P3 Awards go to Champlain Bridge, Eglinton Crosstown and Humber River Hospital

New St. Lawrence Bridge, Montreal, artist’s rendering. Image: Buckland & Taylor.

The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships (CCPPP) handed out its 2015 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence at its conference in Toronto on November 2. The three top awards went to large projects, either under construction or just completed, in Montreal and Toronto.
Mark Romoff, President and CEO of CCPPP, noted “There are 238 P3 projects across Canada, with those that are already in operation or under construction valued at more than $81 billion, and they are making our daily lives easier, creating jobs, growing the economy, and returning more money to governments to reinvest in public services.”
Gold award winners were the New Champlain Bridge Corridor Project in Montreal (effective procurement award). The project includes two new bridges with a lifespan of 125 years, one to replace the aging Champlain Bridge, another to Île-des-Sœurs. It also involves reconstructing and widening Highway 15 on the Island of Montréal. A consortium led by ACS Infrastructure Canada, Hochtief PPP Solutions and SNC-Lavalin known as “Signature on the Saint-Laurent Group” is the private partner on the project. Construction began this summer and the bridge is targeted to be in service by 2018.

Launching a TBM for the Eglinton Crosstown subway, Toronto.

Another gold award went to the Eglinton Crosstown Light Rail Transit Project in Toronto (project financing award). Crosslinx Transit Solutions General Partnership — a consortium comprising ACS Infrastructure Canada, AECON, EllisDon and SNC-Lavalin — is the private partner with Infrastructure Ontario and Metrolinx. Crossing east-to-west across the city, the Eglinton Crosstown is under construction. It is the largest transit expansion in Toronto’s history and due for completion in 2021.
The Humber River Hospital Project in Toronto also won a gold award (infrastructure award). The hospital, which opened in October, is a partnership of the hospital, Infrastructure Ontario and Plenary Health Care Partnerships. It covers 30 acres and is designed to serve more than 850,000 people in the northwestern Greater Toronto Area. It uses some of the most advanced technologies in the medical field. Smith + Andersen are the mechanical and electrical consultants for the Plenary Health Care Partnerships and the architect is HDR/C.F. Moller.
Silver Award winners were the Okanagan Correctional Centre Project (Community Involvement Award) and the Saskatchewan Joint Use Schools Project 1 and 2 (Innovative Partnerships Award).
The 2015 Champion Award went to Sarah Clark for her “outstanding service as President and CEO of Partnerships BC from 2010 to 2014.” She was involved in some of B.C.’s largest infrastructure projects, including Port Mann Highway 1, South Fraser Perimeter Road, Evergreen Line, North Island Hospitals and the John Hart Generating Station Replacement. She is currently Chief Operating Officer at Fraser River Pile and Dredge.