The bidders' meeting for the Annual Community Conference will be on Monday, December 13 at 2:00 at the Town offices. This is not a mandatory meeting but it is an opportunity to ask questions about the statement of work and the requirements.
If you do decide to come please ask for Janet Jones when you come to the Town offices which are at 24 Flint Avenue, Bancroft, Ontario.
If you are applying for the position as sustainability bookkeeper you DO NOT need to attend. This is only for the conference.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Two Great Opportunities
We are looking for a group or organization to organize a community conference on Sustainable Bancroft in April 2011. A full description of the opportunity is posted on the website below.
We are hiring a part-time sustainability bookkeeper for a term of five months from January 4 to May 31, 2011. The job description is posted on the website below.
Applications must be received by Dec. 22, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST.
Detailed information can be found under pages to the left.
We are hiring a part-time sustainability bookkeeper for a term of five months from January 4 to May 31, 2011. The job description is posted on the website below.
Applications must be received by Dec. 22, 2010 at 4:00 PM EST.
Detailed information can be found under pages to the left.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Sustainability Checklist
The Community Sustainable Planning Committee is reviewing a draft version of a Sustainability Checklist that can be used to look at any new or existing initiative, program or project. It uses strategic objectives from the Sustainable Bancroft plan to create a way to align what we do in Bancroft with our overall vision for Sustainability. It will be reviewed in November and then posted to the blog for anyone to review. Over the next few months we will figure out how to use it on a regular basis. To view it Click here and go to the bottom of the page.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Great Advice from Markham's Greenprint
The point that the authors of Markham's sustainability plan make here is absolutely crucial.
Using the Framework
The framework is a tool to be used when decisions are being made about projects. Every project should be assessed to determine whether it moves the community closer to its sustainability vision. Community builders can assess the merits of the project by comparing it against the sustainability priorities and strategies during project definition and development. The framework must be used as a guide when considering initiatives to ensure they provide maximum sustainability benefits.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Bancroft Part of Record Breaking 10/10/10 Party
The folks at 350.org know how to run a party and last year had 5248 projects going in 181 countries. Well now Bancroft has joined the 10/10/10 – Global Work Party and we are part of shattering last year’s record. With six days to go there are 6,077 projects in 184 countries.
At ReUse-GreenTEC, Velma Waters and her team have included seven initiatives as part of Sustainable Bancroft’s drive to include 100 projects. They include solar seminars, e-bike promotions and the most impressive of all – a diversion of over 26,000 kg of waste from landfill in six months.
Local builders Don Koppin and Pat Marcotte are implementing climate solutions in buildings and Pat has included his net-zero house in the Bancroft 100. “We have just installed a 10KW MicroFIT solar system. This, coupled with a geothermal heat system, and straw bale walls will make our home a Net Zero energy home,” says Marcotte.
Koppin is insulating the exterior wall of his office to reduce the amount of energy used for heating cooling. “We are also promoting energy efficient upgrades and sustainable building to all of our clients” adds Koppin. Bill O’Borne was also focused on energy and insulated his home and added new windows.
Burke Chamberlain of Whitfield Plumbing and Heating is also on the same wavelength and they have just finished work at Our Lady of Mercy School (see photo). “We have installed a state of the art biomass boiler which will deliver energy savings for years to come.”
For many the theme of 10/10/10 is local. Kimberly McMunn, Kim Sutherland, Chris Drost and Janice Whitehead are all focusing on daily activities like using locally grown food and going for a walk in nature. Whitehead notes that “our large vegetable garden provides us with a majority of our vegetables throughout the year.”
If you haven’t decided what to do you can join Dave Naulls and friends for a Bicycle Trail Ride for 350.org awareness. It starts at 10 AM on 10/10/10 at the Coe Hill Community Centre (Public School) – mountain bike, hybrids and cruisers are all welcome.
If you want to register your own activity with Sustainable Bancroft for 10/10/10 go to Facebook and find Sustainable Bancroft.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Bancroft Goes Global on Climate Change
What does Bancroft have in common with Auckland, New Zealand, Kampala, Uganda and Ann Arbor, Michigan? All of these places are part of a global campaign to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by putting local climate solutions in place.
They are all part of the 10/10/10 – Global Work Party that is being sponsored by 350.org. The objective is to get people around the world to do something that will help deal with global warming in their city or community. With two weeks to go before the event there are over 4,000 projects registered from 171 countries.
