Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Brampton has received almost $1.2 million in provincial funding aimed at enhancing wetlands, wildlife habitats, and stormwater systems along Heart Lake Road.
This funding, announced on August 10, is provided through Ontario’s Wetlands Conservation Partner Program and will back the Heart Lake Road Wetlands Connectivity Project, a collaboration between the City and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).
Construction kicked off in June, with TRCA acting as both the construction manager and project partner.
The initiative will improve and expand wetland habitats within the Heart Lake wetland complex, boost water flow and wildlife movement, and reinforce the ecological link between the wetlands and Spring Creek.
The planned work includes replacing an old culvert, putting up wildlife fencing, and restoring wetland areas. The fencing will guide turtles and other animals safely under Heart Lake Road while the culvert replacement enhances water flow and allows safer passage for wildlife. These improvements are also expected to lessen flooding risks and enhance the ecological health of the wetland complex.
This project is part of Brampton’s Road Ecology Program, which was approved by city council in 2024. This long-term plan focuses on identifying roads that block wildlife movement while employing monitoring, research, and infrastructure upgrades to decrease wildlife-vehicle collisions and reconnect natural habitats.
City officials and community volunteers have conducted thorough wildlife monitoring along the Heart Lake Road corridor from Sandalwood Parkway East to Mayfield Road.
In the 2025 monitoring season, 27 trained volunteers documented 106 interactions involving wildlife near roadways. These findings highlighted the Heart Lake Road corridor as one of Brampton’s top priorities for improving wildlife connectivity which informed the restoration efforts now in progress.
“Protecting and restoring our wetlands is an investment in both our environment and our community’s resilience,” said Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown. “By enhancing natural infrastructure, improving stormwater management and reducing flood risk, this project will help safeguard residents, strengthen local ecosystems and preserve these important natural spaces for future generations.”
This investment aims to lower flood risks while preserving wetlands around Heart Lake.
“Together, we’re working with the community to make infrastructure safer and more resilient while protecting this valuable ecological corridor for species travelling to and from Heart Lake Conservation Park,” stated John Mac Kenzie, CEO of TRCA.
The Heart Lake Road initiative also has support from local environmental groups like the Heart Lake Turtle Troopers. The goal is to enhance habitat connectivity while creating safer routes for wildlife alongside key ecological corridors in Brampton.
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