Two projects in Cowichan have won honours for their creative approaches to dealing with climate change.
A panel of judges at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention that was recently held in Victoria chose North Cowichan as one of seven communities in the province to win Climate & Energy Action Awards for the new net-zero RCMP detachment on Drinkwater Road.
The new $48-million RCMP detachment facility was described by judges as “a collaboration showcase” for bringing together municipal, provincial and Indigenous policing services, with a dedicated space for Indigenous celebrations.
The judges added: “This 50,000 sq. ft. multi-purpose, high-performance facility is all-electric, including an air-filtration system to protect against wildfire smoke. Heat pumps and a 100-kW rooftop solar array are helping reduce energy by 77 per cent and GHG emissions by 97 per cent compared to the old building. Daylight sensors and exterior sunshades cut lighting loads by 25 per cent and reduce cooling demand by 45 per cent.”
The Climate and Energy Action awards have been presented at UBCM conventions by the Community Energy Association for more than 25 years.
The awards recognize B.C. municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous communities that are showing leadership in climate action and sustainability.
As well, the Cowichan Adapts website, which is the Cowichan Valley Regional District's climate adaptation strategy, has earned international recognition with a Gold Hermes Creative Award,
The award spotlights the CVRD’s innovative approach to helping residents prepare for the growing impacts of climate change.
The Hermes Creative Awards, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, is an international competition that honours outstanding achievements in creative communication.
With thousands of entries each year from around the world, Hermes recognizes the best in advertising, marketing, digital media, and more.