In Kampala, Uganda, they're going to plant thousands of trees, and in Ann Arbor they are challenging local residents to get out and enjoy a bicycle ride.
Here at home Sustainable Bancroft is hoping to register 100 local projects. Ideas for individual contributions range from long term solutions like installing an alternative energy system or making your home more energy efficient to things that residents can do on October 10th like walking a local trail, going for a bicycle ride or leaving your car at home for the day.
“It doesn’t matter if you do something on October 10th or if you did it earlier this year” said Sustainable Bancroft advisor Don Grant. “What we are looking for is for people to get involved. We know that a lot is going on in and around Bancroft. People care about sustainability and about climate change. The 10/10/10 Global Work Party is a way of showing the world and each other what we are doing to make things better.”
350.org is an international campaign that is building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Their mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis – to create a new sense of urgency and possibility for our planet. The number 350 refers to the target level of CO2 in parts per million (PPM) that the world needs to hit to reduce the damage that is already being seen from global warming. Today the world is at 388 PPM.
Sustainable Bancroft is encouraging everyone to get involved and to register their actions at our Facebook site.
They are all part of the 10/10/10 – Global Work Party that is being sponsored by 350.org. The objective is to get people around the world to do something that will help deal with global warming in their city or community. With two weeks to go before the event there are over 4,000 projects registered from 171 countries.
In Kampala, Uganda, they're going to plant thousands of trees, and in Ann Arbor they are challenging local residents to get out and enjoy a bicycle ride.
Here at home Sustainable Bancroft is hoping to register 100 local projects. Ideas for individual contributions range from long term solutions like installing an alternative energy system or making your home more energy efficient to things that residents can do on October 10th like walking a local trail, going for a bicycle ride or leaving your car at home for the day.
“It doesn’t matter if you do something on October 10th or if you did it earlier this year” said Sustainable Bancroft advisor Don Grant. “What we are looking for is for people to get involved. We know that a lot is going on in and around Bancroft. People care about sustainability and about climate change. The 10/10/10 Global Work Party is a way of showing the world and each other what we are doing to make things better.”
350.org is an international campaign that is building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. Their mission is to inspire the world to rise to the challenge of the climate crisis – to create a new sense of urgency and possibility for our planet. The number 350 refers to the target level of CO2 in parts per million (PPM) that the world needs to hit to reduce the damage that is already being seen from global warming. Today the world is at 388 PPM.
Sustainable Bancroft is encouraging everyone to get involved and to register their actions at our Facebook site.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Update - Aug. 10
We have had 17 responses to the questionnaire as of today. Also we are up on Facebook as Sustainable Bancroft with 25 people who like the site. Come visit.
Monday, July 26, 2010
It’s a Beautiful Day in Paradise! by Don Koppin
I woke up this morning to another beautiful day in Bancroft. We have enjoyed some sunny, warm weather this spring and summer. I think of my grandchildren and how they enjoy swimming in our clean lakes and in the ocean on their vacations, their keen interest in the environment and nature. And then I think about how this is all going to change. Due to my participation in developing a Sustainable Plan for Bancroft, I have read a lot in the last year about our environment. The scientific world agrees that by the time my seven year-old grandson is middle-aged, the world will have changed drastically, due to climate change created by the way that we live. There is also little debate about the fact that we will run out of oil – potentially in my lifetime.
I sat on my deck this morning reading in the Toronto Star about the vast volume of oil that has been pumped into the Gulf of Mexico by BP’s ruptured well. Did you know that in 2005, BP promised to spend $1.8 billion on solar energy in the next three years? That is quite a pittance compared to the $20 billion that they are spending on the oil clean up, and they cannot reverse the damage that has been done. But do Canadians care? The Star reports that president Obama reacted to this tragedy with some drastic changes in U.S. policies on off-shore drilling. As a result, it is now far more cost effective for the oil companies to drill in Canadian waters, because our government doesn’t think that safeguards are needed for drilling - even in our colder, more isolated & therefore more vulnerable, Canadian waters. Does this bother you like it does me?
