As municipalities across Canada face increasing pressure to reduce emissions, renew aging infrastructure, and deliver reliable services within tightening funding and policy environments, opportunities to see real-world solutions are more important than ever.

Against this backdrop, in early March, 21 participants joined Canadian Water Network’s (CWN) net zero water team for a full-day learning tour hosted by the Regional Municipality of York and Markham District Energy. The tour explored several innovative facilities, including the Markham District Energy site, which will soon be one of Canada’s largest wastewater energy transfer projects, and the Region’s Aurora Sewage Pumping Station. The learning tour provided participants with a rare, practical look at how innovative infrastructure and cross-jurisdictional partnerships can translate climate ambition into action. It also offered lessons that are immediately relevant and transferable to other communities.

Beyond technical insights, the tour created space for meaningful peer learning and connection. Participants were able to exchange experiences since the tour brought together municipal staff, consultants, utilities, and government representatives. Participants were also able to ask candid questions and explore how similar approaches could be adapted within their own contexts. This combination of on-the-ground learning and relationship-building underscored the value of convening in person at a time when collaboration, shared learning, and collective problem-solving are essential to advancing net zero water and energy systems.

The day began with valuable networking opportunities among fellow participants, consultants, and government representatives. Participants then learned how the City of Markham–owned energy utility partnered with the Region to support low-carbon heating and cooling for the surrounding area, advancing the Region’s vision of achieving net zero while making better use of existing wastewater infrastructure. Travelling between sites in one of the Region’s fully electric vehicles, the group toured the wastewater energy transfer project currently under construction, gaining insight into how the partnership has been structured in practice, including shared responsibilities for buried infrastructure, risk allocation, and long-term ownership.

In the afternoon, the group visited the Aurora Sewage Pumping Station, which recently underwent major upgrades to increase capacity, efficiency, and resilience while significantly reducing emissions. The station pumps against an elevation of approximately 100 metres, nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls, which presents a substantial operational challenge. Replacing aging pumps and optimizing system performance has improved resource efficiency and substantially reduced fossil fuel use on site, demonstrating how incremental upgrades to essential infrastructure can deliver meaningful climate benefits.

Beyond touring innovative facilities, participants gained a deeper understanding of practical mitigation opportunities and the co-benefits of collaboration across utilities and regions. Just as importantly, connecting in person strengthened relationships, supported knowledge sharing needed to advance research, and created space for new ideas to emerge, an essential ingredient as municipalities navigate rapid change.

With additional learning tours planned in the Region of Waterloo in April and Metro Vancouver in May, we invite all interested municipalities to join us in exploring proven approaches to innovation, emissions reduction, and partnership-building at a time when action, learning, and collaboration are needed more than ever.