In its drive for development, some of Vietnam’s success has been the resilience of the Vietnamese people. And key to that resilience has been three key ingredients: tight social networks, a shared sense of community and a strong work ethic.
Resilience. It’s a word that is being used more and more to describe an essential ingredient for today's healthy communities. And when it comes to sustainability, communities worldwide are taking action in some of the most remarkable ways and generating more resilience while they’re at it.
Once such recent example here on the west coast is the Legacy North Shore Society (LNS), an organization that has been quietly working away on an ambitious plan for three geographically stunning municipalities bordering the north side of Vancouver. Their goal: “a sustainable present and future for the North Shore, one with social well-being, a vibrant economy and a healthy environment.”
According to David Thomson, one of a dozen founding directors, “We created LNS to bring a citizen voice, perspective and action to creating our future here, tapping into the incredible passion and people of this place. We know it’s one of the most livable places on earth – but it’s not sustainable – socially, economically or environmentally.”
Vancouver’s North Shore is the perfect place for such a citizen-led sustainability initiative. Hemmed by mountains and oceans, it’s an affluent, progressive, outdoorsy place. Half the population belongs to Mountain Equipment Co-op. Need I say more?
LNS is still strictly a volunteer-based organization. It has managed, however, to attract some strong and diverse talent to its board of directors. As well, they’ve managed to secure some decent funding from the Government of BC, BC Hydro, Vancity Savings Credit Union and the North Shore municipalities. In short, LNS is credible, relevant and recognized.
At this point, LNS has four signature projects:
North Shore wide Community Sustainability Vision Process
LNS is working to create a shared North Shore sustainability vision that transcends the three municipal boundaries. Their timing is perfect since the municipalities are currently or about to update their Official Community Plans. Local First Nations—Squamish and Tsleil Waututh—have planning underway as well.
North Shore Sustainability Voice
LNS is engaging residents to be active ambassadors for sustainability on the North Shore. Their goal is to support them with the tools and resources needed to promote sustainability with politicians and the media. For example, LNS recently hosted all-candidate meetings during recent municipal elections.
Community Sustainability Connections
LNS is identifying people and groups that are advocates for sustainability on the North Shore, and working with them to coordinate and connect everyone’s activities. This is based on the assumption that change is a social process—and that creating or leveraging social networks is a critical strategy.
Cool North Shore (CNS)
One of the more interesting initiatives for which LNS has received significant funding is its Cool North Shore program.
In partnership with BC Hydro, and the provincial and local governments, CNS is helping North Shore residents to accelerate the reduction of their carbon footprints.
The CNS model has been inspired by highly successful ones from the US, most notably David Gershon’s Low Carbon Diet. Gershon is a leading authority on behaviour change and large-scale transformation.
In two pilot Climate Change Cafés held in the fall of 2008, over 90 individuals in small teams—from local citizens, the Port Authority, Vancity, the District of North Vancouver, Unitarian and Anglican churches, the Squamish First Nation, Capilano University and more—met for three hours and planned how they would set carbon-reduction goals, take actions in their communities, and support each other over a two-month period.
After two months, the whole large group met again to compare insights and ideas, and plan further activities. In 2009, they’ve planned Cafés for another 300+ people and will deliver customized programs in schools and other organizations.
Local governments are keen to see Cool North Shore succeed: citizen-driven initiatives can be a huge complement to helping municipalities meet mandated carbon-reduction goals.
In opinion research regarding responsibility for taking action to protect the environment, the public applies higher expectations to business leaders, politicians and other citizens than to themselves. LNS is proof positive that under the right conditions, people can and will take coordinated action on social and environmental issues.
Vancouver’s North Shore is scaling new heights in sustainability
