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.

Barriers & Opportunities with Rooftop Solar in the Pearson Eco-Business Zone

To advance the goals of Ontario’s Green Energy Act and expand renewable energy adoption within the Pearson Eco-Business Zone, Chris led a study examining the barriers to rooftop solar implementation and identifying actionable solutions.

Through targeted research and consultation with industry stakeholders, the study categorized key challenges into four areas: economic viability, legal and policy constraints, institutional capacity gaps, and technical limitations. With these insights, Chris and the TRCA team developed a suite of practical tools and resources to support local businesses in navigating these barriers and pursuing solar installations.

The initiative provided a clear roadmap for accelerating clean energy adoption in one of Canada’s most significant employment zones—aligning sustainability outcomes with industrial innovation.

Partners in Project Green - Eco-Efficiency Program

To help businesses in the Toronto Pearson employment zone reduce operating costs and environmental impact, Chris led the development of the Eco-Efficiency Program—a targeted initiative under the Partners in Project Green strategy.

With support from local utilities including Toronto Hydro, Enersource, Brampton Hydro One, and Enbridge Gas, the program offered no-cost, high-level facility audits to identify opportunities for energy, water, and waste reduction. Chris oversaw the full lifecycle of the program, managing a team of consultants and staff responsible for conducting audits and supporting implementation.

In addition to leading program delivery, Chris worked to promote the initiative across the industrial zone—helping businesses uncover operational efficiencies while advancing sustainability goals.