Lafarge Rebuilds BC Salmon Hatchery with Sustainable Concrete
Building better communities project uses volunteer labour and gift in kind materials
Lafarge Canada Inc. has partnered with the Mossom Creek Hatchery in Port Moody, BC operated by the Burrard Inlet Marine Enhancement Society to rebuild following a devastating fire in December 2013. The Hatchery was started by two high school teachers in 1976 with the aim of educating children about salmon and the environment. This week the Hatchery and education centre will re-open in a world class facility. Lafarge helped build a more durable and more sustainable building for future generations.
“The Mossom Creek Hatchery rebuild allowed us to support our three community investment pillars – education, environment and sustainable construction. In addition, our employees were able to provide hands-on help by volunteering during work hours,” comments David Redfern, Vice President and General Manager of Lafarge in Vancouver. “The new two-storey, 3,200 square feet building was built on a tight construction timeline in order to allow the Hatchery to become operational for the 2015 salmon release. In March 2015, some 100,000 chum fry were successfully transferred to the new Hatchery’s rearing tanks and then released into area streams in April,” he continued.
Ensuring a sustainable community contribution
“Lafarge worked with the Hatchery to select the most appropriate materials and solutions to ensure the new building is good looking, is long-lasting and has a low environmental impact. After experiencing the devastation caused by the fire, we were especially keen on concrete’s non-combustibility. Further benefits were derived by choosing specific mixes.” comments Hatchery co-founder Ruth Foster.
- UltraGreen™ concrete:
- Lafarge utilized Portland Limestone Cement which resulted in approximately 10% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as compared to manufacturing regular cement.
- UltraGreen uses by-products from other industries such as fly ash and blast furnace slag that would otherwise go to a landfill. This both reduces the overall environmental impact of these by-products and reduces the overall carbon footprint of cement.
- To minimize our impact on water resources UltraGreen limits use of fresh water by incorporating reclaimed process water in the production of new concrete.
- Hydromedia™ – a fast-draining permeable ready-mix concrete
- Rain water can collect sediment and other contaminants. Salmon are sensitive to their surrounding environment and elevated levels of suspended sediment can be harmful to fish. Hydromedia is designed to allow rain water to drain through the concrete and infiltrate into the soil below. In turn, this minimizes heavy rain water runoff from the surrounding impermeable surfaces. This facilitates the reduction of sediment-laden water reaching Mossom Creek and the preservation of the natural groundwater aquifer.
Watch the video below for more information:
ABOUT LAFARGE CANADA INC.
Lafarge Canada Inc. is Canada’s largest provider of solutions to the construction and development industry. With more than 6,000 employees across Canada, our mission is to provide construction solutions that build better cities and communities. The cities where Canadians live, work, and raise their families along with the infrastructure that supports their communities such as roads, bridges, transportation links, water, and waste management benefit from the solutions provided by Lafarge.
Through our Sustainability Ambitions for 2020, Lafarge is committed to providing solutions using sustainable manufacturing practices and improving the environment in and around its operations. At locations across Canada, we have worked to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, restore wetlands for native plants and animals, and identify waste materials that can be recycled and used in our operations. For more information: www.lafarge-na.com
CONTACT
Jennifer Lewis
Director, Communications Western Canada
O: 403.723.7151
jennifer.lewis@lafarge.com
