In this Issue:
Publication of Interest
Hot off the press, Farmland Preservation: Land for Future Generations edited by Caldwell, Hilts, and Wilton, speaks to the importance of farmland as an essential resource, meeting one of the most basic of human needs: food. As land is lost to urban sprawl and other non-farm activity, our ability to produce food is diminished and options for future food production are limited. The book includes 15 chapters on Canadian and International efforts towards farmland preservation. For more information and to order your own copy visit Dr. Caldwell's website...  |
E-Newsletter - March 2007
Annual Conference and Awards set for June 1st 2007
We are thrilled to announce that registration is open for our 4th annual conference - Building Complete Communities: Developers Leading the Way
The event will be held at the Marriott Pinnacle in Vancouver on Friday, June 1st 2007. Registration will begin at 8:00am, conference at 9:00am. A wine networking session will round out the day from 4:00-5:00pm.
Early bird registration is $225+GST until April 6th, $275+GST thereafter.
The event will focus on exploring the newest policies, technologies, and strategies for creating affordable, energy-efficient, walkable neighbourhoods in British Columbia. John Knott, President and CEO of the Noisette Company, will give the keynote presentation on the world-renowned Noisette sustainable community project in South Carolina.
We will also be hosting our second annual Smarty Awards during a luncheon gala ceremony to celebrate excellence in innovative development in B.C.
Smarty Award nominations are due on March 30th so get yours in today!
We're also pleased to be able to offer Green Scenes: New Urbanism and Sustainable Development tours in Vancouver from May 29th to May 31st.
Smart Growth Advisory Services is currently offering mission-based consulting services to local governments.
Currently, we are working on a number of interesting projects:
- District of Squamish: conducting the public process and developing the Downtown Neighbourhood Plan
- City of Vernon: leading the public consultation and re-writing the Official Community Plan
- Village of Kaslo: re-writing the OCP
- Village of Silverton: re-writing the OCP
- Tofino Housing Corporation: assisting with a local area plan.
Our advisory services has been doing so well that we are hiring another full-time planner on staff. Please see the Smart Growth BC website for the job posting.
Smart Growth on the Ground update
The Smart Growth on the Ground Concept Plan for Greater Oliver was released in December 2006. The concept plan includes ideas about adding new housing choices to the residential neighbourhoods in Town, restoring the course and function of the Okanagan River, and supporting agriculture.
The Social Planning and Research Council of BC has just finished their objective evaluation of the SGOG program. Their final report provides a
thorough outline of the strengths and weaknesses of the SGOG process, and a comprehensive set of recommendations for improvement.
Community Assistance Program update
Our CAP Coordinator Jason Emmert has presented to the following communities and spoken at the following events since the new year:
- Wells-Gray Country/Clearwater (Jan 18th)
- Emily Carr Institute - Affordability and Sustainability (Jan 23rd)
- Town of Comox (Jan 24th)
- University College of the Fraser Valley - Urban Geography (Feb 28th)
- District of Sooke (Mar 5th)
- Richmond Nature Park (Mar 18th)
Please see our CAP webpage for more details.
Sea-to-Sky Corridor update
Smart Growth BC is continuing to focus our efforts in the Sea-to-Sky region as part of our Greenbelt initiative.
We are co-hosting two exciting events that are free and open to the public:
* Growing Greener - From Planning to Doing in the Sea-to-Sky - April 21, 2007
and
* Housing Alternatives for Sea-to-Sky Communities - May 9th, 2007. To register email housing@smartgrowth.bc.ca
For more information on our work in the Sea-to-Sky corridor please contact our office.
New Website update
We are proud to announce that our new website will be unveiled in the upcoming weeks. We have created a new design and a friendlier layout that will allow for easier navigation through all the things we've ever done, are doing, or are planning to do! The new website address (www.smartgrowth.bc.ca) will remain the same as our previous address.
Smart Growth BC is a provincial non-governmental organization devoted to fiscally, socially and environmentally responsible land use and development. Working with community groups, businesses, municipalities and the public, we support the creation of more livable communities in British Columbia. |