Sustainable Events Worldwide
Doing great projects isn’t enough. We must scale results up and out – each city’s successes (and failures) serve as valuable learning points and places of discussion.
SCI events are highly effective in the transfer of learning. We link municipalities with sustainable solutions through a collaborative approach to knowledge sharing. We’ve found that Peer Exchanges and Workshops offer our members the best opportunity to share these experiences and transfer their expertise. Our Webinars offer members an opportunity to join this critical conversation from anywhere in the world! Our Annual Symposium brings cities, towns and regions (not to mention friends!) together each year to deepen our commitment to sustainability.
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May 2013
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SCI will launch our Energy Lab from May 29 - June 1, 2013 in Edmonton, Canada. Representatives from participating cities will gather to present information, establish baselines and develop individual city transition strategies.
A white paper report will be developed and available for circulation in June / July.
Please note that this is not a public event, and is an invitation-only series for SCI Energy Lab cohort cities.
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Can crowdsourcing save the planet?
MIT's Centre for Collective Intelligence is putting out a call for innovative approaches to Climate Change and Adaptation. The call is part of the contest-based Climate CoLab website that is building a community of researchers and practitioners to crowdsource climate change response strategies. There is a $10,000 top prize, and all winners will receive advice from policymakers, executives, and other potential implementers on how to move their ideas forward. The Adaptation contests are co-organized by SCI Research Director Dr. Alex Aylett. For more information, see the contest poster here or visit the contest website.
Proposals are due May 31, 2013.
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March 2013
Community Research Connections (CRC) e-Dialogue - Energy
Tune in to the CRC's second e-Dialogue of the Solutions Agenda, March 15th, 10:00am - 12:00pm PDT or 1:00pm - 3:00pm EDT. The United Nations General Assembly defines sustainable energy as "energy that is accessible, cleaner and more efficient...and...paves a path out of poverty to greater prosperity for all". Achieving sustainable energy involves a complex process of developing energy systems in a manner that minimizes environmental and health impacts, creates economic opportunity, and ensures everyone has equitable access to power. This conversation brings together leaders of innovative Canadian energy initiatives with the research team to discuss solutions for developing sustainable energy systems.
This session will be moderated by Professor Ann Dale, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Community Development.
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February 2013
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On February 7th, 2013 LatinCouver will host its inaugural annual Latin American trade conference, ExpoPlaza Latina, at Simon Fraser University Downtown Campus, Vancouver. The focus of the event is green technology and sustainable economic development in the mining and construction industries.
There is a total of 4 expert panel discussions lasting throughout the day, including the opening plenary 'Opportunities from Sustainable Cities', which will be moderated by Jane McRae, CEO of Sustainable Cities International.
The goals of this exciting plenary will be to learn about:
- Sustainability initiatives at the attending cities (Vancouver, Curitiba, Portland, Mexico City and Bogota)
- What have cities done so far and what are they planning to do over the next 5 years
- What is working and what is not working
- What kind of companies/technology/services do cities see themselves partnering and obtaining over the next 5 years
- How are cities working with technology /service providers to drive their initiatives
To find out more about this panel discussion, the event, its speakers and to register to attend, please visit www.expoplazalatina.com
Sustainable Cities will be presenting a workshop at the 2013 FCM Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show.
Workshop: Smarter Growth — Implications of Alternative Growth Patterns on Infrastructure Cost
Presented by Green Municipal Fund
A cost effective way for cities to manage their growth is to make it smart. Smart growth is a compact pattern of urban development that focuses growth away from rural areas and closer to existing and planned job centres and public facilities. Demonstrated benefits of smart growth include: improved human health and safety, many environmental protection advantages, social cohesiveness and lower infrastructure costs.
The Canadian and Mexican cities of Calgary and Los Cabos will be presented as case studies to analyze the cost of alternative growth patterns.
Speakers:
Pat Gordon, Director, Sustainable Cities International Network
Eric MacNaughton, Senior Transportation Engineer, City of Calgary, AB
Date: Thursday, February 14th, 2013
Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Caesar's Windsor, Windsor Essex, Ontario
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January 2013
Case Study: The Plan It Calgary Project, Calgary, AB
Manage Smart City Infrastructure Cost Through Smarter Growth Patterns
Cities need a cost-effective way to manage their growth; to achieve this, innovation and change are required in how we plan and deliver our land use and transportation systems. Assess how you can model your community on the success of Calgary, as they undertook a three-decade plan to innovate their growth strategy. Take back solutions for:
- Leading innovation and change in a public sector organization
- Integrating land use and transportation planning
- Developing more participatory engagement
- Lowering infrastructure costs through smart growth
Take advantage of the SCI Infrastructure Costing Guide to enable smart urban development!
Date: Thursday, January 24th, 2013
Time: 11:15am
Location: Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut St., Toronto, ON
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November 2012
Innovation and Service Delivery in Uncertain Times
Join the City of Port Alberni for a one-day workshop, exploring innovation and its relevance to the design and delivery of services. The day focuses on two core elements of innovation: developing the innovators mindset and learning to implement innovation as a process to enhance service delivery.
The workshop adopts a "learning-by-doing" approach. Participants work in teams to explore our human propensity to innovate and a method-based approach to implementing innovation at the local government level.
At the end of the day, participants will have developed a solid understanding of innovation as an alternative approach to defining and delivering municipal services.
Learning outcomes:
- Gain insight into your personal sources of innovation
- Learn to use tools key to innovation, including the Ladder of Inference and Design Thinking
- Learn and apply a tested innovation methodology
Who should attend?
