| MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR |
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As we prepare for an important leadership change at the end of the year, this is the last letter I will be writing as Executive Director. For me, it's a great time to pause and reflect on the accomplishments made and opportunities ahead. I am extremely proud of the work we've done over the past decade at The Natural Step Canada. It has been encouraging to witness progress being made and the huge increase in awareness of the need for more sustainable ways of living and working. And it has been equally encouraging to be part of the birth and development of a dynamic new non-profit organization in Canada. But despite the fact that The Natural Step Canada has now worked with over 200 organizations across the country—which has led to thousands of sustainable actions—sustainability remains an even more urgent challenge today. We face critical and growing sustainability crises on many fronts and there is a mounting feeling that time is running out. As a society, it is clear that we still have a great deal of work to do to transform our financial and social systems, and to shift sectors of Canadian society to be aligned with principles of sustainability. The sustainability movement in Canada needs to redouble its efforts. The Natural Step Canada is ready for the challenge. We will be entering 2012 with new leadership, an exciting strategic plan, and the strongest and most talented team we've ever had. (Read more...)
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| SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS |
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Navigating the Best Practice Jungle: When best practice isn't the best strategy
As increasing numbers of businesses recognize the inherent value proposition of sustainability there is a concurrent rise in the confusion around the best ways to address the sustainability challenge. Everyone is doing their own thing and we're all learning from each other. The results are multiple best practices in everything from governance and leadership to carbon management and HR policies. As more and more businesses turn to the sustainability lens to help solve problems—such as creating shareholder value (and shared value), attracting and retaining top talent, issues of speed to market, and so forth—there is a growing collective agreement that a sound sustainability strategy can embed sustainability and its associated value into the DNA of a business. However, with confusion remaining around how to do this best, many organizations often turn to others' best practices to define their own sustainability strategy. The question is: Are best practices the best strategy? (Read more...)
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| SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES |
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New Report Helps Municipal Organizations Become Sustainability Leaders: Embedding Sustainability into the Culture of Municipal Government
Developed as a collaboration between the Network for Business Sustainability, The Natural Step Canada, and Dr. Stephanie Bertels from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University, the report is the result of a comprehensive review of municipal sustainability practices from across Canada. Based on leading research, the guide provides practical guidance for municipal practitioners and organizations to support a culture of sustainability in municipal governments. Available for download and distribution for free, municipal change agents are encouraged to study this new resource, share it widely with their colleagues, and incorporate it into their municipal sustainability planning. The Natural Step Canada has also planned a series of 1-day, interactive workshops across Canada to introduce municipal practitioners to this important new resource. Participants will learn how to apply the tools outlined in the report to help their municipal government embed sustainability into their culture and move their organization toward sustainability. The workshop is currently being offered in Vaughan on November 17 and Vancouver on December 7. The report was generously funded by HB Lanarc (A Member of the Golder Group of Companies), ISL Engineering and Land Services, and Enerkem. (Download a copy today!)
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| SUSTAINABILITY LEARNING |
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Sustainability Champions Gear up for Success...and you can, too!
Our two days together began with a discussion of what motivates each of us to work for sustainability. A key component of the discussion explored the fundamental difference between incremental improvement and working toward a vision of achieving sustainability. "The benefits of a system of thought around sustainability in business were top drawer," said Trevor McIvor of Bow Valley College. "Also, the networking opportunities were so relevant to going concerns in my own work." Participants applied The Natural Step Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development to a case study. Working in small groups, we began by identifying key sustainability challenges, drafting strategic goals, and developing action plans. Participants also delivered a presentation about the core concepts of sustainability to a small group, reinforcing their learning by communicating the material to others. The course concluded with participants discussing the challenges of leading change toward sustainability, and sharing how they can deploy what they've learned in their organizations. (Read more...) Want to advance your sustainability learning, too? Join us for our next Sustainability for Leaders Course - Level 1: Foundations in Vancouver from December 8-9. Register by November 21 to take advantage of our early bird discount.
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| EMERGING LEADERS |
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The Making of a Sustainability Champion: Passionate youth gain training, inspire each other, and lead sustainability projects in their community... Are you the next Champion?
We recently completed a Sustainability Champions Training weekend where we used dialogue hosting principles and taught about The Natural Step approach to being a sustainability champion, each in our own capacity. We guided this group of awesome young people to build their visions, strategies, and action plans for sustainability projects in Ottawa, Montreal, and Kitchener. We continue with coaching calls and there are several well-defined projects moving forward with timelines and goals: sustainable campuses, sustainable fashion, getting sustainability on the agenda at a provincial political party convention, sustainable selves yoga a work, host a We Canada kitchen table talk, green roofs in Montreal, Inspiritia sustainability art network, Good Food Boxes in Ottawa, among others. (Read more...) If you are between the ages of 18-25 (give or take) and ready to take action on a sustainability project, but need some support and info to guide you, apply for the next session of our Sustainability Champions Training in Toronto from February 23-24.
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| SUSTAINABILITY AT HOME |
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New Toolkit Offers Guidance for Leading More Sustainable Lifestyles
Sustainability at Home helps Canadians identify opportunities to "green" their homes in a way that works within the capacity of nature to sustain us over the long term. It presents practical tips and ideas on a room-by-room basis. By using the new Sustainability at Home toolkit, Canadian homeowners and tenants can make strategic decisions to advance sustainability in their homes, save money, and create a healthier living space for their families. (Download a copy today!)
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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