The annual Community Energy Planning Mission is a good example. While we have been taking Canadian delegates abroad to European countries for almost 10 years to learn about their sustainable community development projects, we can now proudly proclaim that some of the best examples are right here in our own backyard. That’s why, for the first time, we’re taking our Mission to a Canadian province. Delegates will be able to observe first-hand, in Alberta, the best projects integrating community energy planning and sustainable community development strategies. We invite elected and non-elected Canadian municipal representatives to submit an expression of interest to participate in the 2007 Mission before April 15.

On May 23, 2007, FCM will release two new Green Municipal Fund (GMF) requests for proposals in two sectors of municipal activity: district energy and sustainable transportation. To ensure the greatest possible impact, GMF will invest in the best examples of municipal leadership in sustainable development — examples that can be replicated in other communities. The projects funded through these RFPs will become examples of exceptional work that we can share with communities across Canada.

This spring, another new way to share examples of leadership will be added to CSCD’s Capacity Building program. With a view to informing and inspiring municipalities, we will launch a series of webinars, or web seminars, on various subjects, such as public transportation and community waste management. The webinars are interactive workshops that allow us to exchange information on the Web, in real time, without you needing to leave your chair. We are excited about this new series and hope you will sign up in large numbers. We will have more details about upcoming topics, speakers and facilitators, as well as the schedule for the webinars in the coming weeks.

Elisabeth Arnold,
Director,
FCM Centre for Sustainable Community Development


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