Carstairs Municipal Sustainability Plan

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INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY
The Town of Carstairs has now completed its Municipal Sustainabilty Plan. Click here for the backgrounder.
The Carstairs Sustainability Plan is a combined effort and shared vision of its residents and Town Administration. Click here to read the final document.
Click the image to read the complete plan.
To become a sustainable society we must eliminate our contribution to the progressive physical degradation and destruction of nature and natural processes (for example, over harvesting forests and paving over critical wildlife habitat).
WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY?
Sustainability is something that has been around for decades, but we have not been practicing sustainability to our full potential. Click here for further explanation.
FOUR SYSTEM CONDITIONS
The accumulated impacts of human activity over the past two centuries are now threatening our continued well-being.
Click the image to learn more.

The Plan
The Brundtland Commission defined "sustainability" as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This definition is very compelling, but it does not have the clarity nor the precision required for effective organizational planning. This is why The Natural Step developed four conditions that define the characteristics of a sustainable society.
Carstairs will be utilizing The Natural Step to help identify, access, and apply various concepts of sustainability in the community. These concepts are called the "Pillars of Sustainability".
Five Pillars of Sustainability

Culture
The development of a cultural dimension within the community ensures the creation of a vibrant and festive community that exudes a sense of identity and belonging including:

Opportunities for cultural expression
Variety of art forms (visual, dramatic, musical etc.)
Strong sense of community heritage
Pride of our community

Economic
The economic dimension of a sustainable community includes policies and programs for attracting investment and employment, as well as promoting local entrepreneurship, business retention, and ensuring the community is a net contributor to the fiscal strength of the area, including:

Providing a wide range of jobs and training opportunties
Sufficient land and buildings to support economic prosperity and change
Dynamic job and business creation
A strong business community with links into the wider economy.

Environment
To achieve a quality natural and built environment that addresses development patterns, building design, supporting streets and infrastructure, and the overall will to protect and improve supporting natural systems and energy efficiency, including:

Well designed municipal planning
User Friendly public places
Green space, walking paths
Energy Efficiency
Protecting natural resources
Biodiversity
Mixed-Use, durable buildings

Governance
Includes strong, informed and effective leadership, inclusive partnerships with the community, instilling a sense of civic pride, responsibility and values, and insuring the continous improvement of the community through effective delivery of programs and services, monitoring and feedback at all levels.

Fiscal Responsibility

Social
The development of social and community services including the recognition of the historical and cultural context of the community. The opportunity to develop inclusive neighbourhoods and housing to meet a range of demographic and ecomomical markets.

Tolerance and respect for different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs.
Friendly, cooperative neighbourhoods
Leisure, recreation, sports and other activities
Safe communities with visible, effective community policing
Social inclusion and opportunity
Accessible and attractive housing

If you have any questions or ideas for our growing community, contact Janice Thompson, Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Carstairs at 403-337-3341.

Town of Carstairs www.carstairssustainability.ca Website

Home \| The Plan \| The Process \| Get Involved \| Resources \| Advisory Committee \| Events

	INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABILITY The Town of Carstairs has now completed its Municipal Sustainabilty Plan. Click here for the backgrounder. Click the image to read the complete plan. WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY? Sustainability is something that has been around for decades, but we have not been practicing sustainability to our full potential. Click here for further explanation. FOUR SYSTEM CONDITIONS Click the image to learn more.	The Plan The Brundtland Commission defined "sustainability" as meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. This definition is very compelling, but it does not have the clarity nor the precision required for effective organizational planning. This is why The Natural Step developed four conditions that define the characteristics of a sustainable society. Carstairs will be utilizing The Natural Step to help identify, access, and apply various concepts of sustainability in the community. These concepts are called the "Pillars of Sustainability". Five Pillars of Sustainability Culture The development of a cultural dimension within the community ensures the creation of a vibrant and festive community that exudes a sense of identity and belonging including: Opportunities for cultural expression Variety of art forms (visual, dramatic, musical etc.) Strong sense of community heritage Pride of our community Economic The economic dimension of a sustainable community includes policies and programs for attracting investment and employment, as well as promoting local entrepreneurship, business retention, and ensuring the community is a net contributor to the fiscal strength of the area, including: Providing a wide range of jobs and training opportunties Sufficient land and buildings to support economic prosperity and change Dynamic job and business creation A strong business community with links into the wider economy. Environment To achieve a quality natural and built environment that addresses development patterns, building design, supporting streets and infrastructure, and the overall will to protect and improve supporting natural systems and energy efficiency, including: Well designed municipal planning User Friendly public places Green space, walking paths Energy Efficiency Protecting natural resources Biodiversity Mixed-Use, durable buildings Governance Includes strong, informed and effective leadership, inclusive partnerships with the community, instilling a sense of civic pride, responsibility and values, and insuring the continous improvement of the community through effective delivery of programs and services, monitoring and feedback at all levels. Fiscal Responsibility Social The development of social and community services including the recognition of the historical and cultural context of the community. The opportunity to develop inclusive neighbourhoods and housing to meet a range of demographic and ecomomical markets. Tolerance and respect for different cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. Friendly, cooperative neighbourhoods Leisure, recreation, sports and other activities Safe communities with visible, effective community policing Social inclusion and opportunity Accessible and attractive housing If you have any questions or ideas for our growing community, contact Janice Thompson, Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Carstairs at 403-337-3341.