Caledon marks four milestone achievements in service excellence and community development

CALEDON, ON (September 24, 2024) – The Town of Caledon is pleased to have earned four recent milestone accomplishments recognized by Council on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. Each milestone highlights Caledon’s continuous improvement to service delivery and commitment towards the best of rural and urban life for everyone. 

Caledon’s Humber River Centre receives International Excellence in Economic Development 
The Humber River Centre (HRC) Project was selected by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) as a Bronze Winner of the 2024 Excellence in Economic Development Awards. Awarded under the Real Estate Development and Reuse category, the HRC was recognized as a catalyst for job creation and economic growth. 

Caledon’s Humber River Centre is a state-of-the-art community and business hub in the heart of Downtown Bolton. The facility is the Town’s most energy efficient building, receiving significant funding support from the Government of Canada. Since opening in February 2024, the HRC has hosted more than 50 in-person and virtual events, vendor markets, workshops and job fairs, and is home to a growing community of entrepreneurs. Programming delivered at the HRC is led by the Town of Caledon in partnership with community groups like the Caledon Chamber of Commerce and Jobs Caledon. 

To learn more about the Humber River Centre, visit caledonbusiness.ca/HRC. 

Caledon awarded platinum-level data certification for third year in a row 
Caledon has received its third platinum certification from the World Council on City Data (WCCD) for the implementation of ISO 37120 standards (Indicators for Sustainable Cities), a data collection protocol that helps cities monitor, collect and measure data related to city services and quality of life. In Caledon, ISO 37120 data is used to evaluate progress towards outcomes noted in the 2023-2035 Strategic Plan. 

With this highest level of certification, Caledon once again joins a select group of cities across 35 countries who are collecting and sharing standardized data to support evidence-based decision making for community building across the globe. 

The WCCD was founded in 2014 and helps communities worldwide embrace standardized, independently verified and globally comparable city data to become more sustainable, resilient, prosperous, inclusive and smart. To learn more, visit the WCCD website. 

Town of Caledon’s Green Development Standards awarded by the Ontario Parks Association
On September 13, the Energy and Environment team received the Ontario Parks Association’s (OPA) Protecting Tomorrow Today Award for community education and engagement related to the Town’s new Green Development Standards (GDS). 

This award recognizes the Town's unique approach to improving green space in new developments. Caledon's Green Factor Tool sets a minimum target for green infrastructure on every site, which development applications can meet through a weighted menu of features including trees, native landscaping, green roofs, bio-swales and food gardens. Initially piloted in cities in Europe and the US, the Green Factor approach helps improve the quantity and quality of green space in new development while allowing flexibility for builders on how they achieve green targets. Caledon is the first municipality in Ontario to implement this approach through its new Green Development Standards program. This program was developed with the community and various stakeholders, through a comprehensive public engagement campaign.  

More information is available at caledon.ca/gds. 

Caledon recognized in Ontario Building Code’s Climatic Design Data Table 
After almost 50 years of Building Codes in Ontario, Caledon has been recognized in the Ontario Building Code’s Climatic Design Data Table. The Climatic Data Table offers design parameters for over 230 cities and towns selected by the province and stems from weather observations gathered by provincially approved agencies. Historically an unlisted area, Caledon had traditionally drawn its data from other nearby municipalities, resulting in uncertainty and additional work during the design process for buildings.  

Caledon’s inclusion in the Ontario Building Code will simplify design criteria for both staff and municipal partners. Starting in 2025, all users will no longer have to navigate between various climatic data points and have access to more reliable data. 

For more information, please visit Ontario’s Building Code | ontario.ca. 

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