Lakeview Village on course to build sustainable, future-ready city

LCPL said it remains focused on creating a highly inter-connected, environmentally conscious 15-minute community while restoring the land’s ecological ecosystem decimated by years of industrial use.

Prior to becoming the Lakeview Generating Station, the land was once home to many species of plants and animals distinct to the area. Due to its industrial history, years of pollution and environmental degradation, the region’s natural landscape, flora and fauna have suffered. Since purchasing the land in 2018, LCPL has undertaken several initiatives to restore the natural habitat and reinvigorate the lands.

Thriving ecosystem

As a key component of the Lakeview Village project, LCPL has been working to restore the channel and surrounding habitat to its formerly thriving ecosystem.

During phase 1 of the years’-long restoration effort, LCPL engaged excavators to dig a new low-flow channel, stabilise and prepare the creek to divert the flows out from underneath the treatment plant, re-establish the natural heritage corridor and seamlessly connect the future Lakeview Village community to a waterfront greenspace before finally flowing into Lake Ontario.

Further to Serson Creek, LCPL has undertaken efforts to return the native flora and fauna to its rightful place through this extensive restoration.

“We are in an incredibly unique position to take the site of a former coal refinery and turn it into a future-ready, sustainable community, right on the shores of Lake Ontario”

The Serson Creek corridor has been designed specifically to create a vital fish and wildlife habitat, support the formation of coastal zones along the lake and inlet shorelines to sensitively balance and promote ecological connectivity. This restoration approach is anticipated to create a source of native biodiversity that, over time, will spread into other adjacent areas and benefit many species of native fish and wildlife.

Since 2019, LCPL has also planted a field of one million sunflowers to support native wildlife rehabilitation and nature conservancy. As one of many initiatives undertaken to help remediate the site’s soil through phytoremediation, the sunflowers also help to reduce concentration of contaminants in the surrounding environment.

“Very soon, Lakeview Village will be a place where we can welcome local residents and people from around the world to show them our amazing accomplishments in responsible, environmentally conscious development,” added Sutherland.

“We are in an incredibly unique position to take the site of a former coal refinery and turn it into a future-ready, sustainable community, right on the shores of Lake Ontario, while propelling Canada’s leadership position on climate and sustainability on the international stage.”