March 5 marked significant investments in helping the Town of Whitby to achieve its sustainability goals, including being net zero by 2045.
Early yesterday morning, Mayor Elizabeth Roy and members of Whitby Town Council gathered at the site of the future Whitby Sports Complex, where MP Ryan Turnbull awarded the town $25 million from the Federal Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program to support the construction of the new recreational facility.
This funding builds on the town’s $130 million investment earmarked for the complex to make it one of Canada’s first multipurpose recreation facilities to be certified as a LEED Gold and a Zero Carbon Building through the Canada Green Building Council, said a town statement.
It also said that the town was selected to receive $350,000 in funding as part of Round 4 of the Federal Natural Resources Canada Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program. A total of $200,000 of this funding is designated for the Whitby Sports Complex. Currently, there are 19 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at town facilities. This funding will enable the town to set up additional EV chargers, including 20 at the future Whitby Sports Complex.
Together, these investments will help ensure a greener Whitby Sports Complex and community for future generations, the statement added.
Quick Facts
- The Whitby Sports Complex is being built west of Baldwin Street South, south of the intersection of Highway 407.
- A number of environmental sustainability initiatives incorporated into the facility’s design will make it the first Zero Carbon building and LEED Gold facility in Canada to include a twin pad arena, gymnasium, and aquatics facility.
- The facility will also be built to accommodate visitors of all abilities, featuring a fully accessible ramp from the ground floor to the second floor and centrally located barrier-free spectator seating in the aquatics and arena areas.
- To date, the EV charging stations in Whitby have helped avoid 31,034 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions, which is equivalent to planting 796 trees and letting them grow for 10 years.
- During recent engagement on the new Community Strategic Plan, residents shared that green spaces, parks, sports facilities and fields are top attributes that make Whitby unique. Constructing the new Whitby Sports Complex is action item 2.3.2 under Pillar 2 (Whitby’s Natural and Built Environment) in the Community Strategic Plan. Residents also shared that environmental leadership in sustainability and addressing climate change was a top priority (objective 2.1 under Pillar 2 of the Community Strategic Plan), including promoting the use of EV chargers (action item 2.1.6).
You May Also Want To Read
Police zero in on two adults’ plans to sexually exploit a child