual Media Inc.
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie is well received by approximately 300 guests.
In his signature comedic style, Latham began by reminiscing on the Top10 brownfield jokes of the last 25 years. “Old is new and you probably can’t remember them anyway, so I’m telling some of them again…The first joke of Brownie Awards was inviting me to be the MC in 2000. Bob Onyschuk and Glenn Miller at the Canadian Urban Institute thought I was buddies with the Minister of Environment, Dan Newman, so they put me on stage to introduce him. The rest is history.”
Here are a couple of jokes:
What are a brownfield’s favourite types of music?
Heavy Metal and Grunge.
How many Environmental Consultants does it take to change a light bulb?
Four! One to change it and three to write the environmental impact assessment and bulb disposal plan.
Latham also expressed deep gratitude for the dedicated Brownie Awards Jury, a group of passionate professionals and leaders involved in brownfield redevelopment, led by Brownie Awards Jury Chair, Chris De Sousa, a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Krista Barfoot and Meggen Janes of the Canadian Brownfields Network (CBN) provided an update on CBN activities and new initiatives for 2025, including brownfield legacy tours, specialized programming for municipalities, educational classes, industry webinars and more. The annual conference will be held on June 17, 2025.
Congratulatory remarks from Deputy Mayor of Toronto
“It is my pleasure to join you at the 25th anniversary of the Brownie Awards this evening. I’m so thrilled that we’re celebrating the excellent work being done to remediate and redevelop brownfield sites across Toronto and across the country,” said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, City Councillor for Scarborough-Rouge Park and Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, who was previously employed as a professional geoscientist.
“I worked in environmental remediation of oil and gas. I can tell you that while I don’t use scientific natural isotope fractionation or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy anymore, I do still work with a whole lot of toxicity,” mused McKelvie.
She shared her concerns on the urgent need for affordable housing. “We will be welcoming 700,000 new residents by 2051 here in the City of Toronto,” said McKelvie. “So brownfields will help solve the city’s land use needs for housing and the important infrastructure of tomorrow. Rethinking how our land can be used in new and innovative ways is the key to getting more housing built here and in any city.”
Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie, City Councillor for Scarborough-Rouge Park and Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee, provides congratulatory remarks.
McKelvie emphasized the need to build new and complete communities that have jobs, homes, transit, parks, retail – and the need to be net zero and sustainable in the face of our changing climate. “Everyone in this room knows the critical role brownfields play in urban redevelopment and the benefits they provide,” said McKelvie. “Remediation and redevelopment can significantly increase property values and attract much need investment, which can in turn boost tax revenues and create jobs.”
“I want to thank each and every one of you for being critical partners on these very important challenges,” said McKelvie. “And I look forward to learning more about the winners this evening and learning more about how we can continue to all work together for a sustainable future for our city and our country.”
Keynote on cultivating Rhythms of Change
President and CEO of The Daniels Corporation, Mitchell Cohen, shared some poignant stories and provided a compelling talk on the importance of innovative and inclusive city building.
A recognized industry leader, he provided interesting insights on how to enable elevated community developments, affordable housing, and have positive social impact. A songwriter and developer, Cohen bridges the intersection of brownfield redevelopment and the arts, and he brought this unique perspective to his keynote.
“Real estate development must deliver positive outcomes for all stakeholders, not just the developer,” is the premise of the corporation’s philosophy, said Cohen, whose background in the non-profit housing sector shaped the trajectory of The Daniels Corporation, which has grown from three people in 1984 to 300 people today.
President and CEO of The Daniels Corporation, Mitchell Cohen, delivered a compelling keynote presentation on innovative and inclusive city building.
Cohen shared lessons learned about brownfield redevelopment projects over the years, including the Goodyear tire plant project. “We learned the importance of communicating openly and honestly with local stakeholders, among every aspect of decommissioning and demolition.” The project team addressed concerns about air quality and mitigating dust issues, handing out hundreds of car wash vouchers. They also reused materials such as concrete and brick.
He also pointed out how the entire waterfront along Queen’s Quay is built on fill, so it’s a challenging foundation to build on. Despite surprises that cost millions, they “got it done” and created the city of the arts community across the street from Sugar Beach, including office condominiums, residential buildings, and other institutional partners such as George Brown College and OCAD University.
“Today, our city of the arts community is a clear demonstration of what can be achieved at the intersection of business and the arts,” said Cohen. “It took years of pushing and negotiation with the city, but we were ultimately able to access brownfield remediation incentives – hugely important building blocks to successful development on contaminated sites. There is no doubt, however, that the city needs to make access to these programs much easier to navigate.”
Cohen has new book, entitled “Rhythms of Change: Reflections on the Regent Park Revitalization,” which provides expert insights on what can be possible when the private and public sector come together to solve brownfield challenges. The Regent Park revitalization is now the gold standard for reimagining and transforming stigmatized neighbourhoods. Cohen’s firsthand account unveils key elements underlying an extraordinary metamorphosis into a healthy, resilient, and inclusive community.
