8:00am–9:30am

Room 7

Presented by The Pembina Institute.

What can B.C. local governments do to encourage more green buildings in our cities? Come join our session to find out what Berkeley and the State of California have done, what they’ve learned, and what they are doing next.

Since 1985, the City of Berkeley’s building code has required both residential and commercial properties to meet minimum energy conservation standards at the point of sale or substantial remodeling. This helps potential buyers and sellers understand the links between these energy measures in existing buildings and their future energy bills.

Berkeley is now undertaking a code revision that will allow greater flexibility in the choice of measures, will require performance testing of the home, and will result in a Home Energy Rating score for the building. This code change will contribute to the Berkeley Climate Action goal of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2050, which is similar to B.C.’s provincial reduction targets.

The State of California has developed Home Energy Ratings System program, which is intended to performance-test and rate every existing home.

Alice La Pierre and Billi Romain from the City of Berkeley’s Office of Energy and Sustainable Development, and Helen Lam of the California Energy Commission will provide insights on their experiences over the last two decades and will discuss future steps for Green Building policies in Berkeley and California.

The Pembina Institute’s Municipal Green Building Leaders project brings together municipalities, developers, home owners, real estate agents, utilities, and the provincial government to design and implement new green building policies.

Come join the conversation about how Berkeley’s experience can help move green building policy forward in B.C.

Free. Open to the public.

8:00am–4:00pm

Room 8

The Charette will explore, over the duration of the conference, how to reduce the ecological footprint of a portion of the BCIT Burnaby Campus by a factor of four. Featuring Richard Register, Founder and President, Ecocity Builders. The charette process and its final outcomes will be show-cased at the conference.

9:00am–4:00pm

SFU Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver BC

Towns for Tomorrow – Urban Revitalization for Sustainable Growth

Presented by the Heritage Branch, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts and the SFU City Program.

Sustainability has three pillars - environmental, economic, social - and a good heritage strategy supports every one of them.  This conference explores how the revitalization of our existing built environment can help to achieve smart growth, conserve energy and resources, and add to the cultural and economic health of a community.  Speakers and workshops will illustrate how the the revitalization of 'old towns' is helping to achieve sustainable communities.

Speakers include: John Knott, President and co-founder, Noisette Company. Noisette is the 3,000-acre historic centre of North Charleston, South Carlina, which is being re-shaped into a sustainable community; among others. Visit www.sfu.ca/city for speaker updates. Sponsored by the Heritage Branch, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts and the SFU City Program

Open to the public.

Registration: This course is a shoulder event to the Gaining Ground/Resilient Cities conference. Registration is separate from the conference. $175 (GST included) / CITY 127. To register online: http://www.sfu.ca/city/course9popup.htm

9:30am–4:30pm

Room 9

Collaborating on Carbon Commitments: A Training Ground for
Gaining Ground

Presented by the Centre for Civic Governance and the Community Energy Association.

Don’t miss this one – The Community Energy Association annual conference (for local elected officials and staff, as well as school trustees and facilities managers, hospitals and health regions), focuses on the tools that the public sector can use to reduce GHG emissions in buildings and operations, and tactics that can successfully be used to overcome resistance to climate action within your community. This intensive, one-day event on October 19 at the Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre (East) is the lead-up to the Gaining Ground conference, and focuses on how to build resilient communities through collaboration. Collaborating on Carbon Commitments is being delivered in partnership with the Centre for Civic Governance at Columbia Institute, who will present the lunchtime keynote address on international climate negotiations and local action. David Cadman, president of ICLEI – the international organization of cities working for sustainability-- will speak to international negotiations on climate change targets globally. Phone Lisa at 604 695-2033 for more information.

Open to the public.

For more information and to register, please go to:    http://www.civicgovernance.ca/node/702

11:00am–3:30pm

Room 15

The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, a primary conference sponsor and collaborator, will convene a dozen or more Canadian and US grant-makers and NGOs whose work addresses management of change in the built environment and its impact on the ecology that supports it. This working group session will explore the feasibility of an Open Directory initiative to provide enhanced web access to educational resources concerning this theme.

