A new approach for The Natural Step Canada - The Sustainability Transition Lab

For the past 10 years, The Natural Step Canada has built the capacity of dozens of municipalities and businesses to lead change toward sustainability in their sectors and regions, leading to thousands of changes in policies, decision-making, and concrete actions that are contributing to a more sustainable planet. We have created leaders, role models, and best practice examples for a better world.

To do this, we have largely worked one organization at a time, one community at a time, and one individual at a time. We are proud of our accomplishments and the achievements of those we have worked with. Yet despite tremendous progress, it is clear that working one organization at a time won't change things at the speed or on the scale we need.

To address the complex challenge of living sustainably, we need to tackle the interconnected and systemic causes of the great challenges of our time. That requires an approach that looks at whole systems, collaborates across boundaries, and fosters innovation and creativity.

Thanks to generous seed funding from The Catherine Donnelly Foundation, next year we will be launching a new strategic program that will become a key pillar of our sustainability work: The Sustainability Transition Lab, an innovative model for multi-stakeholder engagement in strategic sectors of Canadian society. (Read more...)

Calling all MBA students and recent grads! Apply for our first ever MBA Sustainability Leadership Bootcamp (Calgary, AB | October 26-30)

Are you ready to join an incredible group of students and recent graduates in creating and implementing sustainability solutions? Take your MBA skills to the next level by applying your strategy, project management, sales, marketing, negotiation, and facilitation learning to the sustainability field.

You will be whipped into sustainability shape through an intense five-day Bootcamp, and will continue with coaching and team touch-points over the following four months. After the Bootcamp, you will have access to coaching from our expert advisory team who work with clients such as Nike, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Research in Motion (RIM).

The MBA Sustainability Leadership Bootcamp is generously funded by our lead partner Cenovus, with support from ENMAX and the Suncor Energy Foundation. The total cost to participants for this week-long session is $150, including breakfast and lunch, as well as two networking evenings. Bursaries are also available based on need.

Applications are due October 5 and space is limited, so apply today!

Last chance to apply! Inviting youth to become sustainability champions through hands-on training and coaching (Ottawa, ON | September 24-25)

Are you:

• Between the ages of 18 and 25?
• Passionate about the fate of our planet and its people?
• Ready to do more to champion sustainability in your community?

Then you are an Emerging Leader and invited to apply to be a part of the first ever cohort of the Sustainability Champions Program!

This innovative program is designed to provide tools, coaching, and support to participants as they lead change toward sustainability in their networks and communities. Grounded in The Natural Step Framework for Strategic Sustainable Development, participants are provided with a two day in-person workshop, as well as ongoing coaching and mentoring as they champion sustainability... all for only $50!

Our goal is to unleash the power of young sustainability leaders to catalyze change toward sustainability. Applications are due September 16, so don't delay! (Read more...)

Group discount and last chance for early bird pricing in Edmonton! Sustainability for Leaders Course - Level 1: Foundations (Edmonton, AB and Vancouver, BC)

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.

Space is limited and we expect the courses to sell out quickly. Register today!

A 10% group discount is available for organizations that register 3 or more participants! Why not engage your whole team? (Read more...)

• Edmonton, AB: October 13-14, 2011 (Early bird discount ends September 19!)
• Vancouver, BC: December 8-9, 2011

Rabais de groupe et dernière chance pour les inscriptions anticipées ! 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 se base sur vingt ans d'expérience pratique et de résultats obtenus par des leaders en développement durable. Les diplômés de ce cours seront capables d'expliquer et d'appliquer la démarche The Natural Step au bénéfice de leur entreprise, leur communauté, ou même leur organisation et seront également capables de prendre un rôle de chef de file sur le chemin du développement durable.

Un rabais de groupe de 10% est disponible pour les organisations qui inscrivent 3 participants ou plus ! Pourquoi ne pas engager toute votre équipe ? (Plus...)

• Montréal, QC (en français) : 11-12 octobre 2011 (Inscription anticipée fini à 26 septembre !)

NOUVEL ATELIER ! Planification intégrée pour la durabilité des collectivités (Montréal, QC)

Cet atelier d’une journée suivi d’un wébinaire (en ligne) est conçu autour des expériences que Natural Step et ses collectivités partenaires ont acquises en matière de planification pour des collectivités durables. Il propose un aperçu des 6 phases du processus de planification intégrée pour la durabilité des collectivités (PIDC) afin de vous aider à concevoir ou à améliorer les efforts de votre collectivité en matière de planification à long terme. Cet atelier sera basé sur des exemples québécois et d’autres provinces canadiennes.

Un rabais de groupe de 10% est disponible pour les organisations qui inscrivent 3 participants ou plus ! Pourquoi ne pas engager toute votre équipe ? (Plus...)

• Montréal, QC (en français) : 13 octobre 2011 (Inscription anticipée fini à 26 septembre !)

Calling all Albertans: Re-Imagining our Neighbourhoods - Engage in the discussion and join us for a thought-provoking lunch!

Re-imagining our Neighbourhoods is an initiative of The Natural Step Canada and the Alberta Real Estate Foundation (AREF) as a contribution to the AREF's 20th Anniversary Thought Leadership series. The purpose of this initiative is to engage Albertans in a dialogue about what it means to be sustainable at a neighbourhood scale.

We invite you to share what's important to you in your neighbourhood and what you'd like to see in the future in order to foster livable, vibrant, sustainable neighbourhoods in Alberta. You can join the engaging discussion on Facebook or provide anonymous feedback via a survey. (Read more...)

Also, on October 19, please join us for a free Thought Leader Lunch to re-imagine the sustainable future of our neighbourhoods. We will be presenting the results of our online engagement with hundreds of Albertans and a number of sustainability leaders from across Canada, bringing together their opinions and insight into what the future sustainable neighbourhoods of Alberta might look like. (Read more...)

