BC Community Climate Funding Guide

With a $269,799 boost from the UBCM Community Works Fund, the City of Richmond is continuing its mission to replace its worn-out high-pressure sodium streetlights with more energy-efficient LEDs. By the end of this year, approximately 1,200 fixtures throughout Richmond will have been converted, reducing energy consumption by 350,000 kilowatt hours and rewarding the city with $30,000 in annual savings. 

Thanks to $500,000 from the Mass Timber Demonstration Program, the City of Kelowna is transforming its airport into a future-ready, eco-friendly facility. By using locally sourced, lightweight, prefabricated mass timber panels, the project is highlighting the potential of B.C.’s innovative low-carbon wood products, minimizing construction-related transportation costs and emissions, and supporting greener jobs – all while reaping the benefits of a quick, safe build that allows the airport to remain open while the work is underway.  

With a $500,000 boost from the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program, the City of New Westminster is creating the Agnes Greenway, a 1.2 kilometre mixed-use transportation corridor that will link Douglas College and the city’s residential neighbourhood to the Pattullo Bridge. The Agnes Greenway will mean safe walking, wheeling and biking between key locations, with a separated two-way lane for cyclists, improved sidewalks for pedestrians, and new greenspaces with stormwater infrastructure, trees and benches. A second phase of the project will extend the path to the New Westminster SkyTrain station and the city’s waterfront.

Through a combination of federal and provincial support, the City of Kamloops completed a $13.5 million project to upgrade the energy efficiency of its Canada Games Aquatic Centre. The project started with a need to replace the centre’s critical ageing infrastructure. But – thanks to provincial and federal funding – it turned into an opportunity to simultaneously improve the environmental performance of the building. Bolstered by more than $1.1 million from the provincial government through the CleanBC Communities Fund and $1.37 million from the federal government, the city was able to install a heat-recovery system that uses the heat that evaporates off the pool to warm the new air entering the building. This reduces the centre’s reliance on natural gas and lowers its greenhouse gas emissions – taking Kamloops one important step closer to meeting its climate goals.

Cortes Island cyclists and pedestrians will soon reap the benefits of the Union of BC Municipalities’ Active Transportation Planning Program. The $20,000 awarded to the Strathcona Regional District (SRD) will make it easier for islanders to leave their cars at home. The SRD plans to use the money to develop an inventory of Cortes’ walking paths, cycling routes and support facilities, such as bike parking and repair sites. They’ll also provide information on safety and road conditions to help make active transportation a worry-free option.