NEWS RELEASE
Government of Canada and FCM support
Iqaluit’s energy-efficient Aquatic Centre
July 31, 2015, Iqaluit, NU – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment,
Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic
Council, on behalf of the Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, and
Raymond Louie (TBC), President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Acting
Mayor of the City of Vancouver, BC, today announced a Green Municipal FundTM (GMF) loan of
$7.5 million and grant of $750,000 for the City of Iqaluit. The city is putting the $8.25 million in
funding toward the construction of an energy-efficient aquatic and recreational centre to meet the
needs of a community with one of Canada’s fastest-growing populations of young people.
“This new, multi-use and energy-efficient aquatic centre is great example of our Government’s
commitment to building strong and sustainable northern communities,” said Minister Aglukkaq.
“The multi-use aquatic centre will be a place where our children can be healthy and active while
developing life skills that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”
“The Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the
sustainable community development needs of municipal governments,” said Mr. Louie. “The
financing and knowledge provided by the fund supports the development of communities – in
every part of Canada – that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. I’m
especially proud that the GMF is helping build a facility that will be so important to all residents of
Iqaluit – but especially the young. ”
A well-designed building envelope, energy-efficient equipment, and a connection to Iqaluit’s
waste-heat based district energy system will combine to minimize the 3,500 square metre Aquatic
Centre’s energy footprint. The energy-efficient design will help reduce future environmental and
economic costs.
The Aquatic Centre project will also reduce its environmental impact by re-using and recycling
materials and remediating contaminated land for the project.
The new facility will be supported by an innovative foundation that allows air to circulate beneath
the building and reduce its impact on the permafrost.
The Aquatic Centre’s energy-efficient design and environmentally responsible construction
methods will have an environmentally and socially positive impact for the City of Iqaluit.
“Funding from FCM’s Green Municipal Fund was critically important in helping the City of Iqaluit
move forward with building a multi-use Aquatic Centre to meet the needs of the residents, said
Mayor Mary Wilman. “We are making great strides in developing important community
infrastructure that is energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to
establish the Green Municipal fund. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and
private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.
FCM has been the national voice of municipal governments since 1901. It fosters the development of sustainable
communities to improve quality of life by promoting strong, effective, and accountable municipal government.
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For information:
City of Iqaluit
Eva Michael
Communications Officer
City of Iqaluit
Tel.: 867-975-8512
E-mail: e.michael@city.iqaluit.nu.ca
www.city.iqaluit.nu.ca
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Maurice Gingues
Media Relations Advisor
Green Municipal Fund
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Tel.: 613-907-6399
Fax: 613-244-1515
mgingues@fcm.ca
www.fcm.ca/gmf
Natural Resources Canada
Alexandra Lemieux
Communications Officer
Office of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources
Tel.: 613-996-2007