Great Lakes Green Infrastructure Champions Program

Green Infrastructure Champions Workshops

Caledon, Ontario Workshop Recap

On Tuesday, June 25 2019, the Great Lakes Green Infrastructure Champions program hosted a knowledge transfer workshop in Caledon, Ontario that brought together municipal officials, planners, and consultants together to learn about green infrastructure and natural asset management opportunities in Ontario, and lessons learned from each other. The workshop featured talks from representatives from Green Communities Canada, Credit Valley Conservation, Toronto Regional Conservation Authority, AMOntario, Region of York, City of Richmond Hills, and the Great Lakes Commission.

View Agenda

Workshop Objectives

• Learn from local experts experienced in Green Infrastructure (Natural Asset) Asset Management Planning, Monitoring and Valuation.
• Learn how green infrastructure (GI) and natural asset management practices support stormwater risk reduction and resiliency efforts.
• Gain insight into how planning for natural assets can be integrated with asset management planning as per O.Reg. 588/17 requirements.
• Learn about the Green Infrastructure Champions Program and opportunities to receive technical assistance through mentoring network and mini-grant program.

Presentations 

• Overview of the Green Infrastructure Champions Program – Victoria Pebbles, Great Lakes Commission
• O. Reg. 588/17: Asset Management Planning for Municipal Infrastructure – Dharmen Dhaliah, Asset Management Ontario (AMONTario) & Town of Halton Hills
• Overview of Green Infrastructure and Green Infrastructure Asset Management Policy Framework in Ontario – Clara Blakelock, Green Communities Canada, and Michelle Sawka, Toronto Region Conservation Authority
• Green Infrastructure: Lessons Learned at York Region – Adam Barkovitz, Region of York
• Value of Natural Assets: Lessons Learned at City of Vaughn – Roger Young and Michael Wright, City of Vaughan
• Integrating Asset Management Principles into Green Infrastructure Management – Grace McLenaghan, City of Richmond Hill 
• Business case for Town of Gibsons’ natural assets financial planning – Michelle Molnar, David Suzuki Foundation
• Natural Asset Inventory and Service Valuation – Credit Valley Conservation
• Terrestrial Systems Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Applications – Namrata Shrestha, Toronto Region Conservation Authority
• Green Infrastructure Champions Network Grant and Mentorship Opportunity – Victoria Pebbles, Great Lakes Commission

Funding

• Great Lakes Green Infrastructure Champions Program Mini-Grant 

Resources

• Great Lakes Green Infrastructure Champions Mentoring Network Information

Photos

Victoria Pebbles, Great Lakes Commission Program Director, kicks-off the GI Champions workshop in Caledon, Ontario. Photo: Ned Willig, GLC.

Dharmen Dhaliah from AMOntario and Town of Halton Hills discusses opportunities from natural assets to support municipal asset management goals. Photo: Ned Willig, GLC

Clara Blakelock from Green Communities Canada presents on green infrastructure opportunities in Ontario. Photo: Ned Willig, GLC

Michelle Sawka from Toronto Region Conservation Authority discusses how green infrastructure and natural assets support municipal stormwater management efforts. Photo: Ned Willig, GLC

Margo Davis from the Great Lakes Commission leads a panel on methods and gaps in valuation of natural asset services. Photo: Ned Willig, GLC

For more information about this workshop, contact Ned Willig (nwillig@glc.org)