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
City of Toronto
Mayor David Miller and Members of Toronto City Council extend appreciation to Greenland Group of Companies for your outstanding contribution to the City of Toronto’s Green Roof Technical Advisory Group. As a participant of the City of Toronto’s Green Roof Technical Advisory Board, you have contributed tremendously to its leadership role on climate change and helped support the development of the Toronto Green Roof By-law.
This initiative, the first of its kind in North America, sets the standard in designing sites and buildings across the city that are more environmentally friendly, a key strategy in reducing the effects of climate change.
We thank you for helping our city achieve its vision and goals on climate change – it is this kind of collaboration that makes us proud, prosperous and successful.
Best wishes for continued success.
David Miller
Mayor
City of Toronto
May 2010
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
The Authority’s mission is to provide leadership in the restoration and protection of the environmental health and quality of Lake Simcoe and its watershed with our community, municipal and other government partners. As a resource management agency, we rely on decision support tools such as Greenland’s CANWET model. It continues to play a key role in informing our watershed management planning decisions in relation to policy development, stewardship priorities and education and communication programs.
As always, I look forward to our continued working relationship with you and your colleagues. The Authority appreciates your hard work, and we are confident that this study will prove beneficial in our collaborative goal to improve the health of the Lake Simcoe watershed.
Michael Walters
Chief Administrative Officer
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
November 4, 2014
