MP Kate Young Announces Natural Resources Canada investment in Helio

On January 22nd, 2019 at The Sifton Centre, Kate Young, Member of Parliament for London West, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, announced an investment of $3.9 million toward the construction of Canada’s first mixed-use, multi-unit residential high-rise building to target net-zero energy. Helio will aim to demonstrate the feasibility of net-zero energy at a community level, and inspire change across Canada’s construction industry. Funded through Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program, Helio will include a monitoring system that will be used to optimize energy-efficient performance, a system that could become a valuable industry resource going forward.

Today’s announcement continues the plan developed through Canada’s national energy dialogue, Generation Energy. Canadians made it clear that clean energy solutions are not a luxury but a necessity for Canada’s low-carbon future. Canada will continue to support clean energy projects that create jobs, support investment and industry competitiveness, advance our clean future and help realize our global climate change goals.

“This project will demonstrate first-of-its-kind net-zero energy construction in high-rise residential buildings, making it a model for the future. Through energy-efficient practices and the use of renewable energy technologies, this project is creating new jobs and protecting our environment.”

Amarjeet Sohi
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources

“Energy efficiency is one way Canadian companies can get involved in taking real action to support our move to a cleaner, greener future. Our government is proud to partner with Sifton Properties on this innovative and groundbreaking project.”

Kate Young
Member of Parliament for London West

“Helio will be the most energy-efficient high-rise in Canada, designed and constructed to be 77 percent more efficient than a similar building built under the current Ontario Building Code. This is quite an accomplishment, and there is no doubt that the Energy Innovation Program has enabled us to push Helio further than thought possible. It will be an incredible addition to West 5.”

Richard Sifton
President, Sifton Properties