Sustainability Community Breakfast: The Opportunities for Urban Density

Event Details

Nov

27

Date & Time	Thursday, November 27, 2008 7:00am - 9:00am
Host	Metro Vancouver
Region	Vancouver
Location	British Columbia Institute of Technology 555 Seymour Street Vancouver, BC Google Map
Website	www.metrovancouver.org

Achieving a livable and sustainable region as Metro Vancouver becomes home to 3.4 million people in the next 30 years will require continuing to create higher density communities. Much attention has been paid to the opportunities for innovation in new kinds of development, and the challenges of community and market acceptance. Where and how should higher density development be located? What can it look like, and what services are necessary to support it? What roles do consumers, communities, planners and developers play in creating higher density communities?

The Sustainability Community Breakfasts are a series of monthly breakfast meetings. The original purpose of the breakfasts was to share information and build awareness and momentum leading up to the World Urban Forum 3 (WUF3) in June of 2006, promote communication around ancillary events, facilitate networking and collaboration, and, to begin to weave together local, regional, and national interests into an action oriented Greater Vancouver based sustainability community.

Today, the breakfasts provide an ongoing opportunity for network and partnership building while at the same time building awareness and understanding of urban sustainability challenges, bringing together individuals and organizations interested in the sustainability of the region.

Each breakfast typically features one or more major presentations, as well as updates on on-going projects. As interest in enhancing the sustainability of our Region grows, more and more people in the private, public, academic and not-for-profit sectors are working on sustainability-related projects. The Sustainability Community Breakfasts provide an opportunity for sustainability practitioners, and those interested in sustainability, to network and keep abreast of the latest developments.

Speakers

Norm Shearing, Vice-President, ParkLane Homes

Since 1985, Norm’s career has covered architecture, planning, construction and development. He has been involved in some of Vancouver’s largest real estate projects, most notably the planning and redevelopment of the Expo Lands and the Coal Harbour Bayshore property. He is VP of Development for ParkLane Homes, and responsible for the award winning redevelopment of the 130-acre White Pines Mill site, commonly referred to as East Fraserlands. Norm is LEED accredited, sits on advisory panel of Vancouver’s Development Permit Board and is a Director of both the Canadian Green Building Council and Smart Growth BC.

Ronda Howard, Assistant Director of Planning, City of Vancouver

Ronda Howard is an Assistant Director of Planning in the City of Vancouver Planning Department. She is responsible for the City-Wide and Regional Planning Division. Over the past 15 years, Ms. Howard has managed or co-managed several of the Planning Department’s most significant policy initiatives, including: Metro Core Jobs and Economy Land Use Plan, to ensure adequate space for job growth and economic activity; EcoDensity; CityPlan, Vancouver's comprehensive long range plan; and Financing Growth, to set policy for the role for development cost levies and other tools in paying for costs associated with a growing city.

Jean Lamontagne, General Manager of Planning and Development, City of Surrey

Prior to joining the City of Surrey in 1995, Jean Lamontagne spent 11 years with a Montreal-based consulting firm specializing in Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture. He was a founding partner of the firm. Between 1995 and 2005, he held a variety of positions within the City of Surrey ranging from Manager of Planning, Research and Design with the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to Manager of Civic Buildings and Park Facilities with the Planning and Development Department. In 2005 he joined the City of Richmond as the Director of Development. He returned to the City of Surrey in 2007 as the GM of Planning and Development. Currently, his team is responsible for long range and policy planning for the City, building approvals and inspections, administration of the tree protection by-law, and planning and operations of all civic facilities.

Founding Organizations: International Centre for Sustainable Cities and BC Hydro
In Cooperation With: Vancity