May 27, 2009
Smart Growth BC's Research Analyst, Michael Alexander, in partnership with Michael Painter and Associates won the Vancouver Public Space Network's "Where's the Square" design competition. Their entry, titled "Waterfront Square" scored highest in the "People's Choice" category. This is Michael's first time entering a design competition! Congratulations!
Click here to read more
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December 1, 2008
The Board of Directors of Smart Growth BC today announced the appointment of the organization's new Executive Director, Cam Brewer, a well-known and respected leader in the green building and sustainability field. He will take up his new position at Smart Growth BC on February 1, 2009.
Click here to read the media release
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September 30, 2008
Smart Growth BC is partnering with the Vancouver City Planning Commission to launch "YouMap Vancouver," a community engagement initiative unique to its kind in Canada. We will begin with a pilot project in the Grandview Woodland and Douglas Park neighbourhoods. The initiative will encourage local youth, elders, families, community groups, businesspeople and everyone in these communities to reveal the special corners, shops, viewpoints, and public spaces that make their streets special to them.
To learn more click here.
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August 20, 2008
Smart Growth BC partnered with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Squamish Sustainability Corporation and West Coast Environmental Law to share Squamish's best practices in sustainability with a delegation of 43 local government leaders from across Canada. The tour featured the Smart Growth on the Ground project which led to the development of Squamish's new Downtown Area Plan--founded on the 10 principles of smart growth.
To learn more about Smart Growth on the Ground, click here.
To learn more about this event, click here.
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June 26, 2008
On July 8th, 2008, from 4-8:30 pm at the Coast Inn of the North, the City of Prince George will be the first Northern community in BC to launch a Smart Growth on the Ground Project. This initiative will focus on forging community-specific solutions for the downtown core of Prince George, particularly around energy and climate change issues. The Smart Growth on the Ground Project has potential to serve as a model for the rest of the city and beyond.
To learn more about Smart Growth on the Ground, click here.
To understand more about the relationship between climate change and land use click here.
To read the full press release click here.
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June 10, 2008
Smart Growth BC Puts Forward its Recommendations for the Vancouver's EcoDensity initiative. We are generally pleased with the revisions to the EcoDensity Charter and Initial Actions, and very pleased with the public consultation process that has resulted in the last draft. To read our suggestions for improvement, click here.
To learn more about EcoDensity, click here.
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May 6, 2008
Smart Growth BC reveals its comments and suggestions for the recently released Bill 27. This legislation makes an encouraging and significant stride towards promoting smart growth and adressing climate change.
Read the Union of BC Municipalities' Interpretation of the Bill
Read Smart Growth BC's Letter to Minister Chong
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May 1, 2008
Smart Growth Advisory Services has been contracted to facilitate development of the Official Community Plan (OCP) for the Skeena Queen Charlotte Islands Regional District, Area D, Graham Island. Our team of staff and partners brings to this project expertise in: community consultation, policy, research, participatory visioning strategies, community assessment, land use planning, urban design, and communications. Our goal will be to facilitate a process that will be driven and embraced by the community, including youth, business, staff, elected officials, the development community, First Nations, industry, land owners, farmers and future generations of all the above. For more information about Smart Growth Advisory Services click here.
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April 2, 2008
Smart Growth BC's Special Projects Coordinator, Ione Smith, speaks about sustainable urban planning on CHBC News. This feature was a follow-up from Smart Growth BC's presentation at UBC Okanagan's 4th annual urban forum, "When Urban Meets Rural: Planning for Sustainability in the Okanagan." Policy makers, academics, students, business representatives and community members came together to discuss how the City of Kelowna can deal with its skyrocketing growth and achieve high livability standards.
View the story
Read Kelowna Capital News Article
View Event Poster
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March 13, 2008
Smart Growth BC presents a draft Downtown Neighborhood Plan for Squamish. Over 80 people attended the open house event organized by the District of Squamish. They provided comments, asked questions and shaped the future of their community.
Read more about the plan
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March 10, 2008
Smart Growth BC unveils its recommendations for Metro Vancouver's Regional Growth Strategy review. Over the next 25 years, Metro Vancouver's population will grow by 37%, reaching 3 million. Are we ready to meet this challenge? How will we manage growth while improving our region's livability?
See Smart Growth BC's perspective
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March 6, 2008
This month's Atlantic Magazine predicts a major market shift to walkable urban environments offering a mix of residential and commercial development. According to the Magazine, "Builders and developers are working to accomodate demand for urban living. [...] Over the next 20 years, developers will likely produce many, many millions of new and newly renovated town houses, condos, and small-lot houses in and around both new and traditional downtowns."
Click here to read this article by Brookings Institution's Christopher Leinberg
Click here to see examples of Smart Growth BC's projects that are on top of this emerging trend
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March 4, 2008
Smart Growth BC's Manager of Community Engagement and Policy speaks at Vancouver's EcoDensity public hearing.
Click here to read key excerpts from SGBC's presentation
Click here to read more about EcoDensity
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February 20, 2008
Smart Growth BC asks the City of Richmond to remove the term 'smart growth' from the Garden City Lands public consultation process and that all principles of smart growth (including farmland protection) be used when defining the term in the future.
Click here to see Richmond Review article
Click here to see Richmond News letter to the editor
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January 28, 2008
Smart Growth BC Writes to Premier Gordon Campbell RE:Regional Planning and Governance and Smart Growth in Support of Sustainability in BC.
Click here to read more
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January 17, 2008
Smart Growth Leadership Institute releases toolkit to help communities implement smart growth. The toolkit can help communities across the US and Canada to encourage development that creates safer, healthier, more livable neighbourhoods; helps to protect the environment and reduce energy consumption; expands housing options; helps households lower their expenses; and, maximizes return from existing community investments.
Click here to view the Smart Growth Leadership Institute's toolkit
Also Smart Growth BC has a smart growth toolkit! Click here to read more
Did you know? Smart Growth Leadership Institute's President, Parris Glendening, will be speaking at Smart Growth BC's Annual Conference, April 18th, 2008. Click here to see the program
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February 17, 2007
Vancouver Sun's Frances Bula features Smart Growth on the Ground's partners, the District of Maple Ridge and Town of Oliver, among BC's "10 innovators who are leading the way." Both projects are bringing together neighbours, legislators, business leaders and developers to build more livable communities.
Click here to read Vancouver Sun article
Click here to learn more about Smart Growth on the Ground