By invitation only. Please feel welcome to enquire about this program or to learn more about the working session.  Contact Leta Smith at the Real Estate Foundation – lsmith@realestatefoundation.com:  604-688-6800 ext.101.

4:00pm–5:30pm

Room 7

Presented by The Pembina Institute.

Transporting citizens and their stuff through our cities requires a lot of planning and resources, and contributes to major environmental problems such as climate change. Personal transportation accounts for approximately 14% of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Municipal governments play a critical role in determining how citizens choose to move around cities.

Mark Brostrom from the City of Edmonton and Jo Yee Yung Fung from City of Vancouver will provide real-world insight into how their cities are incorporating environmental concerns into land-use and transportation planning. Alison Bailie from the Pembina Institute will share preliminary results from our forthcoming report entitled Canada’s Coolest City. This report evaluates the achievement and progress of Canada’s six largest urban centres in tackling greenhouse gas emissions from personal transportation.

Come find out the successes and challenges of each city, and find out about some of the creative and innovative solutions to reducing transportation-related emissions in municipalities across Canada.

Free. Open to the public.

4:00pm–6:30pm

Room 10

The Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia, a primary conference sponsor, will host this information session and the reception that follows. Karin Kirkpatrick, Executive Director, along with Tim Pringle, Director of Special Programs, will review the Foundation’s legacy of support for initiatives addressing sustainable management of the built environment. We invite foundations, NGOs, professional organizations and others sharing this focus to join us. The Foundation is known for encouraging innovative approaches to responsible land use. Over the years the Foundation has gained a bird’s eye view of emerging issues related to the land through investment in the work of non-profits, government agencies, associations and post-secondary institutions. The session will highlight the leading-edge work of the Design Centre for Sustainability at UBC and Convening for Action on Vancouver Island, presenting two unique examples of how strategic investments of cash and expertise can move communities toward more sustainable land use. Please join us and stay for the reception and networking.

Register for this session by contacting Leta Smith at the Real Estate Foundation – lsmith@realestatefoundation.com, 604-688-6800 ext.101.

7:00pm–9:00pm

Room 11 & 12

Part of the Shifting Gears II Lecture Series:
Transportation, Health and the Built Environment

Sponsored by the Bombardier Foundation and the Active Transport Lab at the University of British Columbia and BC Recreation and Parks Association. Additional sponsorship from Translink. Program partner: Simon Fraser University City Program.

Jeanette Sadik-Khan is a transportation superstar in North America. As New York City’s Transportation Commissioner, she helped introduce protected bike lanes, pedestrian plazas, sustainable street designs and, most dramatically, closed five blocks of Broadway in Times Square to vehicles — while improving traffic flow! Find out how she transformed New York and how that could affect us, our health, and our urban environments. More info...

Free. Open to the public. Reservations required. Call 778-782-5100 or email cstudies@sfu.ca

7:00am–5:15pm

Room 19

A workshop for college and university administrators, faculty, sustainability office staff and students focused on advancing sustainability education and research throughout post secondary institutions.

For sustainability to realize its full potential in higher education and society, it must transcend an association with prescribed practices and specialized areas of study. Sustainability must become a pedagogical “big idea”, capable of complementing and connecting avenues of inquiry, and transferring knowledge and research to local governments and community partners. The case for broadening sustainability learning rests not just on ecological imperatives but also on competitiveness, job-creation and economic well-being in every community across British Columbia.

Featuring Keynote Speaker:
Paul Rowland, Executive Director, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

Participants will also join the Resilient Cities Conference delegates for a presentation by:
Paul Hawken, Environmentalist, Entrepreneur and Author, Blessed Unrest

Open to the public. $75.00 per person. Register Now: www.bcit.ca/sustainability

8:00am–4:00pm

Room 8

BCIT Sustainability Design Charette - Day 2

The Charette will explore, over the duration of the conference, how to reduce the ecological footprint of a portion of the BCIT Burnaby Campus by a factor of four. The charette process and its final outcomes will be show-cased at the conference.

By invitation only.

7:30pm–9:30pm

Room 10

The Watershed Wealth Cooperative, a conference partner, invites you to their evening social networking event where the Invited Panellists from the WWC's 90-minute CANSEE session and Resilient Cities conferences attendees can follow up, share common interests, make new contacts, and view more detailed information about how this innovative new social purpose enterpise will restore both the environment AND the economy. Join us for great networking with a few short presentations about WWC's business model and opportunities, and learn how WWC makes a profitable business of habitat restoration in urban, agricultural and forestry settings.

Free. Open to the public.

7:00pm–10:00 pm

Century House, 432 Richards St.

Urban Agriculture Ideas Jam
  
When discussing resilient cities the topic of urban agriculture inevitably emerges. An exciting project in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside aims to convert an asphalt parking lot into an urban agriculture project by the end of the year.  Join Building Opportunities with Business, in collaboration with the Vancouver Design Nerds and the Vancouver Public Space Network for an inspiring brainstorming session in a social setting. Learn about innovative urban agriculture projects and contribute your ideas on how this parking lot can be turned into a viable city farm and employment incubator.      

Please RSVP via facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?invites&eid=185612940785 or by email to Andrew McKay andrew.mckay@bobics.org

Where: Century House http://www.centuryhouse.ca/main/, 432 Richards Street (between Pender and Hastings)

Free. Open to the public.

7:30pm–9:30 pm

Ballroom C

Power of Hope for POSITIVITY!

At Power of Hope, we believe that youth are an untapped resource for community renewal and resiliency. Through our arts-based experiential education programs, we create opportunities for youth to connect more deeply with each other and with practicing artist / facilitators who are passionate about community empowerment for a more just and sustainable world.

Join the Power of Hope for POSITIVITY! - our Annual Fundraising Event. Come see what we do and enjoy an evening of performances with our youth and adult artists.

EXPERIENCE inspiring performances... CELEBRATE 12 years of transformative programs for youth... GENERATE friends and grow the Power of Hope...

Featured are JB the First Lady, poet Chris Tait, classical Indian musician Rupinder Sidhu, spoken work artist Matt Reznik, the Cultural Medicine Cabinet and Little Wheel Choirs, hot hip hop dance and much, much more! All these inspired youth, artists and facilitators are associated with The Power of Hope, BC’s premiere youth empowerment organization. All are welcome, free-will donations are accepted, but not required for admission.

Free. Open to the public. RSVP:  pohvic@powerofhope.org www.powerofhope.org 

7:30pm–9:30pm

Room 9

Building Resilient Cities through Public Land Conservation

The Land Conservancy of BC, a conference partner, would like to invite all participants to learn more about building sustainable urban communities by ensuring places of natural, historical, recreational, and agricultural significance will be available to the public in perpetuity.

Over time as cities change their form and function, one constant will be land and space that connects us to nature and to each other, to our past, and to our food sources. A city cannot be truly resilient without this sustainable foundation.

The Land Conservancy is the leading land trust in BC, and works in partnership with communities, conservation groups, companies, individuals, and governments to preserve and enhance our quality of life and special places throughout BC.  

Free. Open to the public.

7:30pm–9:30pm

Room 19

Resilient Cities in a Post Carbon World

Post Carbon Institute presents a special panel discussion by some of North America's top thinkers on what the growing crises of energy, climate, water, and population mean for cities everywhere. Join us for an honest conversation on what cities truly face in a world of growth limits, and what citizens and leaders can realistically do to cultivate local resilience. Featuring PCI Fellows:

• Bill Rees, University of British Columbia (co-originator of the "ecological footprint" concept)
• Anthony Perl, Simon Fraser University (co-author of Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil)
• Warren Karlenzig, Common Current (author of How Green is Your City?: The SustainLane US City Rankings)

Moderated by PCI Program Director Daniel Lerch (author of Post Carbon Cities: Planning for Energy and Climate Uncertainty).

www.postcarbon.org

Open to the public.

