York Region honoured with Moraine For Life award

The Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation has honoured York Region with its Moraine For Life award, recognizing the Region's proactive approaches when working within the sensitive ecological environment of the moraine and its efforts to ensure strong, more effective stakeholder relationships.

"Having our Region's work applauded is always an honour," said Regional Chair Bill Fisch. "To be recognized by the Oak Ridges Moraine Foundation for our environmental efforts is truly outstanding. All of our infrastructure projects strive to ensure that environmental well-being remains front and centre. This award demonstrates that our consistent efforts are both respected and valued. The true winner, of course, is the environment and the Oak Ridges Moraine."

The Region was presented with the Proactive Approaches award, which recognized its innovative and proactive approaches in the field of infrastructure expansion and upgrades to the York-Durham Sewage System (YDSS) Interceptor trunk sewer. The nomination paper for the award underscored York's ongoing commitment to environmental protection on construction projects, noting in particular the Region's: + Introduction of a public and stakeholder "constructive engagement" process. + Use of environmentallysound technologies, such as earth pressure balance tunnel boring machines and sealed shaft methods, which virtually eliminates the need to de-water. + Mandatory training for construction site and supervisory staff to ensure environmental compliance.

"I am very proud of the work accomplished by our YDSS project teams," said Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Wayne Emmerson, chair of transportation and works committee of Regional council. "We are moving forward with greatly needed infrastructure while, at the same time, improving upon our environment. This award validates our efforts."

York's environmental commitment to the YDSS interceptor trunk sewer ensures that all work undertaken exceeds environmental regulations and standards, and that all stakeholders are kept engaged through ongoing consultation, according to the Region.