Bu I am not writing about doom & gloom. I believe that we want to change this and there is no question that we have the technology to do so. But do we have the initiative? Canadians have the reputation of being a complacent society, but this is something that will not go away. Reversing climate change requires action. When Mayor David Miller was in Bancroft to speak at our spring Sustainable Symposium, part of the theme of his discussion was that a change toward a more sustainable world is getting it’s drive from large and small communities around the world. We cannot wait for the federal government to enact legislation. We have to make a change in our daily lives. It is up to individuals working together to drive the change.
I have had the pleasure of working with some dedicated individuals from this community to develop a draft sustainable plan for Bancroft. I know that other communities around us are doing the same thing. This is an important long-term plan towards developing a healthy community over the next 30 years. Is there anyone who would not benefit from this? There are potential actions outlined in the plan, but they need people to make them happen. We need you to help make this a reality!
In his book “The Geography of Hope”, Chris Turner, who writes about sustainability for the Globe and Mail, states this about climate change: “…there is the chance to be part of possibly the greatest project in the history of civilization, to be at the forefront of the generation that confronted the worst conflagration the world had ever seen-and sorted it out….. To look back perhaps a half a century from now, to say to our children-to our grandchildren-that we took all this on, fought and thought, worked our asses off, tried and failed and tried again, and finally got this wondrous new contraption moving down a clear path toward that sustainable city on a hill-what could be better, more worthwhile, more flat out balls-to-the-wall exhilarating, than to be part of that?
What else are you working on right now? What great project that would rest upon your soul like the many bars of ribbon on a war hero’s chest? What that you would point to, and look your grandkids in the eye, and say “Now that was worth the fight”? I know how I’d answer this one:
There’s nothing else.
Only this: To be part of the generation that beat climate change.”
We can all be part of a positive change. Look at your community’s Sustainable Plan, and if there isn’t one, help create it. Give feedback, participate in the actions needed to make this happen. Bancroft’s plan is on the Town’s website: http://www.town.bancroft.on.ca . Click on Sustainable Bancroft. This is a grassroots effort. Everyone can do a small part to make a huge difference. GET INVOVED!
I sat on my deck this morning reading in the Toronto Star about the vast volume of oil that has been pumped into the Gulf of Mexico by BP’s ruptured well. Did you know that in 2005, BP promised to spend $1.8 billion on solar energy in the next three years? That is quite a pittance compared to the $20 billion that they are spending on the oil clean up, and they cannot reverse the damage that has been done. But do Canadians care? The Star reports that president Obama reacted to this tragedy with some drastic changes in U.S. policies on off-shore drilling. As a result, it is now far more cost effective for the oil companies to drill in Canadian waters, because our government doesn’t think that safeguards are needed for drilling - even in our colder, more isolated & therefore more vulnerable, Canadian waters. Does this bother you like it does me?
Bu I am not writing about doom & gloom. I believe that we want to change this and there is no question that we have the technology to do so. But do we have the initiative? Canadians have the reputation of being a complacent society, but this is something that will not go away. Reversing climate change requires action. When Mayor David Miller was in Bancroft to speak at our spring Sustainable Symposium, part of the theme of his discussion was that a change toward a more sustainable world is getting it’s drive from large and small communities around the world. We cannot wait for the federal government to enact legislation. We have to make a change in our daily lives. It is up to individuals working together to drive the change.
I have had the pleasure of working with some dedicated individuals from this community to develop a draft sustainable plan for Bancroft. I know that other communities around us are doing the same thing. This is an important long-term plan towards developing a healthy community over the next 30 years. Is there anyone who would not benefit from this? There are potential actions outlined in the plan, but they need people to make them happen. We need you to help make this a reality!
In his book “The Geography of Hope”, Chris Turner, who writes about sustainability for the Globe and Mail, states this about climate change: “…there is the chance to be part of possibly the greatest project in the history of civilization, to be at the forefront of the generation that confronted the worst conflagration the world had ever seen-and sorted it out….. To look back perhaps a half a century from now, to say to our children-to our grandchildren-that we took all this on, fought and thought, worked our asses off, tried and failed and tried again, and finally got this wondrous new contraption moving down a clear path toward that sustainable city on a hill-what could be better, more worthwhile, more flat out balls-to-the-wall exhilarating, than to be part of that?
What else are you working on right now? What great project that would rest upon your soul like the many bars of ribbon on a war hero’s chest? What that you would point to, and look your grandkids in the eye, and say “Now that was worth the fight”? I know how I’d answer this one:
There’s nothing else.
Only this: To be part of the generation that beat climate change.”
