Waterloo LRT and Corner Brook Acute Care Hospital win national awards

The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) today announced the winners for the prestigious 2020 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in P3s, including awards for Waterloo LRT ION (Stage 1) and the Corner Brook Acute Care Hospital.

The winning projects showcased the diversity of projects across Canada using P3s to deliver innovative infrastructure that best serves the economic and social needs of Canadians.

“In such a challenging year for so many, it is heartening to see the impact of these transformative infrastructure projects – an impact they will continue to have for decades to come – on the lives of Canadians across the country. We look forward to celebrating their innovations and accomplishments in front of a global audience at P3 2020,” said Mark Romoff, President and CEO of CCPPP.

“The awards panel was impressed by the resourcefulness displayed by the government and private sector partners in tackling these complex energy, transportation and health care projects. There is much to be gleaned from them on new or innovative ways to procure, design, finance and delivery ongoing services as part of these critical infrastructure initiatives,” said Cliff Inskip, President of Polar Star Advisory Services, Inc. and Chair of the National Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Public-Private Partnerships.

More about our winning projects:

Waterloo LRT ION Stage 1 – Service Delivery Gold Award

This 19-kilometre LRT system, which opened in 2019, has already transformed travel in one of Canada’s key high-tech startup scenes. The ION corridor in Ontario’s Kitchener-Waterloo area passes through four historic downtowns, a university campus and business parks and is fully integrated into the region’s bus network, cycling and pedestrian routes. Using the P3 model achieved estimated cost savings of 12 per cent compared with traditional procurement. The awards committee noted that after 12 months of service, the consortium continues to improve system performance and is beating contractual targets for monthly operating performance. The project is also helping limit urban sprawl and protect farmland by intensifying development in existing urban areas.

Corner Brook Acute Care Hospital – Project Development Silver Award

The project involves the development of a new 164 bed acute care regional hospital to serve the people of western Newfoundland. The project is the largest capital project ever contemplated in Newfoundland and Labrador and faces the challenge of being constructed in a lightly populated area. Using the P3 model for the project is estimated to have resulted in cost savings of $90 million compared with traditional procurement. The awards committee noted the project is using technology to find innovative design, operational and environmental solutions to help in the delivery of care, as well as in reducing long-term operational costs and the site’s carbon footprint.