The City of Whitehorse has teamed up with the Government of Canada and Yukon government on a joint investment to expand the waste heat recovery system at the Whitehorse Canada Games Centre. The Waste Heat Recovery Project is meant to expand the existing system, while conserving the Games Centre's use of electricity and diesel fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This project is expected to help the Canada Games Centre save considerable energy by using waste heat produced by the Centre’s ice plants to provide heat for the general building and the pool area.

Each of the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada has contributed $160,000 under the Canada-Yukon Municipal Rural Infrastructure Program, for the project. The project also includes a Gas Tax Fund contribution of $80,000 from the Government of Canada, and an $80,000 contribution from the City of Whitehorse.

As per the terms of the Yukon-Canada Municipal-Rural Infrastructure Fund (MRIF) agreement, the governments of Canada and Yukon are required to invest over $25m in various community infrastructure projects.

Chuck Strahl, minister of Indian affairs and northern development and federal interlocutor of Metis and non-status Indians, said: “This investment is an example of the concrete steps the Government of Canada is taking to improve community infrastructure in the North.

“By using innovative technology, this project will help protect the environment and save energy, providing long-term benefits for the City of Whitehorse.”