Carstairs Municipal Sustainability Plan

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HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE!
One of the most important ways we can build a Sustainability Plan for Carstairs is to listen to what our citizens envision their community will look like for the next 20 years. Please help us help you by clicking here to complete our questionnaire. Drop it off at the Town office or fax to 337-3343.

The Process
In 2005, under the federal gas tax agreement, the Alberta government received $477 million from the federal government for municipalities. In 2007, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) selected pilot project municipalities to develop a Municipal Sustainabilty Plan based on sustainable growth initiatives. AUMA developed a guidebook, and organized workshops to help these municipalities chart a course in sustainable planning. In 2009, Carstairs will be completing a Municipal Sustainabilty Plan which will be presented to Council on June 8, 2009.
The Educational tool we will be using is The Natural Step course. It is a back-casting method that involves starting with a description of a successful out come, then working backwards on how that might be achieved.
Begin with the end in mind. Move backwards from the vision to the present. Move step by step towards the vision.
One of the most important steps towards achieving our goals was the ability to communicate our message to the residents of Carstairs. As we began the branding process, a logo was designed that represented what we were hoping to accomplish from a visionary point of view. Banners were made to start the ball rolling and have been displayed at the Town office and trade shows throughout the region.
The logo is indicative that we support all life now and in the future, looking to solutions that will permit a flourishing community and environment, and helps us visually adopt an enlightened philosophy of environmental management to ensure a healthy future for our children. The Logo - This design was based upon discussions of having an upward moving "arrow" symbolizing growth and the future. The leaves reach upward, following this same movement of growth. The leaves have a "heart-shaped" appearance. It is clear from the Town's Vision and Mission statements that Carstairs is a community that cares about its people, lifestyle and future. Carstairs is a community with "HEART" and thus the leaves capture this without becoming overly sentimental.
Next came the selection of an Advisory Committee, a group of engaged citizens who would give vision and perspective to the Carstairs Sustainability Plan. Town Council appointed the following individuals to sit on the Sustainability Steering Committee: Lynette Lefsrud, Murray Pound, Bob Clark, Darryl Herman, Ray Cairns, Al Molnar, Anne Strilchuk, Nellie Trottier, Natasha Fisher, Amelia Naismith, Martin Ratz, Stephen Stiles. Led by Jan Thompson, Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Carstairs, this group of Carstairs residents are eager to proceed.
Next came a website and a marketing plan to keep Carstairs ratepayers informed and involved. Please visit our Resources page to see articles that have appeared in the Carstairs Courier.
A major part of the process includes public workshops that will help to review measures of success for Carstairs’ Sustainable future. The public had an opportunity to propose action items that would help us become more sustainable. Working with AECOM Canada Ltd, this workshop took place at the end of April and was a great success.
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

	HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE! One of the most important ways we can build a Sustainability Plan for Carstairs is to listen to what our citizens envision their community will look like for the next 20 years. Please help us help you by clicking here to complete our questionnaire. Drop it off at the Town office or fax to 337-3343.	The Process In 2005, under the federal gas tax agreement, the Alberta government received $477 million from the federal government for municipalities. In 2007, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) selected pilot project municipalities to develop a Municipal Sustainabilty Plan based on sustainable growth initiatives. AUMA developed a guidebook, and organized workshops to help these municipalities chart a course in sustainable planning. In 2009, Carstairs will be completing a Municipal Sustainabilty Plan which will be presented to Council on June 8, 2009. The Educational tool we will be using is The Natural Step course. It is a back-casting method that involves starting with a description of a successful out come, then working backwards on how that might be achieved. One of the most important steps towards achieving our goals was the ability to communicate our message to the residents of Carstairs. As we began the branding process, a logo was designed that represented what we were hoping to accomplish from a visionary point of view. Banners were made to start the ball rolling and have been displayed at the Town office and trade shows throughout the region. The Logo - This design was based upon discussions of having an upward moving "arrow" symbolizing growth and the future. The leaves reach upward, following this same movement of growth. The leaves have a "heart-shaped" appearance. It is clear from the Town's Vision and Mission statements that Carstairs is a community that cares about its people, lifestyle and future. Carstairs is a community with "HEART" and thus the leaves capture this without becoming overly sentimental. Next came the selection of an Advisory Committee, a group of engaged citizens who would give vision and perspective to the Carstairs Sustainability Plan. Town Council appointed the following individuals to sit on the Sustainability Steering Committee: Lynette Lefsrud, Murray Pound, Bob Clark, Darryl Herman, Ray Cairns, Al Molnar, Anne Strilchuk, Nellie Trottier, Natasha Fisher, Amelia Naismith, Martin Ratz, Stephen Stiles. Led by Jan Thompson, Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Carstairs, this group of Carstairs residents are eager to proceed. Next came a website and a marketing plan to keep Carstairs ratepayers informed and involved. Please visit our Resources page to see articles that have appeared in the Carstairs Courier. A major part of the process includes public workshops that will help to review measures of success for Carstairs’ Sustainable future. The public had an opportunity to propose action items that would help us become more sustainable. Working with AECOM Canada Ltd, this workshop took place at the end of April and was a great success. 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.