The vision for a sustainable, low-carbon community using new technologies such as District Energy began with the late Councillor Jim Tovey, who visited Sweden and returned inspired to see this kind of innovative revolution advanced in his own ward. Members of the Lakeview Village project team visited Sweden with key government officials in his honour and to understand how these new technologies could be implemented at Lakeview Village.

In 2020, Lakeview Community Partners Limited–in partnership with Business Sweden–hosted a sustainability summit to bring global leaders and change-makers together to discuss innovative city building strategies and advance smart, tech-forward solutions to support future readiness.

Lakeview Village has been host to a series of placemaking opportunities that deliver a sense of community and foreshadow the future of this new development. This includes an outdoor public art gallery showcasing the work of 19 artists through a partnership with Artscape; the Sunflower Deck, built on site as a safe outdoor place for the community to come together during a global pandemic and support the growth of local organizations and artists; and, various thoughtful, community-oriented initiatives and cultural events to reconnect people to an area that’s been neglected for two generations.

Serson Creek is undergoing a major restoration effort that will allow this underground piped water course to see daylight and connect to Lake Ontario and the future Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area. This revitalization project–spearheaded by LCPL in partnership with CVC–will re-establish a vital wildlife corridor, allow fish to access the creek for the first time in decades, and provide trails for visitors to experience nature and the waterfront.

LCPL is committed to a robust and inclusive community engagement process that is immersive, educational, and accessible to all. Upon acquiring the property in March 2018, LCPL immediately re-engaged the community, hosting four public consultation meetings, three community site tours and several informal meetings–totalling 981 guests in attendance and over 3,800 points of feedback.

Lakeview Village will transform 177 acres of industrial lands into a sustainable mixed-use community on the waterfront. The beginning of LCPL's brownfield to greenfield journey began with site decommissioning activities following the demolition of the coal burning plant that previously occupied the site. This included soil optimization activities, the recycling of over 5,000 tonnes of metal and rebar, and over 250,000 tonnes of concrete extracted and hauled to the 64-acre Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area to help fill and construct its breakwater and foundation.

Lakeview Village is committed to building a future-ready, sustainable community. Over one million sunflowers have been plated at the Lakeview Village site for three consecutive summers in 2019, 2020, and 2021 to continue remediation efforts through the process of phytoremediation. This sustainability initiative allows for soil optimization, supports native species and nature conservancy, and builds strong connections with our environment, while creating an outdoor place for community enjoyment.

The vision for a sustainable, low-carbon community using new technologies such as District Energy began with the late Councillor Jim Tovey, who visited Sweden and returned inspired to see this kind of innovative revolution advanced in his own ward. Members of the Lakeview Village project team visited Sweden with key government officials in his honour and to understand how these new technologies could be implemented at Lakeview Village.