Opportunities Abound at Sustainable Communities Conference

OTTAWA - Opportunity is a key word buzzing through the Westin Hotel in Ottawa Feb. 8 during the first day of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Sustainable Communities Conference.

Green thinking, green innovation and green investment — these concepts are not only good for the environment but the economy as well, and hundreds of delegates have travelled to Ottawa from across the nation to learn more about positioning Canada as a leader, seizing the opportunities presented by a greener vision.

The opening plenary discussion, while barely glancing on the breadth of its subject matter, was focused on building a green economy for Canada.

	Dr. Katherine Loflin Photo: FCM

Presenters spoke of the need for policy direction and leadership from governments, but also about how private investment can be a large part of sustainable community development.

David McLaughlin, president and CEO of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, told the audience this morning there are risks to be characterized and opportunities to be exploited as billions of investment dollars are fed into sustainability.

A sensible approach, tailored to the needs of Canadians while recognizing regional realities in the vast country, is needed in order to create the right policy framework that will allow the green economy to thrive.

Following the morning plenary session, prospects and opportunities were in abundance during a Speed Dating for Capital workshop, where financiers, such as Vancity Credit Union, TD Canada Trust and the FCM Green Municipalities Fund, sat in roundtable discussions with conference attendees to discuss projects and possible funding paths. 

The afternoon plenary seminar discussed nurturing sustainable and thriving communities from a different perspective, by creating a sense of attachment among the people who live in a given community.

Dr. Katherine Loflin presented a summary of a three-year research project that explored what exactly it is about a community that creates a sense of attachment among its citizens. She found the same three factors emerged in cities across the United States: the perception of the availability of social offerings, the natural and created beauty of a place, and the sense that a broad range of demographics in the community are openly welcomed.

People grow attached to their community more deeply when these factors are present, and when people are engaged, the community responds by thriving.

Throughout the conference, delegates are hearing that every municipality has the opportunity to engage in the power of its people to make a more sustainable future.

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