WHAT I LEARNED AT THE SCC February 13‒15, 2013

DAY 1: Wednesday, February 13

Plenary — Sustainable Infrastructure: Bridging the Canadian Infrastructure Gap We tend to think of infrastructure as a problem rather than a foundation; infrastructure makes healthy cities possible. The best way to change human behaviour is through the wallet; most European communities would think we’re crazy to use potable water to flush toilets or water golf courses.

Industry Exchange — Life Cycle Assessment: Unlocking the economic, social and environmental promise of sustainable infrastructure Resiliency and how we will adapt to changing weather patterns must be part of our conversation about city building. About one third of the municipal surface is concrete, which requires 22% per cent less lighting than asphalt and reduces fuel consumption by 3%.

Workshop — Sustainable Neighbourhoods: The Story So Far Local leadership and public engagement are crucial to sustainability and carbon- neutral neighbourhoods. Building and maintaining relationships is integral to implementing a sustainable neighbourhood action plan or neighbourhood-scale project.

Workshop — The Tools of (Climate) Change: Inventory, Innovation and Participatory Action Planning Climate change is not an environmental issue; it is about how you build your community. Participants learned about best practices for developing a climate change action plan.

Study Tour — Riverfront Retention Treatment Basin and Restoration For more than 50 years, successive city councils have worked to acquire and convert 5.5 km of Detroit River waterfront lands into the jewel of Windsor’s parks system.

Keynote — Storm Warning: Assuring Water and Climate Security Our understanding of the influence of ocean currents and the modulating effect of polar ice has advanced our understanding of climate change.

Industry Exchange — On the Path to Equilibrium Sustainable design and development projects result in healthier houses that have less impact on the environment. Best practices show that 80% of energy reductions can be achieved through 20% of a retrofit cost.

Workshop — Electric Vehicles and Infrastructure: On the Ground in Urban and Rural Contexts Electric vehicles sales are highest in provinces where incentive programs support purchasing green vehicles. Don’t underestimate the time needed to implement electric vehicle infrastructure.

Workshop — Making Sustainability Work in Rural Communities Access to high-speed telecommunications infrastructure is essential for rural communities. Changes in resource availability mean rural communities must think differently about sustainable infrastructure.

Study Tour — Dr. David Suzuki Public School The Dr. David Suzuki Public School is the first LEED Canada Platinum-certified school and is the most energy-efficient school in the country.

Study Tour — CS Wind Corporation Canada CS Wind Corporation has been in the steel construction business for over 20 years and has produced more than 3,200 wind towers since 2004.

Awards Ceremony — FCM Sustainable Communities Awards and PCP Milestone Recognition Meet the winners of the 2013 FCM Sustainable Communities Awards2013 FCM Sustainable Communities Awards

DAY 2: Thursday, February 14

Plenary — Smart, Connected Communities Innovation is the engine and productivity gives you time for innovation. Partner, partner, partner ― don’t wait for senior levels of government.

Industry Exchange — Environmental Technology Verification We need to move from vendor performance claims to independent verification. No more demonstrations — municipalities need to have large-scale verification.

Workshop — Smarter Growth: Implications of Alternative Growth Patterns on Infrastructure Cost Municipalities are realizing that conventional growth patterns are driving unsustainable growth in spending. Compact, transit-oriented development results in lower infrastructure costs than conventional, low-density, greenfield development.

Workshop — The Role of Sustainability Indicators and Visual Technologies Many Canadian municipalities are starting to integrate sustainability indicators into their budgeting and planning processes. Session participants amply highlighted the benefits of development indicators to achieving progress on sustainability.

Study Tour — Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies Unconquered Sun Solar Technologies Inc. is a Windsor- based manufacturer of premium high-efficiency, lightweight photovoltaic panels.

Keynote — The Intersection of the Creative Class and Local Government The knowledge economy requires sustainable use of human and natural resources. Only 6 to 7% of Canadian workers are in manufacturing, while 41% are members of the creative class.

Industry Exchange — So You’ve Got a Plan: Now What? Sustainability should be integrated into how a municipality does business. Communities need to change their underlying thought patterns, behaviours and culture to fully integrate sustainability practices.

Workshop — Innovations in Sustainability on Toronto’s Waterfront Developers must comply with minimum green building requirements that touch on a number of elements. The success factors of an intelligent community are leadership, collaboration and sustainability.

Workshop — The Next Frontier of Waste Management The Zero Waste Marketing Council would like to see a cradle to cradle approach to all materials to close the loop on waste. Canada is a leader in electronic waste recycling through stewardship.

Workshop — The Rural Infrastructure Challenge Fixing rural infrastructure key to Canada’s growth. Core economic infrastructure will allow rural municipalities to deal with priorities that impact the movement of goods and trade.

Study Tour — Remasco Inc. Greenhouse and BioMass Plant This tour visited Southshore Greenhouses and the connecting biofuel energy generation plant, operated by REMASCO.

DAY 3: Friday, February 15

Plenary — Intergeneration Panel: Building Communities for Generations Building more roads is not a sustainable response to population growth; we must create great public spaces for people of all ages. Harness citizens’ imaginations to find ways to make communities more inclusive, liveable and resilient.

Industry Exchange — Food Waste Diversion From Landfill Anaerobic digestion is an integrated solution to food waste diversion. Educate, educate, educate!

Workshop — The Leading Edge of Wastewater Treatment The new federal water quality standards pose important challenges for municipalities. Optimizing existing water infrastructure can help reduce the capital investment required to comply with the new standards.

Workshop — EcoDistricts: New Approaches for Implementing Sustainable Communities The EcoDistrict approach aligns policy and innovation at a neighbourhood scale. EcoDistricts recognize that different neighbourhoods need different solutions.

Study Tour — Ojibway Nature Centre: Species at Risk Project The Ojibway Prairie Complex of protected areas supports one of the largest concentrations of species at risk in Canada.

Closing Keynote — The New Social Innovation Paradigm Social entrepreneurship, like other economic development strategies, aims to create happier people. Local governments play a key role as partners in social innovation at the community level.