Bill Lautenbach, Greater Sudbury’s general manager of growth and development, has received the prestigious Green Champion Award by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). He received the award at the FCM annual conference in Vancouver on June 2.
Lautenbach, a professional planner, was chosen because he has displayed dedication, supported innovation and provided valuable guidance within the municipal government over his 35-year career in Greater Sudbury, the FCM said in a statement.
Mayor Marianne Matichuk, who nominated Lautenbach, said the recognition was important as he prepares to retire from municipal service later this summer.
“Bill has been a tireless advocate for Greater Sudbury and true leader, both within city hall and in the community,” Matichuk said in a statement. “I’m so pleased FCM agreed. They could not have chosen a more deserving professional.”
Early in his career at the city, Lautenbach was instrumental in developing and launching the municipality’s extensive regreening program. A long history of mining activity in the Sudbury area had left more than 80,000 hectares of land largely devoid of vegetation.
Through his work with local scientists and municipal
politicians, and the utilization of senior government job creation programs, a
large-scale regreening program was born in 1978. The program continues today
and has reclaimed 3,439 hectares of land and planted 9,348,227 trees.
The regreening program has received numerous awards, including the United
Nations Local Government Honours Award at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janiero
and the United States Chevron Conservation Award in 1992.
“Over the past 35 years, Greater Sudbury has truly become a more sustainable community,” Lautenbach said. “It is one of very few communities worldwide to have reduced its ecological footprint, increased its biodiversity, and significantly improved its air and water quality, while at the same time greatly diversifying its economy. This has taken the help and support of a great many individuals, community groups, and businesses.”