We can all be part of a positive change. Look at your community’s Sustainable Plan, and if there isn’t one, help create it. Give feedback, participate in the actions needed to make this happen. Bancroft’s plan is on the Town’s website: http://www.town.bancroft.on.ca . Click on Sustainable Bancroft. This is a grassroots effort. Everyone can do a small part to make a huge difference. GET INVOVED!
Vancouver Green By Law
Vancouver is proposing a new Green Renovation By Law. Check it out at http://vancouver.ca/sustainability/greenrenovationbylaw.htm. It is a step in the right direction. What do you think?
Monday, July 19, 2010
Update - July 19, 2010
As of today we have 11 completed surveys. Don Koppin is working on news article #2.
As you can see Don Koppin has also been posting articles to our blog which I think is great.
One question is should we share our blog with the world? I could make some parts password protected (like the entering of actions) and have members of the CSPC as authors with others having read access only.
As you can see Don Koppin has also been posting articles to our blog which I think is great.
One question is should we share our blog with the world? I could make some parts password protected (like the entering of actions) and have members of the CSPC as authors with others having read access only.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Power of One, by Don Koppin
My wife and I recently had the pleasure of traveling to Boise, Idaho for a business conference. We flew to Calgary and drove to Boise, hoping to travel through Glacier National Park and experience some of Idaho’s beautiful scenery. While researching the Park, I quickly learned that it is difficult to actually see a glacier now due to the diminishing size and learned that scientists all agree that at our current rate of growth, by the time my grandchildren reach middle age, there will not be any glaciers left in Glacier National Park.
Whether you believe there is a need for a change in the way that we live our lives depends on how much you value the planet that we live on. Do you want your grandchildren to be able to behold the beauty of a glacier? Or will we even be able to see anything past the smog soon? Is there anything that the average person can do?
I have started to ride my bike to work and I actually travel from one end of town to the other faster than in my car. Every day, I see many others cycling and walking. I hear people complaining about the inconvenience of traffic congestion here in the summer. What if more of those people started leaving their car at home or in the parking lot at lunch or after work and walked or rode a bike more often to do their errands or attend meetings and appointments? We’d need better routes for pedestrians and cyclists for sure, but that would also mean easier access not just for residents but for the tourists who bring additional revenue into our town. Retailers and restaurants could encourage cyclists with bike racks and discounts. We’d use less fuel, there would be less vehicular traffic & fewer CO2 emissions, less road maintenance and many health-related benefits – I’m losing weight and have much more energy.
There are individuals here in Bancroft who are researching national trail networks that could be linked to our community for non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians, attending conferences for support and ideas and talking to other organizations and government officials about moving forward with improvements to the trails and routes in our area.. What an opportunity for adventure tourism!
We all need to work together to develop a vision of sustainability for our town and collaborate with surrounding communities to develop a regional effort. What does it take to make any of this a reality? Usually, it means stepping out of your comfort zone to make a positive change. It takes one more person to volunteer, to voice their ideas, and then another person, and another, and soon a large group is working towards positive change and growth.
Whether you believe there is a need for a change in the way that we live our lives depends on how much you value the planet that we live on. Do you want your grandchildren to be able to behold the beauty of a glacier? Or will we even be able to see anything past the smog soon? Is there anything that the average person can do?
I have started to ride my bike to work and I actually travel from one end of town to the other faster than in my car. Every day, I see many others cycling and walking. I hear people complaining about the inconvenience of traffic congestion here in the summer. What if more of those people started leaving their car at home or in the parking lot at lunch or after work and walked or rode a bike more often to do their errands or attend meetings and appointments? We’d need better routes for pedestrians and cyclists for sure, but that would also mean easier access not just for residents but for the tourists who bring additional revenue into our town. Retailers and restaurants could encourage cyclists with bike racks and discounts. We’d use less fuel, there would be less vehicular traffic & fewer CO2 emissions, less road maintenance and many health-related benefits – I’m losing weight and have much more energy.
There are individuals here in Bancroft who are researching national trail networks that could be linked to our community for non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians, attending conferences for support and ideas and talking to other organizations and government officials about moving forward with improvements to the trails and routes in our area.. What an opportunity for adventure tourism!