Cohen shared an exclusive first excerpt of the book, including the following:
“One brick at a time, building by building, block by block, beautiful and messy, important and imperfect and the subject of great debate, is revitalization a genuine attempt at redevelopment that respects the history and people of a community or is it simply gentrification in disguise? Although I am telling this story from my experience and perspective, it is above all, a story of remarkable people who realize the need for change and then, through that will and determination, shaped what that change would be. It is also our story, the story of our company diving deeply into the unknown, connecting and collaborating with local residents, and our public sector partner, hand in hand with an ensemble of players from beyond the community, each bringing the best of their love to the composition.”
In conclusion, Cohen left the crowd with a simple statement: “Greenfield development is abundantly easier and much more predictable than brownfield reclamation. That is precisely why the Brownies are so important, celebrating all of you; the change-makers and the innovators who are committed to creating solutions that will unlock untold value for all of us.”
2024 Brownie Award winners
REPROGRAM: Legislation, Policy and Program Initiatives
Qualified Persons Community of Ontario – Ontario
This is a new model for working through delays and improvements for the delivery of Records of Site Condition in Ontario, as well as Excess Soil Implementation Programs. They have over 150 members and the support/cooperation of the Brownfield and Excess Soil staff at the MECP.
Project Team: QPCO Leadership Volunteers, ONEIA Board of Directors and Operations Staff, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Environmental Permissions (Brownfields), Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, Professional Engineers Ontario, and Professional Geoscientists Ontario.
REMEDIATE: Sustainable Remediation
Vivenda Remediation and Development Project Made Possible using a Novel Approach – Montréal, Quebec
In Quebec, in-situ treatment can take time, and administrative procedures can be even longer if a notice of technical impracticability must be filed. This tends to preclude brownfield development projects in particular because of the difficulty of securing financing.
ALTRA | SANEXEN included in the remedial plan a decision-making flowchart to guide attaining the technological threshold for in-situ treatment.
The MELCCFP approved the remediation plan as part of a voluntary remedial program with retention of contamination on-site, including excavation, in-situ treatment and risk assessment with mitigation measures.
This approach with the MELCCFP allowed the construction of a condominium building simultaneously with the remediation work.
Project Team: Vivenda, Sanexen Environmental Services Inc., Ministère de l’Environnement, and de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs.
REMEDIATE: Technological Innovation
Anaerobic Bioremediation Facilitates Site Redevelopment – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
All soil and groundwater were remediated through anaerobic bioremediation below ground surface on the Site itself. Offsite disposal was entirely avoided. A customized mix of solid and liquid amendments containing micro and macronutrients was mixed into the contaminated soils with an excavator as fine-grained soils made injection methods impractical. Overall remediation costs were approximately 90% less when compared to excavate and remove estimates. Remediation was completed within 2 years and construction of a new fast food outlet is underway. The site will be a source of local employment and increased tax revenue for the city since redevelopment.
Project Team: R Squared Environmental Inc., Aggressive Outdoor Services Inc., Saskatoon Cooperative Association Ltd., Northstar Innovative Developments Inc., and City of Saskatoon.
RESTRATEGIZE: Partnerships and Community Engagement
Sp’akw’us Feather Park – Squamish, British Columbia
A joint project led by Matthews West and the District of Squamish, funding was provided in part by provincial brownfields funding and GMF grants. The Park was designed to promote the cultural restoration of the area with significant input, support, and knowledge sharing from the Squamish First Nation. The use of the land in this regard required outside the box thinking to remediate associated exposures. The order to remediate was implemented twenty-five years ago and ongoing management has seen significant reductions in impacts.
Project Team: Matthews West, Stantec, District of Squamish, and Squamish Nation.
REBUILD: Project Development at the Building Scale
Wonder Condos – Toronto, Ontario
Building on an urban brown-field site, Wonder Condominium intensifies the city’s density, while sustaining the historic streetscape and a neighbourhood landmark. Careful consideration was required to connect the old and new structure while offering opportunities to provide planted, wider public sidewalks and connectivity to the surrounding area with a green courtyard space off the mid-block public laneway. What was once a moderately contaminated industrial site, is now a complex of homes in a re-adapted heritage building flooded with natural light, supplied with ample bicycle parking facilities and new retail frontage to bring needed animation to an otherwise under-utilized arterial street.
Project Team: Diamond Schmitt, GBCA, Greywood, Alterra, and Entuitive.
RENEW: Project Development at the Neighbourhood Scale
Canals Development – Welland, Ontario
This project transforms two historic Brownfield properties with extensive contamination into a vibrant residential community, with several parks and trails along the Welland Canal. The Developer has conducted many public outreach sessions to facilitate the integration of community feedback into the master plan and has worked extensively with the City to align the community features, including a state-of-the-art sports facility and many parks/trails, to the City’s vision. The development also looked to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reusing soil between the two properties and reducing the amount that needs to be landfilled or moved off-site.
Project Team: Empire Communities, Armstrong Planning, EXP Services Inc., YORK1, and MBTW.
