1. A Community of Heroes Britannia Beach, BC
This a story of community and the people who through personal and arguably hero actions are creating a sustainable community at Britannia Beach
A hero is a person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose

2. Community A Community Story of:
History
Memories good and bad
Regeneration
Accepting responsibility
Forming partnerships
Sustainability
Overcoming barriers
Creating a vibrant future
A Community of Heroes that made it all possible
Technical to Social and Economic Sustainability — In a process that is similar to the local regulation of land use that started with controlling resources and has in recent years moved more into broader social and economic issues
Sustainability has gone from a largely engineering-based ecological issue to a framework that includes the broader social and economic context
Sustainability is Good Business — Our work causes us to look at sustainability from many perspectives, the developer, the economic, the community, the individual
More and more we realize that land development dependent on community support
Community engagement is not just the right thing to do it is a very important business risk mitigation strategy against the costly delays that occur when a community does not believe that the benefits of a project outweigh any adverse effects

3. History Thriving mine and company community (1904-74)
Community — We spoke with residents, reviewed the oral and written histories, and meet museum staff
All agreed that the mine had been a safe mine for its time
That the community while a company town was spoken of consistently as a strong vibrant community
The mine closed legally — Another thing we heard repeatedly was when the mine closed
It closed legally and within environment quality guidelines of the day
Community Abandoned — When the mine closed
All the company community supports disappeared
The miners gradually left
Britannia became a colorful community
Isolated, without law enforcement, owned by a soon bankrupt real estate developer
It became colorful indeed
Pollution — Regulations change
Thriving mine and company community ( )
Community in turmoil after mine closes ( )
Identified as worst acid-rock-discharge site in Canada (1990s)

4. Regeneration
Industry, University, Developer, Community and Government Heroes come together to address crisis ( )
In 2005 public, private, partnership completes water treatment plant, solving the acid-rock-discharge problem
The finger pointing ends as “responsible parties” accept responsibility
Iona — Our first hero

5. Innovation and Sustainability Centre
Commitment to Sustainability — Industry, University, Museum, Developer, Community, First Nations and Government commit to making Britannia a model of sustainability
The community begins to thrive again
Sustainability Centre
Describe
This is a rare place — where every member of this community
understands its past
Appreciates the struggle of getting to where it is today
Commits to sustainability as its future
Britannia Beach emerges as a international model of industry and community sustainability

6. Starting Point for Presentation
Brownfield eyesore becomes icon of sustainability
Community participates in innovative sustainability effort
Project is a model for Industry, Community, Developers, British Columbia, Canada, and the globally
Digging into the research we found a more interesting story

7. Our Community of Heroes
Our heroes have demonstrated:
Not being afraid to dream big
Accepting responsibility
The power of strategic collaboration
Collectively they are creating a sustainable balance between:
environmental stewardship
community well being
long term economic development
It takes a community
Sustainability is more than green technology
The water treatment plant is not what makes this a sustainable community

8. Britannia’s Community of Heroes
Myth of Collective Vision
Each person sees from her own side
Collective vision is not collective, it’s a composite
Reality of Connective Vision
Finding solutions through connecting self interest
Building consensus around connectors
Iona
Ex-beauty queen
(her correct government title)
True hero
Industry
Accepting responsibility
Making an eyesore into an icon
Community
Old miners that created the sense that this is a special that still exists today
The new colorful community
Resilient, forceful, and overcame distrust
Developer
Purchasing one of the worst properties in Canada and turning it around
Converting 104 of 105 renters into home owners
Creating equity, diversity and trust
Rebuilt the fire department
Museum
Maintaining and restoring
University
Engaging, studying, planning

9. HughesBinder
Consultants grounded in the disciplines of:
Local Governance
Land Use Planning
Resort Development
Architecture and Preservation
We provide strategy and community engagement services to developers and government