We all need to work together to develop a vision of sustainability for our town and collaborate with surrounding communities to develop a regional effort. What does it take to make any of this a reality? Usually, it means stepping out of your comfort zone to make a positive change. It takes one more person to volunteer, to voice their ideas, and then another person, and another, and soon a large group is working towards positive change and growth.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Info at the Playhouse
Don Koppin dropped by the Playhouse last week and dropped of a number of brochures and postcards. Thanks Don !
Presentation at Albion Lake
This past weekend, Christ Drost got to the Albion Lake Association meeting and shared over 20 brochures on Sustainable Bancroft with those in attendance. Thanks Chris for your efforts !
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Sustainability and Summer in Bancroft
Published in the Bancroft Times - July 8, 2010
Summer in Bancroft is easy to enjoy. Time spent at local lakes swimming or boating, barbeques with friends while enjoying tasty local food, time spent in our gardens or walks along nearby trails – these are all enjoyable pastimes on a beautiful July day.
A perfect summer day can take your mind away from the challenges that we face in our daily lives, and so it should. We all deserve a chance to relax and take in the best that the season can offer.
Summer is also a good time for reflection and for thinking about the things that hold the most meaning for us. For example, what makes this place special? What are the things that I like about it? Where do I want to see Bancroft not just now but in the future?
A dedicated group of volunteers has been meeting on and off for the last 18 months to consider three basic questions about Bancroft: Where are we now? Where do we want to be? and How are we going to get there? The thoughts of this group, with contributions from almost 40 volunteers can be found in the plan called Sustainable Bancroft.
Sustainable Bancroft includes 16 themes in the four pillars of sustainability: cultural, social, economic and environmental. It addresses everything from solar power to recreational trails to creating green jobs. It highlights our vibrant cultural community, strong social networks and our incredible natural beauty.
Sustainable Bancroft is available online for public comment through the Town of Bancroft web site www.town.bancroft.on.ca. Information brochures are available at the Tourist Office at the Chamber of Commerce, at the Bancroft Public Library and at the Village Playhouse. In addition volunteers are distributing pamphlets and answering questions at local events such as the weekly concerts at Millennium Park.
Summer pleasures are memories that get us through the year, especially on cold nights in January when you’re shovelling snow. This year as you are breathing in summer think for a minute about the things that you love about Bancroft and make sure that they are included in Sustainable Bancroft. Thinking about the future can be a bit daunting at times but if we all take a few minutes to do it we will all be better off in the end.
- 30 -
Summer in Bancroft is easy to enjoy. Time spent at local lakes swimming or boating, barbeques with friends while enjoying tasty local food, time spent in our gardens or walks along nearby trails – these are all enjoyable pastimes on a beautiful July day.
A perfect summer day can take your mind away from the challenges that we face in our daily lives, and so it should. We all deserve a chance to relax and take in the best that the season can offer.
Summer is also a good time for reflection and for thinking about the things that hold the most meaning for us. For example, what makes this place special? What are the things that I like about it? Where do I want to see Bancroft not just now but in the future?
A dedicated group of volunteers has been meeting on and off for the last 18 months to consider three basic questions about Bancroft: Where are we now? Where do we want to be? and How are we going to get there? The thoughts of this group, with contributions from almost 40 volunteers can be found in the plan called Sustainable Bancroft.
Sustainable Bancroft includes 16 themes in the four pillars of sustainability: cultural, social, economic and environmental. It addresses everything from solar power to recreational trails to creating green jobs. It highlights our vibrant cultural community, strong social networks and our incredible natural beauty.
Sustainable Bancroft is available online for public comment through the Town of Bancroft web site www.town.bancroft.on.ca. Information brochures are available at the Tourist Office at the Chamber of Commerce, at the Bancroft Public Library and at the Village Playhouse. In addition volunteers are distributing pamphlets and answering questions at local events such as the weekly concerts at Millennium Park.
Summer pleasures are memories that get us through the year, especially on cold nights in January when you’re shovelling snow. This year as you are breathing in summer think for a minute about the things that you love about Bancroft and make sure that they are included in Sustainable Bancroft. Thinking about the future can be a bit daunting at times but if we all take a few minutes to do it we will all be better off in the end.
- 30 -
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Report from Sustainable Communities Conference By Don Koppin
In February of 2010, I attended a Sustainable Communities Conference in Ottawa. This is a summary of what was presented at that conference and a brief description of what some communities are doing to be more sustainable.
Day 1 Subtheme: Partnering to Deliver Community Sustainability.