REFOCUS: Vision of Alternative Benefits to Brownfields Remediation
Radiance Co-Housing – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
This is a great small project that took a decades-old vacant land, made sustainable, ecological housing and reinvested in a diverse community. This project is a leader in terms of solar, landscaping, and passive housing in harsh climates. Additionally, it ushers a radical approach to living, in your own private condo, yet shared yard with a strong community bond.
Project Team: Radiance Cohousing Development Company, BLDG Studio, and Renew Development Cooperative.
BEST SMALL PROJECT
Alberta Environment & Protected Areas Guide to Excluding the Domestic Use Aquifer based on Municipal Bylaws (Guide, 2022) – Calgary, Alberta
This outcome has resulted in the removal of a significant barrier to brownfield (contaminated site) remediation in the province of Alberta. The barrier was the lack of a mechanism to eliminate the non-operable DUA pathway at sites located in urban areas with a bylaw preventing the use of groundwater wells for potable use. The model of excellence is the subsequent process established by the City of Calgary that enables proponents to make applications under the AEPA Guide. Other AB municipalities can look to Calgary’s example to set up their own programs.
Project Team: City of Calgary, AB Environment and Protected Areas (AEPA), City of Edmonton, Alberta Municipalities Association, and Canadian Fuels Association.
BEST LARGE PROJECT
Union Carbide Property Regeneration – Welland, Ontario
This project aimed to restore a >300-acre site located in a town hit hard by economic layoffs and overseas outsourcing in the 1990s. The “waste” produced by >7700 skilled employees created a unique opportunity for new local jobs and investment, triggering new business and growth opportunities throughout the region and Ontario. The work has required the navigation of multiple evolving Ontario regulations to facilitate resource recovery, reuse of excess soil, and housing development, and includes components aligning to sustainable transportation and resource use, a circular economy, and affordable housing.
Project Team: King and Benton Redevelopment Corporation
BEST OVERALL PROJECT
Richmond Industrial Centre Development – Richmond, British Columbia
In 2009, Montrose Properties recognized the crucial need for industrial space and developed a vision for the Richmond Industrial Centre – a business park to be located on the site of a construction waste landfill. We took a long-term perspective and invested the time and resources to overcome the challenges of redeveloping the site while continuing to operate the landfill. The first building was constructed more than 10 years later, in 2020, with full build-out expected in 10 to 15 years. This long-term project shows our commitment to investing in much-needed industrial space to generate jobs and contribute to the region’s economic growth.
Project Team: Montrose Properties, PGL Environmental Consultants, BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Omicron, and City of Richmond.
25th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION: Outstanding Achievement in Brownfield Advancement
Federal Contaminated Sites Remediation Projects in Nunavut – Several sites across Nunavut
We believe these projects are good examples of long-term dedication to brownfield remediation, and development. QC has successfully overcome the challenges that come with working in remote sites with harsh weather conditions with limited resources. The results were very positive as the traditional hunting grounds could be used again by Inuit communities.
Project Team: Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, Qikiqtani Logistics Inc., Sanexen Environmental Services, Defence Construction Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
For additional details and a look at the Brownie Awards Finalists, click here.
Brownfielder of the Year: Judy Lam
As a long-standing champion of economic development through community revitalization, Judy Lam has advocated for and prioritized the remediation and redevelopment of brownfields as a key pillar of supporting Hamilton’s economic growth. She has been an administrator of the city’s Environmental Remediation and Site Enhancement (ERASE) financial incentive programs, directly helping property owners and developers navigate the financial and municipal hurdles to development and successfully supporting the remediation and redevelopment of numerous brownfield sites. Beyond Lam’s direct engagement in the advancement of brownfields programs and redevelopment with the city, she serves as a mentor and role model to other professionals in the brownfields arena, transferring her knowledge and sharing lessons learned through speaking engagements at various conferences, and has been a long-time supporter of the CBN.
The winner of the prestigious Brownfielder of the Year award is Judy Lam, Manager of Commercial Districts and Small Business for City of Hamilton.
“I am so honoured. This is definitely a highlight of my career,” said Lam, who first heard about brownfields 40 years ago when she was working with the government tin lending, “when ‘brownfields’ was a scary word and banks tried to stay away because of liability.”
“The work that you do is so important to environmental sustainability, land is a scarce resource and we should take advantage of what we have and build affordable housing,” emphasized Lam, who thanked her colleagues at city council, her family, the CBN and her hundreds of peers in the room. The BOTY tradition is to add a knickknack to the hat and Lam shared that she would add a hammer to the hat, to represent the City of Hamilton.
In honour of the anniversary celebration, present and past Brownfielders of the Year were invited to participate in a special video.
To view the Brownfielders of the Year Video, click here.
To view the Brownie Awards Ceremony Video, click here.
To view the Brownie Awards Image Gallery, click here.
Members of the Actual Media team, from left to right, back row: Nick Krukowski, Corinne Lynds, Sarah Wensley, Catherine Luzena, Connie Vitello, and Vanessa Watson. Front row: Min Do and Todd Latham.
Save the date! Next year’s Brownie Awards will be held on November 20, 2025.
For further information on the Brownie Awards and sponsorship opportunities, click here.
