An Ambitious Alternative
The Natural Step philosophy is becoming a global movement. As a citizen, as a community, we have the opportunity to start taking some concrete steps toward sustainablility. It is becoming increasingly obvious that the old patterns of resource consumption to create economic wealth will eventually lead to a planet stripped bare. Let's choose a different course of action! Whistler, BC and Canmore, AB have already made this choice! Let's make Summerland a leader in the creation of a truly sustainable community. Have a look at The Natural Step, Canada website to learn more about this science based framework, helping individuals and communities take steps towards sustainability.
Here is an excerpt describing one of the first communities in Canada using this approach:
The Natural Step to a Sustainable CanmoreThe Town of Canmore, Alberta, in partnership with organizations within the community, has just launched The Natural Step to a Sustainable Canmore. This endeavour is an ambitious education, and planning process to help Canmore move strategically towards sustainability. Canmore will become the second Canadian community to implement The Natural Step’s community-wide engagement program after Whistler, British Columbia.At a launch event on November 25, 2004, attended by approximately 50 people representing the Town and local participating organizations, Canmore Mayor Ron Casey said, “This project will put Canmore on the map as a municipality that is actively seeking ways to balance humanity’s increasing demands for natural resources with decreasing availability.”The Canmore project is being led and coordinated by the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. After two years of planning and fundraising, the Biosphere Institute secured a matching grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Funds. Other funders include the Town of Canmore, the Canmore Economic Development Authority, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Alberta Ecotrust, Three Sisters Mountain Village and the Community Initiatives Program.
Here is an excerpt describing one of the first communities in Canada using this approach:
The Natural Step to a Sustainable CanmoreThe Town of Canmore, Alberta, in partnership with organizations within the community, has just launched The Natural Step to a Sustainable Canmore. This endeavour is an ambitious education, and planning process to help Canmore move strategically towards sustainability. Canmore will become the second Canadian community to implement The Natural Step’s community-wide engagement program after Whistler, British Columbia.At a launch event on November 25, 2004, attended by approximately 50 people representing the Town and local participating organizations, Canmore Mayor Ron Casey said, “This project will put Canmore on the map as a municipality that is actively seeking ways to balance humanity’s increasing demands for natural resources with decreasing availability.”The Canmore project is being led and coordinated by the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. After two years of planning and fundraising, the Biosphere Institute secured a matching grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Funds. Other funders include the Town of Canmore, the Canmore Economic Development Authority, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Alberta Ecotrust, Three Sisters Mountain Village and the Community Initiatives Program.
posted by Amie |
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2 Comments:
I have downloaded the Natural Step and copied it to paper. Although there are a number of good points made as an alternative to the way we handle growth here in Summerland, I'm not sure it is the way to go (my opinion). In particular I become very leery of the following part of your quotation:
"Other funders include the Town of Canmore, the Canmore Economic Development Authority, Alberta Real Estate Foundation, Alberta Ecotrust, Three Sisters Mountain Village and the Community Initiatives Program."
Canmore is very much a tourist destination and has become over the past two decades a bedroom community in which Calgarians have purchased homes to give them access to the foothills as well as access to skiing in Banff and Lake Louise. Banff and Lake Louise, as you know, have capped their growth to 8000 residents. So Canmore has become the closest place along the Transcanada Highway outside of Banff National Park.
Now if you look at the contributors to the funding for the Natural Step program, if it is followed, you have some pretty biased contributors. Whenever I see any realestate board making contributions you can bet your bottom dollar they expect to profit from it in one way or another.
Frank Martens
By
Anonymous, at 4:44 p.m.
Hi Frank, I haven't read the Natural Step book, but it's available at our library and Tannis recommended it a couple of months ago after she read it. Like Smart Growth, it doesn't assume that stopping all growth is necessarily the goal. Sustainable, economically vibrant communities may enjoy growth if it is done properly.
By
Jeremy, at 2:51 p.m.
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