The really important message that I got from this conference hit me on the first day and continued throughout the three days. People from large and small municipalities from all over Canada, from the Northwest Territories to Newfoundland attended this conference and all of them were excited about initiatives in their communities around Sustainability and how these efforts are creating better, healthier and more financially secure places to live.
This message came from a Keynote Address by Mayor David Miller.
“Cities are showing the world how” a quote from Bill Clinton. This was part of Mayor Millers message as well as a theme throughout the conference. The significant changes in world sustainability are being initiated in large and small communities around the world. We, in Bancroft, can make a significant contribution which would make our community healthier, better off financially and protect our natural environment !
Other messages include “All green projects create jobs”. Major savings and new jobs can be created by imaginative projects. As an example, Los Angeles has adopted a seven year program to replace all of their street lights to LED light bulbs. The savings in electricity from the bulbs replaced in the first year will fund the next years bulb replacement and so on until all light bulbs are LED. Once completed, the city will be saving 10 million U.S. dollars per year in electricity. What type of initiative could Bancroft make to save money and create jobs at the same time?
Toronto and Vancouver are both looking at projects to put insulation on large concrete and glass commercial buildings to save energy, reduce Green House Gas emissions and create jobs.
If Bancroft is to have a Sustainability Plan that will be useful to the Municipality and the Community to create a better place to live, we need to move towards a partnership of the Council, Town Staff and Community members meeting together, brainstorming together, and implementing together to make the plan work! Municipalities that are having success with this agree that good planning makes implementation easier. Having Regional involvement should be a goal.
Managing change means managing resistance. This includes education and input from everyone involved. There are many ways that communities are dealing with this. One community has developed a sustainability requirement for development. Any developer filing for a permit to develop a part of the community, must submit a sustainability plan with the permit application
2.
which shows how the development will benefit the community economically, environmentally and socially. If this cannot be substantiated, they do not get a permit.
These are some of the themes that I wrote down from this first day.
-“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that we used to create them”-Albert Einstein. Toronto is currently the most sustainable large city in Canada. They achieved this by changing the way that they were doing things. Vancouver has set a goal to be the greenest city in the world by 2020!
-“100% renewable is doable”
-Communities where the public are involved in decision making are the healthiest communities.
-One never stops learning about sustainability. A sustainable plan is never finished.
-“Do it because it is the right thing to do!”
-Cities must work with cities/ committees with committees.
-A lack of money is not a barrier- it is one facet of developing a plan to achieve a goal. The main value to make a change happen, is decisiveness and leadership.
Day 2 Subtheme: Economics of Climate Change: Protecting the Climate and Reaping Rewards.
What our energy choices are, says something about who we are. Currently, we are using polluting sources of fuel, controlled by a small amount of rich people, largely in the Middle East, telling us what is good for us. We can move from a position of powerless to powerful by producing our energy locally.
Ontario’s Green Energy Act has moved the province from a position of being behind the rest of the world to having the best energy policy in the world. North America can significantly reduce it’s use of fossil fuels by harvesting the sun and wind. "I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal run out before we tackle that."- Thomas Edison
To lower GHG emissions, or to address other sustainable actions, you have to consider the social issues driving it, the economic issues causing it and the culture creating it to find a solution for it. The world is striving for climate neutrality and zero waste. What will Bancroft do to move in this direction? Our landfill and recycling initiative is a good start!
There is typically a planning-implementation gap in municipalities when trying to make their Sustainability Plans a reality. We must create a strategy for dealing with this. A systems approach will help.
3.
The GMF will support initiatives that improve air, water, soil quality or protect the climate.
Housing stock- We currently have:
-houses that are not energy efficient.
-houses that are not healthy.
-houses that are expensive to maintain.
-houses that do not work as a system.
The Ont. Building Code is changing that. Good plans treat the house as a system from the start with contractors, designers and the client planning together with the subtrades, to develop an energy efficient, healthy, durable house that works as a system.
Large and small businesses and corporations are becoming more sustainable for the simple reason that sustainability is more profitable. It simply makes good business sense. It is not because of the environment, social or cultural issues. It is economically more profitable.
