Promoting, encouraging and supporting community level actions and initiatives that move Calgary towards a sustainable future.

Sustainable Calgary is located at:

321, 223 12 Ave. S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9

Phone (403) 270-0777

Email: Info@sustainablecalgary.ca

Web site: www.sustainablecalgary.ca

Sustainable Calgary - About The Organization

From Grass Roots to Grass Roots

About Us

Sustainable Calgary (SC) started in 1996 as a grassroots group of Calgarians who came together to discuss ways to improve the sustainability of our city. They were motivated in part by a dissatisfaction with the narrow set of economic indicators that drove public policy-making - economic growth rate, stock market indexes, inflation rates, currency valuations and so on. They decided that a first step in creating a more sustainable Calgary was to redefine how we measured progress. Inspired by the work of Sustainable Seattle Sustainable Calgary Society embarked on a project to identify, research and report on a set of community sustainability indicators. They entered into a process to identify community indicators and they asked Calgarians to help with the task. Through a rigorous process of research, citizen engagement, discussion and elimination, the group identified 36 community sustainability indicators to measure the state of our city. Through this process and the energy and enthusiasm it generated, Sustainable Calgary (SC) was born. Now more then ten years later, SC is a citizen-led, non-profit organization that still works as a grass roots organization focusing on citizen engagement. Citizens are the heart, foundation and future of a sustainable city.

Mission

“To promote, encourage and support community level actions and initiatives that move Calgary towards a sustainable future. In the context of our urban lives, we define sustainable development as the process of working towards the long-term health and vitality of our city and its citizens with regard to ecological, social, cultural and economic processes.”

Mandate

To create the first sustainable city in Canada

Principles

The following principles embody Sustainable Calgary’s definition of what good sustainable development should achieve:

Maintain or enhance ecological integrity.
Promote sustainable economic development, which for us equates to economic viability within the constraints of ecological limits and social equity goals.
Promote social equity.
Encourage democratic participation in decision-making that affects peoples' lives.
Judge development strategies based not just on short-term gains but also on the impact on the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations.

What We Do:

SC approaches its work through an economic, social and environmental lens and the notion that success of sustainable development depends upon human behavioural, structural and institutional change. Change begins through education and involvement in community actions and initiatives. SC invites the public, including decision-makers and professional working in the field to join in education forums, discussions and in more focused work to make these changes. SC also work as advocates for sustainable principles and applications. Though the idea of sustainability is growing popular in business, governments and education spheres, it is necessary for citizens to advocate for the implementation of these principles and work towards making lasting changes that will move Calgary towards a sustainable future.

Consequently Sustainable Calgary:

Creates opportunities to learn about sustainable living principles, policies and practices such as education forums and workshop. In 2007, we presented two public sustainable transportation forums: Smart Growth March 26 and a two day event Sustainable, Equitable and Smart Transportation September 28, 29, including a screening of A Convenient Truth: Urban Solutions form Curitiba, Brazil an discussions about issues with a wide variety of participants including marginalized Calgarians.

Promotes dialogue among diverse groups of people including local residents and decision-makers about policies and issues, such as the Citizens’ Agenda project. SCS has pioneered broad and large-scale citizen participation in our projects. Many individuals have contributed their time and effort. We now have over 400 members, have engaged more than two thousand Calgarians in workshops and projects about our city and sustainability. In 2007 we hosted talks for the Calgary Public Library, professional organizations, community organizations and schools.

Develops tools to monitor Calgary's long-term sustainability and quality of life and well being, such as the community sustainability indicators. SCS has published three "State of Our City" reports since 1999 The State of Our City Project is an in-depth look at the health of Calgary's living environment. The goal of this project is to track Calgary's long-term health using a set of sustainability indicators and to inform Calgarians of the city's progress through State of Our City reports. The sustainability indicators are key tools we use as a benchmark for analysis, education and discussion about sustainable concepts.

Conducts research and write reports about sustainability issues and policiesIn 2007 we published a report on “Overcoming Barriers to Smart Growth and on the first phase of the Citizens' Agenda project.

Advocates for sustainable principles and takes action. We are currently building strategies to engage citizens and advocate for the implementation of action on sustainability issues as part of our Citizens’ Agenda Project – Indicators to Action. Right now a group is engaging in discussions about sustainable transportation.

