February 2009 Communities in Transition Information Resource

COLLABORATIONS and partnerships are fundamental to the success of CIT projects. They “add value” to projects by bringing people and resources, often with diverse perspectives on land and conservation, together in the pursuit of common goals: to help communities make effective
transitions.


©Lora Tryon / 2008-2009

This issue of the CIT Information Resource highlights several CIT collaborations, in projects as diverse as housing, conservation, and sustainable community development. Our featured photo by Lora Tryon, shows the Millard Creek estuary in the Comox Valley. It's a fitting image, as this small watershed is the site of a collaboration between the conservation & stewardship (C&S) sector and local government in the Comox Valley, a collaboration that should make a positive impact on land use policies and development in the region. … (more at Editorial Notes)


In the February 2009 issue:

FOCUS ON NORTHERN HOUSING ISSUES: Tim Pringle talks about housing and its role in the economic and social well-being of BC’s northern communities.

“Being able to retain or attract households, especially seniors’ households, has a significant economic multiplier effect in communities and in the region. Perhaps more important than the retirement and investment income these men and women represent is the social heritage values they embody. These values are important to long-term community quality of life.”… (more at Tim Pringle on Northern Housing)


LEARNING LUNCHES: Guest columnist Kim Stephens talks about a seminar series that is protecting stream health and building sustainable communities on Vancouver Island

“Vancouver Island is the pilot region for a precedent-setting approach to informing and educating those who influence or impact how land is developed and water is used. Through CAVI - Convening for Action on Vancouver Island, we are cultivating broad, inclusive partnerships and collaboration that reach for the common goal of sustainability. In short, we set our sights on the common good and challenge the old barriers of jurisdictional interests. To achieve the common good, CAVI is bringing together: Local government, developers, the Province, universities and colleges, and the conservation and stewardship (C&S) sector.

“Our immediate objective is to foster ‘green choices’ that will ripple through time, and will be cumulative in creating sustainable, liveable communities and protecting stream health. … (more at Guest Column - Learning Lunches)


CLIMATE CHANGE 3: The final segment of our series on climate change focuses on planning for “Positive Settlement Choices”

“I’m pretty positive about the future... but we need to have the conversations in our communities [that will generate] the kind of mobilization we had in WWII. [This] is what we’re going to need now.” The quote is from Bruce Sampson, Former VP Sustainability, BC Hydro, speaking at last year’s Gaining Ground 2 conference. This article lays out some of the financial urgency behind such a mobilization, and draws on work done by Patrick Condon and UBC’s Design Centre for Sustainability to outline steps that land use practitioners need to be taking immediately to protect and sustain community liveability.… (more at Climate Change 3)


WHEN THINGS SLOW DOWN: Our feature article looks at how a slower real estate and development market provides some opportunities to advance sustainable land use practices.

“The rates of growth and development in many BC communities have had a huge impact on ecosystem health - and community sustainability. Between 1991 and 2002, for example, “60% of previously unmodified sensitive ecosystem lands” and 97% of second growth forests and seasonally flooded agricultural fields “were either lost, fragmented, or reduced” in the Comox Valley. The current slowdown in the housing market (housing starts across BC are expected to fall as much as 45% from 2006 and 2007 highs) will see a short term reduction of pressures on the land base. But as a number of land use practitioners suggest, the current slowdown should be a busy time for anyone with an interest in protecting and enhancing existing ecosystems.” … (more at Feature - When Things Slow Down)


ABOUT COMMUNITIES IN TRANSITION
If you're new to CIT, go to www.communitytransition.org/about for background on this Special Program of the Real Estate Foundation of BC.

For more information regarding CIT applications and projects please contact Jen McCaffrey, CIT Coordinator with the Real Estate Foundation of BC at info@communitytransition.org or 604-688-6800 /1-866-912-6800.

We look forward to sharing these resources with you. We welcome your suggestions as to how we can be more effective in communicating with you and your peers.


PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CIT SITE IS STILL IN DEVELOPMENT.
We are making a number of changes to make the site more functional as a place of conversation. We hope to see these changes in place within about four months. In the meantime, keep the conversation going:
* let us know how we’re doing
* let us know where you think we should be putting our attention
* give our writers and researchers feedback on the conversations they’re engaged in.

You can email me directly at "editor (at) communtytransition.org". You can also contact Jen, Tim, or Karin Kirkpatrick (Executive Director at the Real Estate Foundation as of November 1st) through the Foundation.

hans peter meyer
CIT Information Resource Editor & Writer
editor (at) communitytransition.org


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