Thursday, September 25, 2025
A flood protection project in Kelowna has won international recognition for its innovative approach to climate resilience and infrastructure protection.
CIMA+, one of Canada’s largest private consulting engineering firms, received the top prize in the Small to Medium Project category at the 2025 Global Infrastructure Awards, hosted by the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) in Cape Town, South Africa.
The award recognizes the Mill Creek Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Project, designed and delivered by CIMA+ on behalf of the City of Kelowna. The upgrades were developed in response to increasingly severe flood events linked to climate change and urban growth.
The work included upgrading a diversion structure to redirect excess water from Mill Creek to Mission Creek, and constructing a dam and dike system. The project also restored fish passage and improved in-stream habitat, pairing flood protection with ecosystem benefits.
According to the City of Kelowna, the initiative reduced flood risk for more than 1,650 properties and protected critical roads, utilities, and emergency access routes within a 3.4-square-kilometre urban zone. Officials say this has helped lower the potential for costly flood damage and service disruptions.
CIMA+ highlighted the role of Indigenous and local businesses in the project, with more than 10 firms involved throughout planning and construction.
“This international recognition is a powerful testament to the talent and teamwork of our people,” said Denis Thivierge, president and CEO of CIMA+, in a statement. “It also reflects CIMA+’s commitment to creating resilient infrastructure and contributing to a more sustainable world.”
Ali Malekian, senior project manager at CIMA+, said the project showed the “strength of partnerships and the power of engineering to address both climate challenges and community needs.”
CIMA+ employs more than 3,500 people across Canada and ranks among the country’s largest private consulting engineering firms.
