Founded in 2001 by the Canadian Urban Institute, the Brownie Awards recognize the innovative efforts of professionals who rehabilitate sites that were once contaminated, under-utilized, and undeveloped by remaking them into productive residential and commercial projects that contribute to the growth of healthy communities across Canada.

As an annual celebration recognizing excellence in the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites across Canada, the Brownie Awards are presented proudly in partnership by the Canadian Brownfields Network and SiteMedia (formerly Actual Media).

Past Brownie Awards Winners:

2025 – 2024 – 2023 – 2022
2021  –  2020  –  2019  –  2018  –  2017   –  2016  –  2015
2014  –  2013  –  2012  –  2011  –  2010  –  2009  –  2008
2007 – 2006  –  2005  –  2004  –  2003  –  2002  –  2001

8 Project Categories of Distinction:

REPROGRAM:

Legislation, Policy & Program Initiatives

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Remove barriers and/or facilitate brownfield redevelopment, reinvestment, and regeneration.
  • Provide models of excellence that can be applied or replicated by provincial, regional, or municipal governments.

REMEDIATE:

Sustainable Remediation

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Maximize environmental benefits by avoiding offsite disposal and reducing environmental impacts.
  • Promote socio-economic benefits by providing employment and/or training to local community members.

RESTRATEGIZE:

Partnerships and Community Engagement

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Employ strategic advancement of innovative approaches to obtain
    capital financing, such as public/private partnerships, and public incentives to leverage investment.
  • Communicate municipal redevelopment plans and programs in support of long-term benefits and sustainability.

REMEDIATE:

Technological Innovation

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Demonstrate leadership and innovation in environmental remediation technologies.
  • Apply novel or pilot technologies that are cost-effective and have market applicability.

REBUILD:

Project Development at the Building Scale

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Demonstrate excellence in site specific responses to public policy initiatives that accelerate the pace of regeneration and promote an enhanced public realm.
  • Stimulate imaginative adaptive reuse of heritage structures that support health and well-being.

RENEW:

Project Development at the Neighbourhood Scale

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Demonstrate collaboration that inspires landowners and investors to engage with the community, support a shared vision, and encourage integrated redevelopment and adaptive reuse.
  • Promote comprehensive neighbourhood transformation and improve functionality and liveability.

REFOCUS:

Vision of Alternative Benefits to Brownfield Remediation

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Use alternative lenses to see remediation and redevelopment
    from different perspectives other than economic and environmental ones, in alignment with broader social initiatives and mandates.

  • Show improvement towards affordable housing, healthy communities, climate resiliency, and/or diversity and inclusion.

REMOTE:

Remediation in Remote, Rural and Indigenous communities

Projects or programs that align with one or more of the following:

  • Overcome logistical obstacles in contaminated site cleanup.
  • Demonstrate leadership, resourcefulness and community considerations.

PLUS:

Brownfielder of the Year

Best Small Project

Best Large Project

Best Overall Project

  The categories above reflect those refreshed in 2026. For the categories in use up to 2023, click here.