Toronto Community Housing named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers 2026

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) has been selected as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the third consecutive year!

Since 2007, the Canada’s Greenest Employers competition has recognized employers with unique environmental initiatives that reduce their environmental footprint. Run by Mediacorp Canada Inc., the competition spotlights organizations with Earth-friendly programs and policies that actively involve their employees. This award reflects TCHC’s efforts, driven by our staff, to prioritize environmental sustainability and protect our planet for future generations.

TCHC established its formal green strategy in 2009 and built a dedicated Conservation team in spring 2020 to help TCHC meet conservation targets and develop strategies to be implemented across the organization.

Since then, the Conservation team has led sustainability efforts across TCHC communities with tenants and staff. These initiatives include waste reduction and recycling programs for staff and tenants, educating tenants on in-suite electricity and thermostat use, raising awareness through dedicated bulletin boards and face-to-face engagement, and much more.  

TCHC also offers opportunities for tenants to get involved in tree planting and reduce-and-reuse programs through partnerships with community organizations like LEAF and Scarborough Cycles.   

Coupled with these initiatives, internal efforts like TCHC’s Green Office program, Green Procurement guide, and the HVAC staff training program all help staff make greener choices and improve the efficiency of TCHC buildings. TCHC has also invested in environmentally sustainable building equipment like heat pumps, green roofs, rainwater collection systems, and PV solar panels. 

Some of TCHC’s other recent conservation achievements include these highlights from 2025:

  • 7,976 units visited for energy conservation.
  • 10,341 waste kits distributed to residents.
  • 7,840 units joined the new thermostat program.
  • $320,000 saved through the Smart Compaction Program.
  • 3,329 fewer garbage truck pickups required.
  • 546 total trees planted since 2018.
  • 3,593 cubic yards of waste reduced.
  • 561 staff trained to improve building mechanical systems.
  • Over 250 staff completed Green Office Sustainability Training.
  • 160 new sites scheduled for building evaluations in 2026.
  • LED lighting retrofit including garage lighting sensors at 23 buildings.
  • Installation of solar panels at 5 buildings.
  • Installation of new booster Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) pumps at 15 buildings.
  • Replacement of 27 heating and domestic hot water boiler plants.
  • Ventilation upgrades at 9 buildings, including make-up air unit (MAU) replacement and heat recovery.
  • Re-commissioning program to modernize and optimize mechanical, electrical, and building automation systems at 10 buildings.
  • Water efficiency retrofit at 39 buildings which included replacement of toilets, showerheads and aerators.
  • Energy Squad Program completed plug load audits and toilet dye test and repair and inspections in approximately 3,302 units located across 93 TCHC locations.

Visit the Conservation page to learn more about the team and its initiatives. To read more about why TCHC was named a winner this year, visit Canada’s Top 100 Employers website. 

Quotes

“I am very impressed by the passion this organization shows for conservation, and this recognition underlines that. Our commitment to the environment and sustainability impacts over 90,000 people who work or live in our communities. Reducing the environmental impact of our portfolio is an important part of our planning and this award is a testament to the dedication of our Conservation team, and the collective effort of every staff member who prioritizes sustainability in their daily work.”  

- Sean Baird President and CEO, Toronto Community Housing  

“Being named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the third consecutive year is a significant achievement for TCHC. I couldn’t be prouder of our Conservation team, and all TCHC employees that play a role in our conservation efforts. From waste reduction programs and educational campaigns to investments into green development and industry leading retrofits, our commitment to sustainability is evident in every aspect of our operations. We’re proud of our achievements thus far and the team will be continuing this important work in the communities we serve.”

- Noah Slater, Vice President, Facilities Management, Toronto Community Housing