An Introduction to Sustainability & Integrated Community Sustainability Planning Workshop with the Natural Step Canada & Lunch with guest speaker: Chris Turner, author of: “The Geography of Hope”

Workshop Overview

This four hour workshop is designed to:

• build awareness around sustainability including the sustainability challenge, what sustainability is and the benefits of planning for sustainability.

• introduce you to a proven framework and planning methodology used to guide the development of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP).

• be engaging and focuses on sharing stories, case studies and practical experience with plenty of opportunities for dialogue and hands on experience.

• leave you with a guidebook that is designed to help you lead a community planning process and develop an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan.

This workshop will also explore and gauge interest in a longer term, cost effective program designed to help Newfoundland and Labrador communities develop stand alone ICSP’s and/or more regionally based collaborative ICSP’s. The intent of the longer term program would be to work with several communities at the same time through both in-person and internet based workshops and coaching sessions.

Who Should Attend

Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador convention participants as well as staff, consultants and other community leaders tasked with leading ICSP initiatives for their communities. Workshop Location and Date This workshop is being held from 11 am – 4 pm on November 4th, 2009 at The Albatross Hotel in Gander, Newfoundland just prior to the start of the annual Municipalities of Newfoundland and Labrador convention. Lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided. Cost for workshop is $25 plus HST, which can be paid either in advance by cheque or at the door by cheque or cash only.

Luncheon Guest Speaker

Chris Turner – Author “The Geography of Hope” Chris Turner is the author of the national bestseller The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need (Random House, 2007), which was named one of the Globe & Mail’s Best Books of the year. He is also the author of the international bestseller Planet Simpson: How A Cartoon Masterpiece Documented an Era and Defined a Generation (2004). He writes a monthly feature on sustainability for The Globe & Mail. His magazine writing – mostly for the late, great Shift Magazine – has earned him four Canadian National Magazine Awards and six honourable mentions, including the 2001 President’s Medal for General Excellence (the highest honour in Canadian magazine writing). His writing and reporting on culture, technology and the environment have also appeared in The Independent (UK), Time Magazine, Maclean’s, Canadian Geographic, The Walrus, Azure and Utne Reader. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, with his wife, the photographer Ashley Bristowe, and their daughter, Sloane.