Consider joining us as we move into the future.

Since the core group began, many other individuals have contributed their time and effort to our projects. Sustainable Calgary now boasts over 240 members, has engaged thousands of Calgarians in workshops and projects about Calgary and sustainability, and has published three "State of Our City" reports providing facts about the city's sustainability against key indicators. A fourth report will be released in 2008. This represents ten years of indicator reporting - A Significant Milestone on the Road to Sustainability.

Sustainable Calgary is located at:

321, 223 12 Ave. S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2R 0G9

Phone (403) 270-0777/

Email: Info@sustainablecalgary.ca

Web site: www.sustainablecalgary.ca

Sustainable Calgary is a volunteer organization without regular office staff at this time. Your patience is appreciated. Please leave a message if we are not available and we will contact you.

The Mission is:

The Mandate Is:

To create the First Sustainable City in Canada

Approach

Sustainable Calgary approaches it work using the following approach:

A Sustainability Lens. In a complex world the social, ecological and economic health of our community is interwoven and that durable solutions will have to be holistic ones.

Sustainable Change. Change is needed and depends upon human behavioural, structural and institutional change. Change begins through education and involvement in community actions and initiatives.

Participatory Learning Process. Citizen participation that employs participatory action research, popular education methods and deliberative processes leads to better decisions and more effective solutions.

Future Focused. Judge development strategies on the impact of the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations.

Social Justice and Inclusion of the Marginalized and Vulnerable. The welcoming and inclusion of the unique perspectives of our community's vulnerable and marginalized citizens will ultimately lead to better decisions, more effective solutions and a city that is built for everyone thereby enriching all our lives.

Collaboration. Many individuals and organizations work toward the vision of a healthy, caring and vibrant Calgary. Collaboration can reduce redundant effort, enhance our ability to create the right roadmap, and build the political will and critical mass that will be necessary for success.

What We DO

Create opportunities to learn about sustainable living principles, policies and practices such as education forums and workshop. In 2007, we hosted two public major events: Smart Growth Forum in the Spring and a two day Sustainable, Equitable and Smart Transportation Forum in the Fall. In January we launched a monthly book club that covers a wide range of topics for discussion.

Promote dialogue among diverse groups of people including local residents and decision-makers about policies and issues such as the Citizens’ Agenda project. SC has pioneered broad and large-scale citizen participation in our projects. Many individuals have contributed their time and effort. SC has engaged more than two thousand Calgarians in workshops and projects about our city and sustainability. In 2007 we hosted talks for the Calgary Public Library, professional organizations, community organizations and schools.

Develop tools to monitor Calgary's long-term sustainability and quality of life and well being such as the community sustainability indicators. SCS has published three "State of Our City" reports since 1999 The State of Our City Project is an in-depth look at the health of Calgary's living environment. The goal of this project is to track Calgary's long-term health using a set of sustainability indicators and to inform Calgarians of the city's progress through State of Our City reports. The sustainability indicators are key tools we use as a benchmark for analysis, education and discussion about sustainable concepts.

Conduct research and communicate results about sustainability issues and policies. In 2007 we published a report on Overcoming Barriers to Smart Growth and on the first phase of the Citizens' Agenda project. In 2008, we conducted research about sustainable and equitable transportation in the City and developed a Citizens' Charter to educate and inform about the way the city is designed.

Advocate for a sustainable future. We are currently building strategies to engage citizens in implementating the Citizens’ Agenda 12 priority actions designed to move Calgary towards a sustainable fuuture. Current work focuses on three priority actions that relate to the way the city is designed and include promoting community oriented development, transit-oriented design and spending less of the transportation budget on builing roads and more on transit and other modes of sustainable travel in the city.

Since the core group began, many other individuals have contributed their time and effort to our projects. Sustainable Calgary now boasts over 200 members, has engaged thousands of Calgarians in workshops and projects about Calgary and sustainability, and has published three "State of Our City" reports providing facts about the city's sustainability against key indicators. A fourth report will be released in 2008. This represents ten years of indicator reporting - A Significant Milestone on the Road to Sustainability.

Consider joining us as we move into the future. Membership is free. Send your name, address contact information to 321-223 12 Ave. S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2N 2B1 or to info@sustainablecalgary.ca with membership as the subject line.