Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) announced that it has received $500,000 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) to continue the implementation and ongoing performance monitoring of Canada’s first Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-compliant smart blue roof.
The project advances innovative rainwater harvesting and stormwater management solutions designed to improve climate resilience in urban communities.
“Municipalities are facing growing climate pressures,” says Terri LeRoux, CAO Credit Valley Conservation. “With support from the Government of Canada through FCM’s Green Municipal Fund, CVC is advancing innovative infrastructure that helps communities better manage stormwater, reduce emissions and builds long-term resilience.”
Installed on the flat roof at CVC’s administrative office in Mississauga, the smart blue roof uses real-time control logic to manage rainwater, reduce stormwater runoff, support evaporative cooling and lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The project, delivered in partnership with the City of Mississauga and the Peel Region Office of Climate Change, demonstrates how smart blue roof technology can be scaled across industrial, commercial and institutional (IC&I) buildings.
During the catastrophic flooding that impacted the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) in July 2024, CVC’s smart blue roof system performed exceptionally well, providing 100 per cent peak flow control and effectively eliminating rooftop runoff during the storm event.
“Peel Region is proud to partner and support the Smart Blue Roof project alongside Credit Valley Conservation and the City of Mississauga” says Christine Tu, Director of Climate Change and Energy Management, Peel Region. “Peel is pleased to see CVC receive funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund for this innovative infrastructure. The Smart Blue Roof advances the Be Prepared outcomes of Peel Region’s Climate Change Master Plan and helps build a resilient Community for Life for all residents in Peel.”
“The increasing frequency and severity of extreme rainfall events have put communities like Peel Region at risk,” says Tim Tierney, President, Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “FCM is proud to support Canada’s first CSA‑compliant smart blue roof. This project shows how communities can stay safe when facing severe storms and flooding. This practical innovation builds the climate resilience we need. It’s a clear example of solutions that keep people and neighbourhoods safe.”
In partnership with the Region of Peel Office of Climate Change and the City of Mississauga, this project aims to:
- Test what’s permitted under Ontario’s building rules, including:
- Demonstrating that it is safe to store greater volumes of rainwater on rooftops
- Allowing buildings to hold and slowly release rainwater over extended periods, up to six days instead of the current 24‑hour limit
- Streamline future permitting for smart rainwater storage and reuse systems by establishing clear, evidence-based practices
- Ensure water quality protection through a monitoring and risk management plan that meets health and safety requirements
- Verify real-time system performance using smart controls to track:
- How much water is stored and reused
- How much stormwater is diverted from the municipal system
- How much energy use and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced
The project will provide new technical and permitting pathways for rooftop rainwater storage and reuse. The findings will help municipalities, developers and permitting agencies adopt smart blue roofs as a scalable climate adaptation solution. CVC will share results through training, workshops and academic partnerships to support broader implementation nationwide.
Featured image: Credit Valley Conservation’s smart blue roof is an example of how they are advancing innovative infrastructure that helps communities better manage stormwater. (Credit Valley Conservation)
