A research team from the University of Waterloo’s engineering department has devised a tool to help budget-conscious public-sector organizations prioritize their annual capital spends.

The project, which aims to store unused energy collected during off-peak times from Ontario’s grid and return it to the grid during peak demand, promises significant environmental and economic benefits.

The 2,000-square foot space will be sited at 350 Legget Drive, home of the original Mitel Networks campus. Construction is scheduled to start in June, with the facility opening after Labour Day.

More than $2 million in funding will enable the garden to rebuild a boathouse, a viewing platform and boardwalk, and repair nature trails and garden path. Meanwhile, four projects in Hamilton will share in nearly $8.5 million worth of funding.

An estimated 164,000 new journeypersons will be required across Canada’s 56 Red Seal trades in the next five years to sustain demand, and replace retirees. Of those, 115,000 will be needed in the country’s 15 largest trades, many of which are in the construction sector.