Climate Action

The Home of Climate Change Data is Right Here in Our Province!

The University of Winnipeg is home to the Prairie Climate Centre, a hub dedicated to making climate change both accessible and relevant to Canadians from all walks of life. The Centre brings science to the forefront, using an evidence-based approach to communicate the causes, impacts, and risks of climate change in ways that everyone can understand.

Through interactive maps, documentary videos, research reports, and clear, plain-language resources, they strive to create awareness and spark action.

At the core of the Prairie Climate Centre's efforts is the Climate Atlas of Canada, an innovative, interactive tool designed for citizens, businesses, researchers, and policymakers alike. This resource blends climate science with mapping and storytelling to help Canadians see the global issue of climate change through a local lens. By making climate change tangible and relevant to our communities, the Atlas empowers individuals and leaders to take action—at the local, regional, and national levels—towards meaningful solutions.

A Brownfield is an “abandoned, vacant, derelict or under-utilized commercial, industrial or institutional property where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination or threat to the public health and safety and where there is active potential for redevelopment “(FCM,2009).

The City has been investigating the number of “Brownfields” in the community. A number of these sites were usually built during the community’s formative years; they often occupy prime locations in the downtown area. The city is a participant in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Leadership in Brownfield Renewal Program (LiBRE). With the aid of this peer program, the City of Brandon has developed a Brownfield Strategy and an incentive to address brownfields in our community. 

To learn more about Brownfields and how to remediate the sites into something useful click here.

City of Brandon Brownfield Strategy

On July 17th, 2017, City Council endorsed the City of Brandon Brownfield Strategy. The Strategy is a living document that is a framework to encourage remediation and redevelopment of properties considered either impacted or contaminated as defined by the provincial authority having jurisdiction. The City is committed to supporting the remediation and redevelopment of these sites through the strategy and the incentive of the municipal tax off-setting credit program (Brownfield Financial Assistance Program). The city strategy provides justification and rationale for offering incentives, and the framework and timelines of the program being offered.

City of Brandon Brownfield Strategy (309 KB)

Brownfield Financial Assistance Program By-law 7187 (506 KB)

As part of the Climate Action Plan under Big Move #1: Becoming a Carbon-Free Corporation, The City of Brandon is developing a Fleet Efficiency Strategy. This strategy focuses on reducing emissions and increasing sustainability through smarter fleet management. This includes reducing fleet size, right-sizing vehicles and transitioning to alternative energy sources for light-duty, heavy-duty and transit vehicles.

To ensure success, the City partnered with Better Fleet Consulting in early 2024 to develop a comprehensive roadmap that will help guide these efforts. The roadmap focuses on three main objectives:

• Optimizing Fleet Composition: Purchasing properly sized vehicles for specific needs to improve efficiency.
• Transitioning to Zero-Emission and Alternative Fuel Vehicles: Moving both light and heavy-duty vehicles, as well as specialized equipment, to cleaner energy sources.
• Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Achieving a 20% reduction in emissions from the fleet by streamlining operations and shifting to sustainable technologies.
  
  

The City's Current Fleet:

• Heavy Duty Vehicles: 123
• Light Duty Vehicles: 121
• Other Equipment (composters, forklifts, etc.): 56
  
  

With around 300 pieces of equipment in total, the City's fleet is a significant contributor to its overall carbon footprint. The Fossil Fuel Reduction Fleet Study will provide several key benefits for the City of Brandon:

1. Financial Savings: Reducing fuel and maintenance costs will provide significant savings for both the City and local taxpayers.
2. Environmental Impact: By identifying emissions reduction opportunities, this initiative will contribute to cleaner air and a healthier community.
3. Climate Leadership: This is a critical step in the City’s ongoing efforts to address climate change—an area that has not yet been fully explored. By leading in fleet sustainability, Brandon sets an example for the community, inspiring others to take similar action.
   
   

This isn’t just about a cleaner fleet—it’s about creating a model for other cities and citizens to follow in improving the efficiency of their transportation.

Want to see how the City’s fleet can evolve through 2040? Dive deeper into the details with the full report: Reducing Fossil Fuels in Brandon's Fleet Study (2.59 MB) Let’s drive towards a carbon-free future together!

This initiative is partially funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund.