Category Archives: Healthy Communities

Working Models: Building Pathways Toward Your Culture Council

Saturday, November 24, 2012 from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Trinity United Church, Social Hall 360 Reid St Peterborough, ON K9J 2V7

On November 24th , the newly incorporated Electric City Culture Council (EC3) is teaming up with ARTSPACE to present the first in a series of community meetings to establish Peterborough’s Culture Council and it’s membership.

Anyone who is ready to be part of a new phase of local cultural development in Peterborough should join us!

Peterborough’s Culture Council aspires to represent a broad definition of culture and this summit seeks to bring together a collective vision of what you want your Culture Council to be.

During the day you will hear from three presenters:

  • Andrea Halwa from the London Arts Council,
  • Karen Dolan from the Kingston Arts Council, and
  • Jan Allen, a Kingston-based cultural advocate.

The sessions are presented as models of best practice to help guide and inform your decision-making and consensus building efforts as we develop the EC3.

Round table discussions will provide an opportunity for participants to develop pointed questions and specific directions as to the formation of the Culture Council and how it will operate. This will be further developed at a follow-up meeting to be set in the near future.

CANADA MORTGAGE & HOUSING CORPORATION HONOURS DR. STEPHEN HILL FOR INNOVATIVE WORK IN SUSTAINABILITY

This morning at the Greater Peterborough Area Economic Development Corporation (GPA EDC), Dr. Stephen Hill an Associate Professor at Trent University’s Environmental and Resource Science/Studies Program was recognized by the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (CMHC) for his innovative work in teaching and projects in sustainability.

The CMHC’s Excellence in Education Award, presented by Steve Jacques, Regional Manager, Community Development and Research for CMHC, honours secondary and post-secondary educators who have encouraged students in the development of sustainable communities by integrating sustainable concepts in housing and community development into their curriculum.

The award itself was created in Ontario and is made of reclaimed materials. Each award looks similar, but differs in that the stone base is hand carved each time an award is presented. The laurel at the top symbolizes achievement and the base, carved into the shape of a book symbolizes knowledge/learning.

Dr. Stephen Hill uses a cross-disciplinary approach to teach and partners with institutions to connect ideas, theories and practices. Dr. Hill was an integral part of the development of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan – Sustainable Peterborough

Background

Dr. Hill’s research focuses on environmental and renewable energy management and policy. He also studies processes of social learning and innovation around community-based sustainability initiatives.

As a result, Dr. Hill uses a cross-disciplinary approach to teach and partners with institutions to connect ideas, theories and practices. He encourages his students to get involved with Trent University and the wider Peterborough area community organizations such as Sustainable Trent, the Community Opportunity and Innovation Network, Peterborough Green Up and the Peterborough Centre for Social Innovation.

Dr. Hill is known for his ability to motivate and mentor students and was recently recognized with Trent`s highest teaching award. His teaching has inspired many of his students’ interest in sustainability and encouraged their continued studies in the field.

In 2011, Dr. Hill was an integral part of the development of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan – Sustainable Peterborough. Developing the Sustainability Plan was a collaborative endeavor by all members of the Greater Peterborough Area, including the City and County of Peterborough (and eight member municipalities along with Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations. The Plan defines what a Sustainable Peterborough will look like for the next generation.

Implementation of the Plan is moving forward and Dr. Hill is an active member of the Co-ordinating Committee. Action items of the plan will help to foster healthy environments, people, and economies by guiding the way to reducing environmental impacts, strengthening social networks, and increasing economic prosperity. Already a provincial and national leader in environmental awareness, the community’s reputation only stands to strengthen with the implementation of the sustainability plan.

The Kawartha World Issues Centre Presents: “The Sacred Headwaters”

The Kawartha World Issues Centre presents “The Sacred Headwaters” featuring Dr. Wade Davis – “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity”. – David Suzuki.

Presented in partnership with The David Sheperd Family Lecture Series.

Friday November 23rd, 2012 7:30pm, PCVS Auditorium, 201 McDonnel Street, Peterborough, ON.

For more information visit the website www.kwic.info

Walmart Green Student Challenge

The Walmart Green Student Challenge is looking for great ideas that will help businesses become more sustainable and improve the bottom line.

Walmart Canada recognizes that one person can make a big difference, and is proud to host the Green Student Challenge for the second year. We are challenging all post-secondary students to showcase their best, most innovative green business solutions to Canada’s top CEOs.

In addition to being recognized as one of tomorrow’s bright new leaders, semi-finalists and finalists will share in prize money.

Active Forms of Transportation – Public Input Session November 1st

The City of Peterborough has several by-laws that regulate active forms of transportation such as cycling, skateboarding and in-line skating. These by-laws are due for administrative updates, and because the City has received requests from user groups for changes to them, the following by-laws are now under review:

 Chapter 729 of the Municipal Code (requirement for a bike license)

  • By-Law 09-164 – A By-Law to Prohibit Vehicles on Public Lands or Property in the City of Peterborough
  • By-Law 91-71 Traffic By-Law

 Staff have conducted research to learn what is being done in other municipalities. At this stage in the review, staff would like to hear from citizens what their concerns are related to the existing by-laws and what solutions they favour.

A public input session is scheduled for Thursday, November 1 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Simcoe Street Transit Terminal, 190 Simcoe Street.

All information and the survey that will be at the public input session are also available on the City of Peterborough Website at www.peterborough.ca/transportation.

If you have any questions regarding the by-law review, or would like be added to the by-law review mailing list, contact Susan Sauvé at 705.742.7777 Ext. 1485 or .