We are moving towards a new economy that is:
-a low carbon economy
-has local supply chains
-depends on services
-using les material
-incorporates responsible consumption/thrift
A recent community sustainable plan in a community in Alberta learned the following lessons:
-have the right decision makers at the table
-have someone to coordinate the project
-have a sustainable consultant
-challenge conventional thinking
Day 3 Subtheme: Building & Measuring Resilient Communities: Reinventing Our Local Economy.
Canada is the second largest consumer of water in the world. It’s water flows either towards the US or the Arctic. We can not count on an infinite supply of water, even in our aquifer. Water conservation policies are needed. Most water used in Canada is not returned to the aquifer in a usable manner.
4.
Threats to water include floods and scarcity, breakdown of the infrastructure and climate change. Reducing our consumption of water and reusing grey and rain water, can reduce the amount of water that the Town has to treat, saving money, energy and resources.
The UN recommends an average water use of 50L per day. Canada averages 358L per person per day. Surveys show that we think that we use 66L/day. The concern of this seminar is that we do not recognize that our current use of water, will lead us to a shortage sooner than we think!
Waste is the product of poor design. We need to change our culture and our thoughts on producing waste, whether it is waste material or wasting water.
An excellent presentation was made by two women from Haliburton in a presentation on transportation in small rural communities. The presentation was about the walking and cycling trails that they have created with funds from the GMF. There is a strong initiative in Canada relating to walkable communities. The advantages are an improved social atmosphere, better health and fewer vehicles. Public Health is a supporter of this. GMF funding is available for green initiatives in transportation.
Possible initiatives for Bancroft:
1. Make a goal of being recognized for one aspect of Sustainbility. This could be a long term goal such as being a Net Zero community or a short term goal such as developing walking trails around town.
2. Our neighbor, Batawa has been accepted as a pilot project as a sustainable neighborhood development by Leeds Canada. They have the goal of being the most sustainable rural community in Canada. We could visit them to learn what they are doing and what mistakes to avoid.
3. Develop a plan for educating the community, town staff and councilors about what sustainability really is and seek input on how Bancroft can be sustainable. Create a BUZZ about being sustainable
4. Develop a community think tank/brainstorming to generate ideas for developing a green economy in Bancroft.
5. Develop a Green Building Resource booklet.
Day 1 Subtheme: Partnering to Deliver Community Sustainability.
The really important message that I got from this conference hit me on the first day and continued throughout the three days. People from large and small municipalities from all over Canada, from the Northwest Territories to Newfoundland attended this conference and all of them were excited about initiatives in their communities around Sustainability and how these efforts are creating better, healthier and more financially secure places to live.
This message came from a Keynote Address by Mayor David Miller.
“Cities are showing the world how” a quote from Bill Clinton. This was part of Mayor Millers message as well as a theme throughout the conference. The significant changes in world sustainability are being initiated in large and small communities around the world. We, in Bancroft, can make a significant contribution which would make our community healthier, better off financially and protect our natural environment !
Other messages include “All green projects create jobs”. Major savings and new jobs can be created by imaginative projects. As an example, Los Angeles has adopted a seven year program to replace all of their street lights to LED light bulbs. The savings in electricity from the bulbs replaced in the first year will fund the next years bulb replacement and so on until all light bulbs are LED. Once completed, the city will be saving 10 million U.S. dollars per year in electricity. What type of initiative could Bancroft make to save money and create jobs at the same time?
Toronto and Vancouver are both looking at projects to put insulation on large concrete and glass commercial buildings to save energy, reduce Green House Gas emissions and create jobs.
If Bancroft is to have a Sustainability Plan that will be useful to the Municipality and the Community to create a better place to live, we need to move towards a partnership of the Council, Town Staff and Community members meeting together, brainstorming together, and implementing together to make the plan work! Municipalities that are having success with this agree that good planning makes implementation easier. Having Regional involvement should be a goal.
Managing change means managing resistance. This includes education and input from everyone involved. There are many ways that communities are dealing with this. One community has developed a sustainability requirement for development. Any developer filing for a permit to develop a part of the community, must submit a sustainability plan with the permit application
2.
which shows how the development will benefit the community economically, environmentally and socially. If this cannot be substantiated, they do not get a permit.
These are some of the themes that I wrote down from this first day.
-“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking that we used to create them”-Albert Einstein. Toronto is currently the most sustainable large city in Canada. They achieved this by changing the way that they were doing things. Vancouver has set a goal to be the greenest city in the world by 2020!