Senior leaders and managers responsible for service delivery.
About the instructors
This workshop is facilitated by Nicky Fried and Bryan Krafchik of Akkadis Change Practice. AKKADIS enables people to execute their operational responsibilities, by providing tools, processes and learning at the point of need – when you are performing.
This program is part of the Sustainability Leadership Collaborative, a joint venture between AKKADIS and Sustainable Cities International.
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location: Gyro Youth Centre, 3245 7th Avenue, Port Alberni, BC
For registration, please call or email Theresa Kingston, Manager of Human Resources and Community Development, City of Port Alberni at:
Tel: 250-720-2506
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Space is limited – register early to avoid disappointment.
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October 2012
Sustainable Transport Conference
Hosted by CTS EMBARQ Mexico and Walk21, the International Conference on Sustainable Transport (CITS) is the biggest and most important conference of mobility in Latin America. The event promotes solutions to urban mobility and sustainable transport to generate and reach compromises and solutions to the challenges facing our cities.
Sustainable Cities International will be holding a workshop at the conference October 4, 2012. The objectives of the workshop are:
- To provide a general vision of the study of infrastructure cost and what value it brings to the cities
- Provide basic information on the previous conditions or requirements needed to carry out the process
- Present the new Infrastructure Costing Guide created by SCI
The workshop will go over two case studies: Los Cabos and Calgary. Calgary carried out this study in 2009 and it became one of the big decision making tools to decide on the growth scenario they wanted to pursue for the future. Through an SCI peer exchange, Calgary became a mentor for the city of Los Cabos to carry out a similar study. The results have recently been published and Los Cabos will be using the study to leverage the Vision Scenario they have developed for 2040.
Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012
Time: 10:30am
Location: Mexico City, Centro de Legalidad y Justicia, Room 2
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September 2012
Our Voices: Youth Building a Connected City
If you could create a city where people felt connected and not isolated, supported and not alone, how would you do it?
Designed for youth, by youth, the Our Voices: Youth Building a Connected City conference will explore issues related to isolation and disconnection in Metro Vancouver, and offer you the chance to help come up with solutions.
If you are between the ages 15 and 26, we invite you to take part in this exciting, interactive day-long event! As a conference participant, you will share your stories, discuss strategies for change, and help craft recommendations for Metro Vancouver's decision makers to build a more connected city.
Date: Wednesday September 19, 2012
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm, check-in from 8:00am – 8:45am
Location: The Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Vancouver, BC
*Lunch will be provided
This event is free, but registration is required. Please register here by September 12th. Attendance is limited, register early to secure a spot!
The first 50 youth to register will receive two free tickets to Opening Night at The Orpheum!
May 2012
SCI / Metro Vancouver Annual Symposium April 30 - May 3, 2012
(Please note this event is for SCI Network Member Cities only)
FOR FULL PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION - PLEASE VISIT OUR CONFERENCE WEBSITE!
Sustainable Cities International Network (SCI) and Metro Vancouver, our conference host, are pleased to announce the SCI Annual Symposium.
This year, members and invited guests will discuss how to accelerate innovation for sustainability in three theme areas: energy, food and water. Symposium delegates will explore case studies where challenges to innovation have been overcome and examine institutional arrangements that enable innovation to flourish. The Symposium will include keynote speakers such as architect Bing Thom – renowned for his commitment to sustainability and designing buildings that recognize the force of nature. Cutting edge initiatives in energy, agriculture, and water management will be profiled by guest speakers as well as in guided tours throughout the region. Site visits include Vancouver's Olympic Village and its Neighbourhood Energy Utility; Richmond's award winning Terra Nova Rural Park and the farm that feeds communities while training producers; and East Clayton, a model sustainable community that used green infrastructure as one of its defining principles.
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April 2012
Please note this event is full!
Pre-Symposium Workshop - Achieving Prosperity: Innovations in the Informal Sector
DATE: APRIL 30
TIME: 8:30AM - 1:30PM
The 2012 Sustainable Cities International Network Annual Symposium is being co-hosted with Metro Vancouver. The Symposium theme is "Accelerating Innovation and Sustainability", and will focus on water, energy and food systems.
Every year we host a pre-symposium workshop on a cross-cutting international development theme. The half day event on April 30th will include a site visit and informal roundtable discussions on the theme "Achieving prosperity: Innovations in the Informal Sector", and will take place in Vancouver's downtown eastside (DTES). The City of Vancouver has commenced a participatory planning process for the DTES, and representatives from the planning committee will provide a keynote and set the stage for the dialogue.
The city stories of waste collection innovations will provide context for the discussions:
- How have informal livelihoods been supported and allowed to prosper?
- How can we recognize and increase the status of informal economy workers?
- How does city/community planning impact informal livelihoods?
- What can we learn from experiences in other cities?
The event includes an optional tour of the United We Can facility.
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February 2012
SCI Network Peer Exchange, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, February 20 - 23
Theme: Promoting Sustainable Urban Livelihoods - Experiences in Waste Management and Urban Agriculture
Network participants from Dakar, Durban and Dar es Salaam will learn and share information through practical examples and discussions. The experiences from the three cities on implementing demonstration projects and stakeholders engagement in promoting sustainable urban development will be discussed. Stay tuned for a report following the event!
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January 2012
SCI Network Peer Exchange, Los Cabos, Mexico January 24th
Network participants from Los Cabos, Calgary, Colima, Mazatlan and Leon will share best practices and lessons learned in order to contribute to the new sustainability plan for Los Cabos. A key focus will be on implementation of the plan, looking at public transportation, public spaces and community participation.