Subject: How Devon, Alberta, used CRIS to fill gaps and plan ahead

 

Devon, Alberta: The first municipality in Canada to be matched with free CRIS expert services

When Torrie Santucci, Environment and Sustainability Manager for the Town of Devon, learned about the free expert guidance offered through the CRIS program, he saw an opportunity to fill the gaps for his municipality.


A few weeks later, Devon was the first community in Canada to be matched with expert support through the CRIS.


The team at the Town of Devon wanted to use the CRIS to focus on decarbonization, building on their participation in the Municipal Energy Manager (MEM) program. Through the CRIS, Devon was paired with Roster Expert CIMA+, who developed a custom decarbonization options report for six key municipal facilities, from community centres to administrative buildings.


From quick wins like LED retrofits to longer-term goals like solar power integration, Devon now has a clear, actionable path towards a lower-carbon future.

Learn more and see the full report here
 

Deadline upcoming: Register for fully-funded Wildfire Resilience Support before August 31

Are you planning work on a public building this year? Bring an expert onto your project for free to develop technical options that make your infrastructure more resilient to wildfire and climate risks.


Canadian communities under 30,000 can now access up to $20,000 in expert support to increase wildfire resilience for public infrastructure. This support includes tailored advice and technical options for fire-resilient design, materials, and indoor air quality for public buildings. Public buildings that qualify include:

  • Community or Recreational Centres;

  • Libraries and Arts or Cultural Buildings;

  • Civic Centres Including Pools and Ice Rinks;

  • Community Housing;

  • Public Works and Maintenance Buildings;

  • Water Treatment Plants;

  • Fire Halls and Emergency Services Buildings, and more!

Submit your project in as little as 15 minutes through our online form: click here to register your project!

 

If you’re facing a different climate hazard, or interested in mitigation options for your infrastructure, you can still sign up for one-to-one support from an expert. Learn how to register for an expert to join your team for free below

 
Get free support through the CRIS
 

Upcoming Events: Meet us there!

A big part of our work is connecting with Canadians face-to-face to better understand the climate challenges, goals, and needs of different communities. Members of the CRIS delivery team will be attending upcoming events to meet and learn from the municipal administrators, consultants, and organizations developing public infrastructure projects from coast to coast.


Find us at:

  • Atlantic Asset Management Conference (Dartmouth, N.S., Aug. 20-22): Look for the CRIS booth at our project delivery partner Atlantic Infrastructure Management Network’s annual conference in Dartmouth this week.

  • Congrès annuel de la Fédération québécoise des municipalités (Quebec City, QC, Sept. 25-27): We’re teaming up with our partners ICLEI and HICC who deliver services alongside the CRIS as part of the overarching Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure to host a booth at the FQM Conference in Quebec City.

  • Asset Management BC Conference (Vancouver, B.C., Nov. 5-6): Catch our presentation Lessons learned from future-proofing infrastructure in BC communities at the AMBC annual conference this year!

  • CUI State of Canada’s Cities Summit (Ottawa, ON, Dec. 3-4):The third annual State of Canada’s Cities Summit will spotlight what’s working—the local innovations, frameworks, and policies that are already making a difference—and identify opportunities to scale. Meet us there!

 

Updates from the Climate Toolkit

The Climate Toolkit for Housing and Infrastructure provides a suite of services to help infrastructure owners and decision-makers develop projects that build resilience and contribute to Canada's path to net-zero emissions. The CRIS is a part of the toolkit, alongside the Help Desk and ICLEI's Climate Insight Platform. Learn more about the Help Desk:

Build Climate Resilient Communities with the Climate Help Desk


The Climate Help Desk is a dedicated service where communities can submit inquiries and receive direct support and guidance on their infrastructure and climate-related needs.


It offers a broad range of services, including:

  • information on sector best practices for incorporating low-carbon and climate resilience measures in infrastructure and housing projects;

  • advice on the use of specialized tools and resources to integrate low-carbon and climate resilience into projects; and

  • comprehensive responses to questions about climate requirements in HICC's funding programs.

Learn more: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada - Climate Help Desk

 

Plus: Follow our LinkedIn page to stay up to date on the CRIS and find more resources

 
 


Driving low carbon solutions | Building local capacity | Fostering climate readiness


climateready@canurb.org

 
Canadian Urban Institute, 30 St Patrick St #500, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3A3, Canada

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