GAINING GROUND—BUILT AROUND AN OPPORTUNITY

Imagine an opportunity for the most committed developers, consultants, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leaders of the Sustainable Urban Development movement to meet, talk, and work with one another only days before the UN’s third World Urban Forum and the World Planners Congress in Vancouver, B.C. This opportunity is Gaining Ground: The Sustainable Urban Development Leadership Summit occurring June 15-17 2006 in Victoria, B.C. The Summit will bring together more than two hundred of sustainability’s brightest lights, who have chosen to heed the call.

A Common Sense Approach

Sustainable urban development requires a re-tooling of thought processes, practices, policies, and resources. Development practices which served us well no longer make sense at a time when responsible energy consumption, wise land use, green space protection, water conservation, materials re-use, healthy social integration, and the more constructive and regenerative uses of physical and social assets have become central issues in defining the future urban built environment.

A Focused, Energetic Event

Organized as a series of “themed salons” centered around showcase and keynote presentations, Gaining Ground will provide participants with an opportunity to:

• interact with leaders in the field
• learn from showcases: Dockside Green, The Noisette Project, and Loreto Bay
• expand and share their knowledge base
• explore new ideas, strategies, and solutions in intensive discussion sessions
• promote new business opportunities and collaborations
• affect, accelerate and broaden sustainable urban development policy at all levels of government in North America
• experience the integrative process and find out how functioning systems work
  

Please see Keynote Speakers, and Program for more details.