-“100% renewable is doable”
-Communities where the public are involved in decision making are the healthiest communities.
-One never stops learning about sustainability. A sustainable plan is never finished.
-“Do it because it is the right thing to do!”
-Cities must work with cities/ committees with committees.
-A lack of money is not a barrier- it is one facet of developing a plan to achieve a goal. The main value to make a change happen, is decisiveness and leadership.
Day 2 Subtheme: Economics of Climate Change: Protecting the Climate and Reaping Rewards.
What our energy choices are, says something about who we are. Currently, we are using polluting sources of fuel, controlled by a small amount of rich people, largely in the Middle East, telling us what is good for us. We can move from a position of powerless to powerful by producing our energy locally.
Ontario’s Green Energy Act has moved the province from a position of being behind the rest of the world to having the best energy policy in the world. North America can significantly reduce it’s use of fossil fuels by harvesting the sun and wind. "I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait 'til oil and coal run out before we tackle that."- Thomas Edison
To lower GHG emissions, or to address other sustainable actions, you have to consider the social issues driving it, the economic issues causing it and the culture creating it to find a solution for it. The world is striving for climate neutrality and zero waste. What will Bancroft do to move in this direction? Our landfill and recycling initiative is a good start!
There is typically a planning-implementation gap in municipalities when trying to make their Sustainability Plans a reality. We must create a strategy for dealing with this. A systems approach will help.
3.
The GMF will support initiatives that improve air, water, soil quality or protect the climate.
Housing stock- We currently have:
-houses that are not energy efficient.
-houses that are not healthy.
-houses that are expensive to maintain.
-houses that do not work as a system.
The Ont. Building Code is changing that. Good plans treat the house as a system from the start with contractors, designers and the client planning together with the subtrades, to develop an energy efficient, healthy, durable house that works as a system.
Large and small businesses and corporations are becoming more sustainable for the simple reason that sustainability is more profitable. It simply makes good business sense. It is not because of the environment, social or cultural issues. It is economically more profitable.
We are moving towards a new economy that is:
-a low carbon economy
-has local supply chains
-depends on services
-using les material
-incorporates responsible consumption/thrift
A recent community sustainable plan in a community in Alberta learned the following lessons:
-have the right decision makers at the table
-have someone to coordinate the project
-have a sustainable consultant
-challenge conventional thinking
Day 3 Subtheme: Building & Measuring Resilient Communities: Reinventing Our Local Economy.
Canada is the second largest consumer of water in the world. It’s water flows either towards the US or the Arctic. We can not count on an infinite supply of water, even in our aquifer. Water conservation policies are needed. Most water used in Canada is not returned to the aquifer in a usable manner.
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Threats to water include floods and scarcity, breakdown of the infrastructure and climate change. Reducing our consumption of water and reusing grey and rain water, can reduce the amount of water that the Town has to treat, saving money, energy and resources.
The UN recommends an average water use of 50L per day. Canada averages 358L per person per day. Surveys show that we think that we use 66L/day. The concern of this seminar is that we do not recognize that our current use of water, will lead us to a shortage sooner than we think!
Waste is the product of poor design. We need to change our culture and our thoughts on producing waste, whether it is waste material or wasting water.
An excellent presentation was made by two women from Haliburton in a presentation on transportation in small rural communities. The presentation was about the walking and cycling trails that they have created with funds from the GMF. There is a strong initiative in Canada relating to walkable communities. The advantages are an improved social atmosphere, better health and fewer vehicles. Public Health is a supporter of this. GMF funding is available for green initiatives in transportation.
Possible initiatives for Bancroft:
1. Make a goal of being recognized for one aspect of Sustainbility. This could be a long term goal such as being a Net Zero community or a short term goal such as developing walking trails around town.
2. Our neighbor, Batawa has been accepted as a pilot project as a sustainable neighborhood development by Leeds Canada. They have the goal of being the most sustainable rural community in Canada. We could visit them to learn what they are doing and what mistakes to avoid.
3. Develop a plan for educating the community, town staff and councilors about what sustainability really is and seek input on how Bancroft can be sustainable. Create a BUZZ about being sustainable
4. Develop a community think tank/brainstorming to generate ideas for developing a green economy in Bancroft.
5. Develop a Green Building Resource booklet.
Update on Consultation
As of July 5, 2010 we had a total of 9 responses to the questionnaire on Sustainable Bancroft.
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