The Okotoks – Airdrie Challenge
In 2008, the Town of Okotoks challenged the City of Airdrie to a 'green' battle – which city can commit to more ‘acts of green’ as part of the CBC’s One Million Acts of Green challenge. ... Over 60,000 greens acts, by 1377 participants, reduced GHG emissions by over 6000 tons! After this inspired and good natured battled, both towns are a little greener, the atmosphere and environments are a bit better off, and public engagement with sustainability issues continues to thrive in both towns!
Okotoks, AB
"In 1998, Okotoks made a decision about its future, becoming one of the first municipalities in the world to establish growth targets linked to infrastructure development and environmental carrying capacity when it adopted a Municipal Development Plan - 'The Legacy Plan'. In 1998, the town faced an intersection in its evolution. Dependant on the Sheep River for its water and its ability to treat and dispose of effluent, Okotoks could choose to continually "grow without limits" and align with regional development and access to regional infrastructure, or take the "road less traveled" and intentionally choose to live within the carrying capacity of the local environment.
Informed by extensive public consultation, the high cost (a regional pipeline) of exceeding carrying capacity, and a preservation of a small town atmosphere value system expressed in a community survey, a community driven vision was created that chose to respond to rather than manipulate the environment to sustain our standard of living. A population cap at the licensed limits of the Sheep River aquifer (approx. 30,000) became a key feature of Okotoks' development path. A build-out municipal boundary for 30,000 people was established. Sustainable Okotoks rests on four pillars that guide and shape a comprehensive and holistic approach to sustainable development:
- Environmental Stewardship
- Economic Opportunity
- Social Conscience
- Fiscal Responsibility
Town of Okotoks Vision: "Okotoks is to be a leader of sustainability, driven by an involved connected and creative community. Through visionary leadership, citizens are engaged in maintaining a safe, caring and vital community that honours our culture, heritage and environment."
Key targets for 2030 set in the Okotoks 'Legacy Plan':
Okotoks continues to report bi-annually on progress toward achievement of key sustainability targets with use of a score card marking system. The Town of Okotoks will be producing a revised Municipal Development Plan, a Sustainable Okotoks Community Plan and a Corporate Environmental Stewardship Plan in 2009 based on the results from the Calgary Regional Partnership's (CRP) Regional Development Plan and Council's 'Sustainable Okotoks Where to from Here' Public Consultation Process.
From: http://www.okotoks.ca/default.aspx?cid=46&lang=1
