| MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
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Dear friends and colleagues, After 15 wonderful years with The Natural Step Canada, the last seven as Executive Director, I have decided to step aside at the end of 2011. This is a well-planned and strategic decision and the staff and Board of Directors have established a process to effectively manage the leadership succession this year. I know I am leaving the organization in great hands. While I look forward to spending more time with my family and being more present at home with my boys, I won't be leaving The Natural Step family. I look forward to continuing to actively champion and support the work of The Natural Step in Canada and internationally in the future. Leaving is a bittersweet time for me. I love this organization and all the people I work with. I fully believe in its potential to make the world a better place. I am very proud of the achievements our team has made over the past decade. We've established a national charitable organization that is helping Canadians accelerate the transition to a sustainable society in a meaningful way. Since 2002, we have grown from zero to 15 full-time staff and now have a strong advisory and program team supported by a highly engaged Board of Directors. I'm extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to lead, work with, learn from, and nurture such a talented, professional, and passionate team. They are an outstanding group of change agents who are extremely good at what they do. They inspire me every day. (Read more...) Call for Applications: The Natural Step Canada Seeks an Exceptional Executive Director The Natural Step Canada is seeking an exceptional leader to become its new Executive Director. We are looking for a visionary strategic thinker, an engaging and collaborative team leader, a proven networker, an excellent communicator, and someone who has a track record in organizational and fiscal management, as well as public speaking and fundraising. The call for applications is now open and the deadline is September 6, 2011. (Read more...)
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| SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES |
Does your community have a common, long-term vision? Is it prepared for resilience and a changing economy? Thinking about a community sustainability plan, but don't have the resources? The Centre for Sustainability and The Natural Step Canada are excited to announce a new joint service offering to address these needs: the QuickStart ICSP (Integrated Community Sustainability Plan). If you're a small- to medium-sized community, our QuickStart ICSP process is just the right thing for you! This new approach offers an easy, cost-effective way to get your community up and running with a sustainability plan, complete with on-the-ground actions and implementation tools in 6-8 months. Sign up for our next cohort before September 26 and receive a 10% discount! (Learn more...)
The Natural Step Canada is excited to be an Organizing Partner at the 2011 Ecocity World Summit in Montréal, QC. Join academics, policymakers, professionals, and ecocity enthusiasts, and take part in dialogue and action to shape the future of urban areas into ecologically-based, people-centered ecocities. Check out all the awesome things we're up to during the Summit...
Want to learn more about the Ecocity World Summit, the above opportunities, and how you can connect with us? (Read more...)
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| SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS |
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We are often asked to provide our thoughts and reflections on the growing connection between sustainability and an organization's reputation and brand. In a recent survey of CEOs (the largest of its kind) entitled "A New Era of Sustainability" and released by the United Nations Global Compact on sustainability, CEOs ranked "brand trust and reputation" as the top reason to take action on sustainability. However, while many organizations realize the reputational and brand differentiation potential of taking meaningful steps towards sustainability, they are also increasingly (and justifiably) wary of public scrutiny and the accusation of "greenwashing." The question is: How can sustainability help you create a brand that differentiates and avoids greenwashing? (Read more...)
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| SUSTAINABILITY LEARNING |
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Advance your sustainability career by taking our most popular course! This course is designed for existing and emerging sustainability practitioners who want to gain the knowledge, skills, and tools to take a strategic, systems approach to communicating, planning, and managing sustainability initiatives. You will actively engage in hands-on, participatory learning tasks that will help you dive into the content, apply it to real situations, and prepare to transfer what you learn to your business, community, or organization. (Read more...)
Développement Durable pour les Leaders - Niveau 1: Fondations (Montréal, QC) Découvrez et appliquez les concepts de base du développement durable. Ce cours interactif de deux jours ce base sur vingt ans d'expérience pratique et de résultats obtenus par des leaders en développement durable. Les gradués de ce cours seront capable d'expliquer et d'appliquer la démarche The Natural Step au bénéfice de leur commerce, communauté, ou même organisation et seront également capables de prendre un rôle de leadership sur le chemin de développement durable. (Plus...)
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| EMERGING LEADERS |
Our goal is to create opportunities for young people to become leaders in sustainability. Lately, we have loads of opportunities to share! Here is just a sampling of some of the projects that are coming up:
Want to learn more about all of these exciting Emerging Leaders announcements and opportunities? (Read more...)
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| THE NATURAL STEP EXCHANGE |
The Natural Step Exchange is Canada's go-to network for support, advice, and inspiration on sustainability. Valued for its capacity to forge new connections, encourage collaborations, and provide indispensable support to its members, The Exchange has proven to be an essential resource for those looking to raise their level of awareness of other sustainability activities in Canada. Member benefits include:
We are currently welcoming new Introductory Members for the 2011/12 year. Introductory Memberships are designed for Canadians who are interested in deepening their sustainability knowledge, connecting with others, and engaging in the sustainability movement in Canada. As well, Premium Membership prices are now prorated and valid through December 31, 2011. Now is an excellent time for individuals, businesses, and communities who are leading change toward sustainability to join this growing movement and forge meaningful relationships with their peers. Want to learn more about The Exchange and how to join? (Read more...) *Exclusive to Premium Members of The Natural Step Exchange.
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| THE NATURAL STEP FOUNDER, DR. KARL-HENRIK ROBÈRT, FEATURED AS GLOBE AND MAIL LEADING THINKER |
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The Globe and Mail also featured Bob Willard, a renowned sustainability expert and member of The Natural Step Canada's Board of Directors, in this series. Click here to watch the videos featuring Bob Willard.
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The Natural Step Canada is a dynamic non-profit organization with over a decade of experience helping organizations and individuals understand and make meaningful progress toward sustainability.
WE ENVISION... a sustainable world in which individuals, communities, and businesses thrive within nature's limits.
WE STRIVE... to inspire, educate, and connect Canadian leaders to accelerate the transformation toward a sustainable world.
www.thenaturalstep.org/canada · info@naturalstep.ca · 613.748.3001