Outreach
The Centre for Sustainable Community Development’s (CSCD) approach to Sustainable Community Development (SCD) is rooted in our “community capital” framework (Mark Roseland, Toward Sustainable Communities, 2005) that has community mobilization at its heart. Consequently, community outreach and engagement is a key component of all of its education and research programs. The Centre also collaborates with local, regional and national organizations to initiate, incubate and develop programs and projects that meet community needs; many of these projects (such as the Light House Sustainable Building Centre below) evolve into independent organizations and become an integral part of community pathways to sustainable development.
Current Projects Include:
Light House Sustainable Building Centre. Buildings consume 40% of the world’s total energy, 25% of its wood harvest and 16% of its water. To ease the pressure on global resources and climate change while meeting the needs of a growing population, we need to think differently about what, where and how we build. Initiated as a CSCD project in November 2005, Light House Sustainable Building Centre is now an independent enterprising non-profit society dedicated to advancing and catalyzing sustainability in British Columbia’s built environment. They continue to work in close collaboration with the Centre to offer a range of free and fee-based programs and services out of their office, resource and display centre on Granville Island. Light House is where anyone and everyone - industry professionals, building owners, government representatives and members of the general public - can come to learn about sustainable building. Visitors are invited to relax in their comfortable modern environment, browse and discuss the latest “green” resources and find the solutions they need to make their buildings, houses, communities and lives more sustainable.
Green Scenes is a program of “green tours” designed to showcase sustainability initiatives in the region and around the world; projects that are relevant and adaptable to both developing and developed countries. The Green Scenes series of tours encompasses the following sectors: waste and resource management, energy, food security, green buildings/roofs, urban design, transportation and green businesses. Green Scenes was developed by Garden Heart Productions in collaboration with the Centre for Sustainable Community Development. For more information please contact Spring Gillard at: greens@sfu.ca
Sustainable SFU is a student-led initiative at the Burnaby Mountain campus. The mandate of this initiative is to facilitate Simon Fraser University’s transition into a model sustainable institution. They conduct research, provide education and awareness programs and collaborate with SFU community members on sustainability related projects. The goals of the initiative include the development of an SFU sustainability office with a full time paid coordinator, a sustainable purchasing policy and a student-run sustainability learning centre. One of the biggest successes of the initiative to date is the development of the SFU Sustainability Advisory Committee.
Aboriginal CED: The Centre has conducted various research projects and outreach activities related to Aboriginal Community Economic Development. Follow the link for easy access to materials, resources and links.
Buy Local Store: The Buy Local Store project aims to create a food products market actor (such as a retail store, wholesaler or distributor) for consumers and producers to buy, sell and be local. Phase I of the project consists of a scope and feasibility study that will i) identify existing business models, ii) mobilize and engage community stakeholders, and iii) assess the key criteria for Phase II (i.e. location, financing, partnerships etc.). The ultimate goal is to catalyze sustainable community economic development. Please contact Chris Lindberg, clindber <at> sfu <dot> ca, to get involved or for more information.
