GREENLAND® environmental projects use professional, multi-disciplinary teams. The cost of pre-emptive environmental planning is a small percentage of new development costs. Despite its low cost, it provides invaluable information that can save money during infrastructure design and construction stages. It can also prevent costly remediation and rehabilitation works.
Our team of experts firmly believes that to improve the quality of life, society must first protect what is already healthy. Each project is client driven and ultimately generated by the unique set of circumstances that influence the area that is being considered for development. While tools and methods may change from time to time, our commitment to the needs of our clients is a priority.
Strategic asset management for water and wastewater infrastructure must have regard for “watersheds”, as well as cumulative effects and climate change, since watersheds are exceedingly intricate and inter-dependent complexes of land, water, plants and animals.
The watershed is also now recognized as the priority unit for identifying and managing water supply and wastewater treatment systems. However, this approach to find sustainable asset solutions can place significant pressures on resource agency managers and planners to provide leadership and innovation.
Since incorporation (over 25 years ago), our corporate brand has regard for asset sustainability principles since we combine traditional engineering methods and bio-mimicry principles with 'smart' technologies. We also pioneered a responsible corporate brand with an environmental protection, conservationist ethic and climate adaptation priorities too.
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
RE: Town of Innisfil (Community of Alcona) Flood Reduction Class Environmental Assessment
On behalf of the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA), I would like to thank GREENLAND® International - Consulting Engineers for the excellent work undertaken to complete the Flood Reduction Class Environmental Assessment for the Community of Alcona. I also want to provide you our sincere appreciation for the support GREENLAND® provided both in-kind and financially which allowed the project to proceed. The approved strategy will now enable the LSRCA and Town of Innisfil to move forward with the next phase of the project so that the science-based, publicly supported solution, can be implemented to alleviate flooding impacting residents in Alcona as soon as possible.
The project goal was to develop a sustainable - engineering solution to reduce significant annual flood damages currently occurring within the Community of Alcona (Town of Innisfil) and located within the Belle Aire Creek subwatershed. The project included a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process with extensive public and other stakeholder consultations to advance a solution involving enhancing a wetland (green infrastructure) to provide flood mitigation. The project was proposed over a decade ago and was then adopted in the Town’s Master Drainage Plan as required under the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan. It is now one step closer to completion.
The project deliverables produced by GREENLAND® included an Environmental Study Report (ESR) which now provides a science-based, well-engineered, thorough and systematic understanding of the chronic flooding that has impacted the affected settlement area in the Town of Innisfil. The Environmental Study Report (by GREENLAND®) also developed a proactive flood mitigation and resiliency plan that can now be implemented by the LSRCA, Town and other stakeholders. Finally, the project work plan satisfied requirements of Ontario's Class Environmental Assessment process and with an effective/collaborative spirit of a "public-private partnership” utilizing and ecosystem approach. The timelines to complete the project were very aggressive and I was pleased that GREENLAND® was able to complete the project on-time and budget.
In conclusion, the role that GREENLAND® played to prepare the funding application for Canada’s National Disaster Mitigation Program; securing in-kind participation of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation (ICCA) at the University of Waterloo; providing in-kind Intellectual Property leveraging resources, and the financial contribution helped ensure the project was a complete success. I look forward to working with your company again on other partnerships of mutual interest and would be pleased to serve as professional references on similar projects.
Michael Walters
(Former) Chief Administrative Officer
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
November 6, 2020
Town of Collingwood
RE: Town of Collingwood ‘Smart’ Stormwater Project
I would like to thank and recognize GREENLAND® for their leadership role in the above project. Your firm identified the opportunity to work together with other private firms and public sector organizations, together with the support of the Town of Collingwood and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to address a growing Concern in communities related to lot-level flood mitigation.
GREENLAND® strategized and implemented, over almost 3 years, the “first-ever in Canada” work plan to mitigate problems of climate-change induced stormwater flooding which impacts many residential, commercial and institutional properties. The innovative project approach monitored 4 different Low Impact Development (LID) approaches for reducing lot-level flooding and their ability to redirect site drainage away from municipal sewer systems. Using innovative real-time (aka ‘Smart’) technologies, GREENLAND® was also able to generate ‘Big Data’ that provided new insights into the effectiveness of these different approaches. The GREENLAND® team’s level of commitment, thoroughness and professionalism was appreciated by the municipality. GREENLAND® maintained open lines of communication with Town staff, contractors, participating residents, and promptly responded to all questions and issues raised by the public.
We commend your firm’s efforts as a pioneer in implementing this project approach.
Sonya Skinner
Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Collingwood
June 2, 2020
Member of Parliament - Simcoe-Grey
I would like to offer my congratulations as you celebrate the occasion of your 25th Anniversary.
Your grasp of environmental and development regulations in the Canadian market, and ability to work collaboratively with private and public partnerships in the delivery of award-winning engineering and technologies supporting municipal infrastructures, water resources, asset sustainability and more is most valued.
I wish you many years of prosperity and success in Simcoe-Grey.
Terry Dowdall
Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey
November 1, 2019