Embedding Sustainability into the Culture of Municipal Government: A much-needed resource being developed

In 2010, the Network for Business Sustainability published a cutting edge report on Embedding Sustainability in Organizational Culture. Prepared by Dr. Stephanie Bertels and her research team at Simon Fraser University, the report presents a portfolio of practices gleaned from a systematic review of the entire body of research on sustainability and organizational culture. Quickly gaining traction in the business community, the framework that they developed provides guidance to those leading the shift toward a culture of sustainability.

In order to tailor this work for the municipal sector, The Natural Step Canada, in collaboration with Dr. Bertels, is currently updating this work for the municipal context, teasing out municipal examples of the various practices. Our aim is to provide practical guidance for municipal practitioners and organizations, based on leading research, to support a culture of sustainability in municipalities across the country. (Read more...)

The Natural Step Canada at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (Toronto, ON | October 4-7)

The Natural Step Canada is excited to be a Bioregional Partner of the US Green Building Council's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Toronto.

We have a number of exciting activities planned throughout Greenbuild, including participating in an incredible panel session on October 6: Are there any sustainable materials? Exploring the role of materials stewardship in sustainable built environments. Can we claim to have "green" buildings if our materials and products remain riddled with problems of fossil-fuel dependency, toxic chemicals, and persistent performance issues? How do we define sustainable materials, the impacts of whose extraction, supply chain, use, and disposal are incredibly difficult to assess, let alone eliminate? This moderated forum will address fears about toxic materials, the need for broad-based stakeholder engagement, and the pros/cons of "red lists" versus best practices approaches.

In addition, as a Bioregional Partner of Greenbuild, The Natural Step Canada has a limited number of FREE TICKETS to the Expo (a $75 value) for our friends, partners, and supporters. Come visit us at booth #T-16 in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (October 4-6).

Want to learn more about the panel session, how to get your FREE Expo tickets, registering for Greenbuild, and all of the other exciting activities we have planned in Toronto that week? (Read more...)

Join Canada's premier sustainability network today!

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 sustainability activities across Canada.

• Connecting with other practicing sustainability leaders in Canada
• Strategic sustainable development education
• Access to relevant sustainability resources through an online platform
• Bi-monthly webinars featuring members of The Natural Step's advisory team
• Significant discounts on Sustainability Learning courses offered by The Natural Step Canada
• Advanced, relevant, in-depth learning*
• Practical support and coaching*
• Monthly dialogues featuring industry experts, pioneering research, and latest trends*

Want to learn more about The Exchange and how to join? (Read more...)

*Exclusive to Premium Members of The Natural Step Exchange.

If you're passionate about creating a prosperous, sustainable future, this event cannot be missed! (Toronto, ON | October 5)

Walk the green carpet with The Natural Step Canada at an exclusive wine and cheese reception.

Rub shoulders with award-winning sustainability VIP Bob Willard, catch a glimpse of rising star Jennifer Reid, and have your photo taken with Executive Director and Producer Kelly Hawke Baxter.

Our all-star cast will discuss how The Natural Step has captured the greenest hearts and minds across Canada by helping individuals and organizations join the sustainability walk of fame. (Read more...)

Join us for an afternoon of tea, scones, and inspiration! (Ottawa, ON | October 16)

The Natural Step Canada is thrilled to announce our 2nd annual flagship fundraising event in Ottawa. Building on the great success of last year's Sustainabili-TEA, we will host community members, friends, and family at Ottawa City Hall to discuss how The Natural Step works to inspire, educate, and connect Canadian leaders to accelerate change toward a sustainable world.

Over the course of an hour on this fall afternoon, we will serve tea and scones, profile our programs and partners, and discuss the challenges we face on the road toward achieving sustainability. Please join us! (Read more...)

Introduction to The Natural Step Canada (Free webinar | September 22)

The Natural Step Canada's Sustainability Champions Program for Emerging Leaders (Ottawa, ON | September 24-25)

Kelly Hawke Baxter: Corporate Social Responsibility Won't Save the Planet - Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series (Toronto, ON | October 3)

The Natural Step Canada at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo (Toronto, ON | October 4-7)

The Natural Step Canada's own TIFF: The Toronto Inspirational Friend and Fundraiser (Toronto, ON | October 5)

Développement Durable pour les Leaders - Niveau 1: Fondations (Montréal, QC | 11-12 octobre)

Planification intégrée pour la durabilité des collectivités (PIDC) - Atelier (Montréal, QC | 13 octobre)

Sustainability For Leaders Course - Level 1: Foundations (Edmonton, AB | October 13-14)

The Natural Step Canada's 2nd Annual Sustainabili-TEA (Ottawa, ON | October 16)

Re-Imagining our Neighbourhoods Forum: Thought Leader Lunch (Calgary, AB | October 19)

The Natural Step Canada's MBA Sustainability Leadership Bootcamp (Calgary, AB | October 26-30)

Sustainability For Leaders Course - Level 1: Foundations (Vancouver, BC | December 8-9)

More courses/events...

Toolkit: Embedding Sustainability into the Culture of Municipal Government (Summary)

Toolkit: Best Practices Scan of Sustainability Decision-Making and Planning for the Municipal Sector

Blog: The Natural Step Canada - a made in Edmonton story

Gaia Presse: L'ABC du DD signé The Natural Step

More news… and resources...

Future of Sustainable Chemistry videos: David Cook and Jonathan Porritt

Netherlands: Guidebooks for sustainability practitioners - A Process Guide and a Personal Practice Guide for Leadership towards Sustainability

UK: Megacities on the Move

USA: Invest in What Matters

More international updates…