8:00am–4:00pm

Room 8

BCIT Sustainability Design Charette - Day 3

The Charette will explore, over the duration of the conference, how to reduce the ecological footprint of a portion of the BCIT Burnaby Campus by a factor of four. The charette process and its final outcomes will be show-cased at the conference.

By invitation only.

8:30am–4:00pm

Room 17

Resilient People and Climate Change: Fostering Psychosocial Resilience Among Human Populations - Day 1

Resilient People and Climate Change: Fostering Psychosocial Resilience Among Human Populations via Storytelling, Narrative, and Organizational Preparedness
 
Presented by Khanna Research + Communications and co-sponsored by Gaining Ground.
 
Homo sapiens, a species fundamentally rooted in pattern making and storytelling, is living through a climatic, economic, social, and cultural transition that is desperate for a new narrative: This is a primary rationale for our conference.
 
Drawing on the language of green and sustainability will take concerned individuals and organizations only so far. A growing body of evidence suggests that climate change-induced impacts on agriculture, the economy, public health, and water- and food- supply networks would not only undermine the abilities of literally hundreds of millions to meet basic needs for food, water, and shelter, but could also weaken the psychological and social resilience of human populations.

This two-pronged material and psychosocial threat to human civilization is occurring right now. During this crucial period the growth of popular resolve and resilience will be needed so that citizens are able to communicate their wishes to policymakers and begin to prepare for significant economic, climatic, cultural, and social dislocation.

Nonetheless, obstacles stand in the way of preparing for climate change: uncertainty, denial, habituation, mistrust, proportionality and, as always, a laundry list of immediate and practical priorities.  

These are the elephants in our living room and they¹re getting bigger. It¹s time to ask how to be rid of obsolete institutional paradigms and learn to see new problems in fresh ways; how to address uncertainty and the collateral damage of inaction; and how to influence the global, regional and local decision-making space of our audiences without sacrificing moral leverage.

Even if we accomplish this, the accelerating pace of climate change may outstrip humanity¹s ability to institute the dramatic and widespread structural changes needed to ensure just, inclusive, and large-scale adaptation.

If this proves true, then individuals, as well as private and public sector organizations, need to foster psychosocial adaptation that helps people become more resilient to climate change—and more capable of being of service to fellow citizens—as the inexorable shift towards a more challenging climate regime unfolds.

Consider: Whatever success might be possible in the next crucial years would require us to develop and harness a common language—a qualitative, not just quantitative, lingua franca that mobilizes humanity¹s shared stories.  

This groundbreaking invitee-only conference, which explores mental health and psychosocial adaptation to climate change—and potential cultural, social, and policy remedies—is proud to be associated with Gaining Ground's production of Resilient Cities: Urban Strategies for Transition Times.

By invitation only or application only. To apply, simply write a note stating why you (or your organization) is interested in the event and email it to sk@khannaresearch.com. Thank you. Invitees, please click here to register. http://resilientpeople.org

2:00pm–4:30pm

Room 16

6:00pm–7:30pm

Room 7

7:00pm–9:30pm

Room 15

7:30pm–9:30pm

Room 18

8:30am–4:00pm

Room 17

Resilient People and Climate Change: Fostering Psychosocial Resilience Among Human Populations - Day 2

Resilient People and Climate Change: Fostering Psychosocial Resilience Among Human Populations via Storytelling, Narrative, and Organizational Preparedness
 
Presented by Khanna Research + Communications and co-sponsored by Gaining Ground.

For full description see Day 1 on Wednesday.

By invitation or application only.