September 1, 2015
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada – Windmill Developments and the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence (CAVCOE) have teamed up to conduct a feasibility and planning study for the demonstration, trial and deployment of fully automated, electric mini shuttle buses at Zibi.
Zibi is the highly anticipated re-development of the industrial lands linking Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. It is being developed in a partnership between Windmill Developments and Dream Unlimited Corp. (TSX:DRM) and aims to become the world’s most sustainable community. This waterfront community will be inclusive of shopping, dining, recreation and entertainment in support of a vibrant and healthy social life.
The concept being studied for transportation at Zibi is the use of fully automated, electric mini shuttle buses to transport people both between locations at Zibi and between Zibi and transit stations in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Jonathan Westeinde, Chief Executive Officer of Windmill Developments, said: “We are very excited about exploring the options for automatic vehicles and shuttles on the Zibi site to help reduce car traffic and assist us in achieving our goal of being one of the most sustainable communities in the world”.
Barrie Kirk, Executive Director of CAVCOE, added: “We at CAVCOE are pleased and proud to manage this project in association with Windmill and Dream. If successful, this trial, the first of its kind in Canada, will give Canada and many Canadian stakeholders an opportunity to learn first-hand the details of deploying and operating automated vehicles.”
About Windmill
Windmill is a visionary company dedicated to transforming conventional development practices by ensuring that exemplary ecological, social and financial returns are achieved in all their projects. Every Windmill development is conceived, designed and constructed to protect and enhance the local community and our ecosystem. Windmill is the only developer in North America to have achieved LEED Platinum on all its mixed-use projects. Completed projects include The Currents, a performing arts centre and modern condominium tower in Ottawa’s Wellington West neighbourhood, and Dockside Green, a model sustainable community in Victoria that was named one of 16 Clinton Climate Initiative Climate Positive developments.
About Dream
Dream (TSX:DRM) is one of Canada’s leading real estate companies with approximately $15 billion of assets under management in North America and Europe. The scope of the business includes residential land development, housing and condominium development, asset management for three TSX-listed real estate investment trusts and one TSX-listed diversified, hard asset alternatives trust, investments in and management of Canadian renewable energy infrastructure and commercial property ownership. Dream’s development projects include Toronto’s Distillery Historic District as well as the 2015 Pan Parapan American Athletes’ Village. Dream has an established track record for being innovative and for its ability to source, structure and execute compelling investment opportunities.
About CAVCOE
The Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence (CAVCOE) is dedicated to helping public and private sector stakeholders prepare for the arrival of automated vehicles. CAVCOE’s clients include two major Canadian cities, and companies involved in transit, transportation equipment, fleet management, and technology. CAVCOE recently teamed with the Conference Board of Canada and the Van Horne Institute to prepare a report on Automated Vehicles: The Coming of the Next Disruptive Technology. A free copy is available here.
For more information:
Jonathan Westeinde Barrie Kirk
Chief Executive Officer Executive Director
Windmill Developments CAVCOE
613-820-5600 exn 158 613-271-1657
[email protected] [email protected]
