The Canadian town of Halton Hills, outside of Toronto, is continuing to develop its resilience by leveraging its natural assets and has received new funding from Canada’s central government.
Halton Hills is one of 80 municipalities across Canada to share in C$7.1 million in funding from the Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities through the Local Leadership for Climate Adaptation Initiative.
With help of a new C$105,000 grant announced in February, Halton Hills has received a further boost to its Green Infrastructure Asset Management Plan (GIAMP), a long-term initiative to give trees, parks and natural areas the same strategic attention as traditional infrastructure.
The plan will formally integrate the town’s ‘green assets,’ including forests, meadows, wetlands, street trees, lawns and garden beds, into its asset management system. It addresses the lifecycle, condition and maintenance of natural areas to ensure they continue to provide essential services.
Michelle Bourdeau, Manager of Environment and Climate for Halton Hills, said protecting and enhancing these ecosystem services is central to the town’s sustainability goals.
“Green assets are an immense source of pride for the community,” Bourdeau said. “The trails and forests along the escarpment and waterways flowing through town offer many benefits beyond their recreational uses.”
Bourdeau said that the GIAMP would help the town better understand the condition of its green assets and how to manage them effectively, so they remain long-lasting and meet the community’s needs.
The plan also supports the town’s ongoing commitment to preserve and enhance natural spaces such as Fairy Lake, a popular boating and walking destination and Hungry Hollow, an area known for its marshes, ponds and boardwalks.
The community has been extensively consulted on the plan through a ‘Let’s Talk Halton Hills’ project which began in April 2025 to help shape the management of the assets.
The initiative is also part of broader sustainability goals, with the 2024 Non-Core Infrastructure Asset Management Plan serving as a foundation for managing the green assets.
Following a public survey earlier this year, town staff and consultants have drafted levels of service for its green infrastructure, using feedback from both residents and a council workshop.
Michelle Bourdeau said a risk assessment, state of the infrastructure report and financial strategy were now in development.
“The GIAMP will identify desired levels of service that may require changes in operations such as park maintenance and tree planting,” she said.
“The financial strategy work will ensure that any recommended targets or changes will be feasible from a financial standpoint.”
