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E-Newsletter Archive
 

CIT E·Newsletter    Volume 1: Number 1 · April 5, 2006

Welcome to the premiere Communities in Transition (CIT) E-newsletter. It provides info on the latest library resources and recent articles; highlights conferences and events; and offers news about projects as well as partners' activities and research on a monthly basis. If you have news that you would like us to include or if you have comments about the newsletter, contact Sara Muir Owen, Manager of Secretariat Services at info@communitytransition.org. For more information about CIT, including partners and projects underway, visit our website at www.communitytransition.org.


CIT Advisory Committee

The CIT Secretariat would like to thank the 11 members of the CIT Advisory Committee for their valuable time, support and guidance in this initiative. Advisory Committee members represent a range of agencies and locations exhibiting pressing land use and conservation issues. Members include: 

  • Dick McMaster, BC Wilderness Tourism Association
  • Sabrina Curtis, Columbia Basin Trust
  • Kathy Dunster, Land Trust Alliance of BC
  • Pauline Gomez, Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia
  • Rich Goulet, Community Futures Development Association of BC
  • Maxine Koppe, North Central Municipal Association
  • Gus Boersma, Okanagan Mainline Municipal Association  
  • Tim Pringle, Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia
  • Darrell Smith, East Kootenay Conservation Program
  • Tracy Wall, Real Estate Institute of British Columbia
  • Kristina Wray, British Columbia Treaty Commission

Latest Library Resources and Recent Articles

Visit the CIT website to review the latest resources and recent articles, including:

In addition to our latest resources, check out our archived resources at CIT Archives or keyword search our entire Web library.

New CIT Projects

In December 2005, the Real Estate Foundation of British Columbia awarded four grants for CIT projects, to organizations including the:

Canadian Community Economic Development Network to assist with the cost of delivering land use related workshops at the 2006 national conference to the held in Vancouver.

District of Tofino for pre-development studies required to continue with the implementation of the Tofino Attainable Housing Strategy.

Tourism Action Society in the Kootenays to produce a compendium of technical information to foster environmental stewardship among nature-based tourism and recreation businesses.

Prince Rupert & Port Edward Economic Development Corporation for research and land use planning activities that will help the communities plan for the sustainable use and conservation of land.

Visit the CIT Projects page for more information about CIT projects underway and completed.

Partner News

Regional District of East Kootenay & Local Government Planners Meeting
In February 2006, Real Estate Foundation and CIT staff met with planners at the Regional District of the East Kootenay and its municipal governments to learn more about long-term planning issues and strategies, particularly as they relate to growing recreation and resort real estate markets and second home ownership. Resource and information needs, including support for coop programs, affordable housing strategies, resort and recreation development and amenity migration model bylaws, and support for a local government planners forum were identified. CIT is working towards developing support and services to address such needs. Contact Sara Muir Owen at info@communitytransition.org for more information.

University of Northern British Columbia: The Community Development Institute
The Community Development Institute at UNBC is undertaking research, sharing information, and supporting education outreach to become an important partner for communities. For more information please visit UNBC's website at www.unbc.ca/cdi/.

The Land Trust Alliance of British Columbia – Stewardship Seminar Series
The 2006 Land Trust and Stewardship Seminar Series--Changing Tides--was a three-day educational and networking event focused on the protection of features and areas important to local communities and natural and cultural diversity. The series began with an excellent full day workshop featuring Marc Smiley, an exceptional fundraiser and land trust strategist. For more information about the seminar series visit the LTA website at www.landtrustalliance.bc.ca.

East Kootenay Conservation Program - Columbia Basin Conservation Poll
The East Kootenay Conservation Program (EKCP) has conducted a poll across the Columbia Basin to determine residents' conservation attitudes about conservation and willingness to establish a conservation fund at the local county level. Results of the poll will be made available in late spring 2006. For more information visit the EKCP website at www.ekcp.ca or contact Darrell Smith, EKCP Program Manager at ekcp@cyberlink.bc.ca.

Ministry of Community Services: “New Deal for Cities and Communities”
The New Deal agreement between the governments of Canada and British Columbia and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) was signed April 15, 2005 in Vancouver.  The agreement relates to how the gas tax funds will be used in the province to support environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. For more information visit the Ministry of Community Services website at www.cserv.gov.bc.ca/lgd/new_deal.htm.

Other News

Green Municipal Fund: New Funding Opportunity for Municipal Solid Waste
The Green Municipal Fund (GMF) has a Municipal Solid Waste funding opportunity to offer municipal governments and their partners. Through the Municipal Solid Waste RFP process (opening April 5, 2006), GMF will award funds totaling approximately $10 million in low interest loans and $2.5 million in grants. Find out more about this funding opportunity at www.civicinfo.bc.ca/302n.asp?newsid=1769.

Stats Canada Study: Trends in the Prices of Rurality
According to a new Stats Canada study, the cost of transporting goods and information has generally declined relative to the cost of all goods and services over the last 50 years, making rural areas more competitive. At the same time, the cost of transportation for people has generally risen in relative terms, resulting in important implications such as challenges for rural-based tourism. Check out the Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletin, Vol. 6, no. 7, entitled Trends in the Prices of Rurality (21-006-XIE, free) at www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=21-006-X&CHROPG=1

Funding Sources for British Columbia Communities

The BC Rural Team, BC Rural Network, and CFDC of Greater Trail have partnered to develop a funding sources web page. Sources focus primarily on social, economic, and environmental community development initiatives in rural areas. Visit the funding sources resource at http://communityfutures.com/cms/index.php?id=168.

Small Scale Food Producers Association of BC
The Mission of the SSFPA is to represent the interests of small-scale food processors by establishing a regional identity, supporting regionally-based small-scale food processing systems, providing relevant and timely information, advocacy for supportive policies, creating programs to support the development and growth of small-scale food processors. Visit the SSFPA website at http://www.ssfpa.net/ to learn more about this association and/or to download a copy of Sound Bites.

Upcoming Events

Visit the Events Calendar on the CIT website for more information about upcoming events including:

 

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