Draft Sustainability Plan

The Greater Peterborough Area’s draft Sustainability Plan is now online! You can view the draft plan by clicking here.

Help us prioritize potential actions!

For those of you who couldn’t make it out to the last round of Community Cafes we have developed an online survey to allow you to provide the same feedback.

With the input received to date, we have developed some draft actions in each of the eleven theme areas of focus for Sustainable Peterborough, and are looking for your thoughts on which should become a priority.

Also, we’re looking for suggestions on potential partner organizations,  groups, businesses, etc. to help make these actions a reality.

Please take a couple of minutes to complete the survey by clicking here.

The Sustainable Peterborough Policy Charrette

Last week, on September 22, community members from across the Greater Peterborough Area came together to participate in the Sustainable Peterborough Policy Charrette. Over the course of the day, approximately 60-70 people contributed to the development of goal statements for Sustainable Peterborough’s eleven theme areas. Participants also drafted strategic directions – objectives that will serve to achieve the goals.

Participant and Asphodel-Norwood resident Debbie Lynch is quoted by the Peterborough Examiner, saying “It’s really important that yes, we think about what can we do now to make life, not just better, but literally sustainable down the road. What can we do, what small change can we make that will make a huge difference down the road?”

We were also pleased to be joined by keynote speaker and Ottawa City Councillor, David Chernushenko. David delivered a great presentation on the benefits of pursuing sustainability and provide attendees with some ‘food for thought’ during the lunch break.

The night before the charrette, September 21, approximately 35 local elected officials and senior municipal staff joined the Sustainable Peterborough Community Committee and project team for ‘An Evening of Sustainability’. Attendees heard the results of the initial round of community engagement and were invited to participate in a scenario-based exercise where decision-making took place through the lens of sustainability.

City Councillor Lesley Parnell, who took part in the evening’s event, is quoted by the Peterborough Examiner as saying, “We should be thinking sustainability about everything we do.”

CHEX News also provided coverage of the evening’s event.

Sustainable Peterborough Policy Charrette

You are invited to participate in a policy charrette for Sustainable Peterborough – a one day event bringing together involved community members from all across the Greater Peterborough Area, on:

Thursday, September 22, 2011 from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM
at the Canadian Canoe Museum, 910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough

What is a policy charrette? The word charrette refers to any collaborative session in which a group of designers drafts a solution to a design problem. While the structure of a charrette varies, depending on the design problem and the individuals in the group, charrettes often take place in multiple sessions in which the group divides into sub-groups. In a policy charrette you have multiple groups working on policy issues, and there is a similar dynamic where you work collaboratively.

We have had a successful summer of community engagement, and now we need to use the draft vision and sustainability principles to develop the things that will be at the heart of your sustainability plan. At the charrette we will:

• Share the results of our consultation exercises and our contact with over 2,000 local residents;
• Have several very short presentations on key sustainability issues;
• Turn our 10 themes into functional parts of the sustainability framework by adding a goal to each one focusing on where we want to get to over the next 25 years; and
• Draft strategic directions for each theme – critical objectives that will guide us to achieving our newly formed goals and our overall vision of sustainability.

We are also pleased to be joined by Ottawa City Councillor David Chernushenko, who will provide us with a stimulating presentation over our lunch break. David advises individuals and organizations on adopting more sustainable and socially responsible practices on a working level, while seeking personal fulfilment. He has played a leading role in “greening the Olympics” and started the NGO Clean Air Champions. David is the founder of The Living Lightly Project, a video and live lecture series and online community whose goal is to share the stories, solutions and passion of a growing movement of people working to build a rich future for all. He produced & directed Be the Change, an award-winning, uplifting documentary and Powerful: Energy for Everyone.

Over the course of the day you will be provided with lunch and refreshments.

Please RSVP to James Knott: 705-743-0777 ext 2159, or jknott@lura.ca

Reflecting Back

As our Vision and Goals phase winds down over the coming weeks, I thought I’d take a few moments to reflect on the past six months or so. Be it formal council delegations, talking classic cars at the Warsaw Cruise Night, hanging out in front of grocery stores, taking in the entertainment at Little Lake Musicfest, exploiting the popularity of the Silver Bean Cafe, or presenting to local groups and organizations, we’ve pretty much done it all, and have talked to thousands of people along the way.

We’ve met some great people in our travels; many with an immense passion for sustainability. It’s also been a pleasure to converse with those who have perhaps never given the notion of sustainability much thought, and to watch as the proverbial ‘light bulb’ goes off as they begin to understand the significance of the pursuit of sustainability.

From our many conversations and comments received have emerged ten key themes/areas of focus for Sustainable Peterborough:

• Water
• Economic Development and Employment
• Energy
• Waste
• Transportation
• Agriculture and Local Food
• Natural Assets
• Healthy Communities
• Cultural Assets
• Land Use Planning

Having just completed our eleven Community Cafes in each of the Greater Peterborough Area’s member communities, we’ve had some tremendous conversations with residents, business owners and politicians alike around these theme areas and have received some very valuable input.

Above is a picture of some of the participants at the City of Peterborough’s Community Cafe (August 11 at the Canadian Canoe Musuem).

If you have yet to provide your Vision for a Sustainable Peterborough, you still can by clicking here. Check back soon for more details on upcoming events in the community!

Sustainable Peterborough Community Cafes

In the coming weeks, Sustainable Peterborough will be hosting ‘Community Cafes’ in each of our member communities. Come on out to enjoy complimentary local finger food, learn more about Sustainable Peterborough and to have your voice heard in the development of your Community Sustainability Plan.

All Community Cafes will begin at 6 pm and will end at 7:30 pm.

August 3: Curve Lake First Nation, Cultural Centre – 22 Winnookeedaa St, Curve Lake First Nation

August 3: Township of Douro-Dummer, Town Hall – 894 South Street, Warsaw

August 4: Township of Havelock-Belmont-Metheun, Council Chambers – 1 Ottawa Street East, Havelock

August 4: Township of Galway-Cavendish & Harvey, Lakehurst Hall – 979 Lakehurst Circle Road, Buckhorn

August 9: Township of Asphodel-Norwood, Town Hall – 2357 County Road 45, Norwood

August 9: Township of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield, Bridgenorth Library – 836 Charles St, Bridgenorth

August 10: Township of Cavan Monaghan, Municipal Office – 988 County Road 10, Millbrook

August 10: Township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, Fire Hall – 21 Third Street, Keene

August 11: City of Peterborough, Canadian Canoe Museum – 910 Monaghan Road, Peterborough

August 11, Township of North Kawartha, Apsley Community Centre – 340 Mcfadden Road, Apsley

August 16, Hiawatha First Nation, L.I.F.E. Services and Child Care Centre, 431 Hiawatha Line 10

Offer your input in person!

Please note, we have now rounded up the Sustainable Peterborough Drop Boxes.

 

Interested in spreading the word?

If you’re interested in spreading the word about Sustainable Peterborough,  we encourage you to share the one page Sustainable Peterborough Info Sheet with anyone and everyone!

Events page has been updated

We’ve added some more events to our calendar! We’ll be updating this page a lot over the course of the summer so be sure to check it out frequently to find an opportunity to come talk about Sustainable Peterborough and to share your vision of a sustainable future for our community.

What is Your Vision?

Our vision and goals phase has wrapped up. Check back for opportunities to provide further input!