Pearson Eco-Business Zone District Energy System Feasibility Study

As part of the broader Partners in Project Green strategy, Chris led the development of a district energy feasibility study focused on unlocking new low-carbon infrastructure opportunities around Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The study explored the business case for a centralized district energy system—evaluating both the potential to leverage the Greater Toronto Airports Authority’s (GTAA) existing co-generation facility and the feasibility of establishing a new, dedicated energy system to serve surrounding employers.

Through consultation with local landowners and major businesses, the project assessed technical configurations, governance models, and investment pathways to support a scalable, energy-efficient solution for the airport employment zone.

To view the feasibility study visit here.

Energy Leaders Consortium

To drive collaborative climate action within Canada’s largest employment zone, Chris launched the Energy Leaders Consortium—a network of businesses surrounding Toronto Pearson committed to reducing their energy consumption and environmental impact.

With support from external funding partners, Chris led the design and rollout of a structured program that provided participating companies with tailored work plans, expert mentorship, and access to energy monitoring tools. Through regular training and peer exchange, businesses collaborated to identify efficiency opportunities, share best practices, and accelerate collective progress.

Founding members included major employers such as Bayer, Pratt and Whitney, Magellan Aerospace, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and Weston Bakeries. In its first year alone, the consortium achieved a collective energy reduction of 11.1 eGWh—translating to $1.15 million in cost savings across member organizations.

Pearson Eco-Business Zone Materials Exchange Program

As part of the Partners in Project Green strategy, Chris led the development of the Materials Exchange Program—an initiative designed to help businesses around Toronto Pearson identify opportunities to transform waste into usable feedstock, advancing both sustainability and industrial innovation.

To inform the program’s design, Chris conducted a global scan of successful materials exchange models—analyzing the economic and policy conditions that supported scale and adoption. Building on these insights, he developed a business model tailored to the Pearson employment zone and secured funding to move the initiative forward.

The program continues to operate as a practical tool for companies looking to reduce disposal costs, improve resource efficiency, and explore circular economy opportunities within their supply chains.

Region of Peel Spill Decision Support System

Working within a public-private partnership, Chris project managed the development of the Region of Peel Spill Decision Support System - a web-based spill response system for managing chemical and oil spills within the Region of Peel.

The project's purpose was to provide spill responders a tool for storing historical spill information, tracing spills from their origination to their entry point into watercourses, and identifying potential spill sources by including  a database of chemical storage within the Region.

The project required converging various databases and storm sewer datasets into a comprehensive tool that could be deployed in the field to help improve spill response, while protecting the environment.  

From project initiation to completion, Chris pulled together the four municipal partners to develop the web-based spill system, identifying funding sources, developing a public-private partnership to develop the tool, and managing the consulting team through the technical development of the web-based system.

Partners in Project Green Policy Toolkit

As part of the Partners in Project Green strategy, Chris led the creation of a practical Policy Toolkit to help municipalities integrate green business priorities into planning and development processes.

Working with the cities of Toronto, Peel, Mississauga, and Brampton, the toolkit included 11 actionable resources—ranging from communication templates and policy primers to model language for official plans and zoning bylaws. Designed for ease of use, the tools supported municipal staff in promoting eco-economic development with greater clarity and consistency.

By bridging sustainability goals with day-to-day planning practice, the toolkit helped local governments build a more coherent and enabling environment for green business growth.