Grassroots Key To 'Green' Projects

Monday, February 04, 2008 03:48 AM

Keynote speaker, Mark Bekkering, at PACHA’s Better Air Symposium this weekend

Prince George, B.C. - If the lessons that Toronto has learned in its efforts to ’go green’ hold any meaning for Prince George, that City’s Acting Manager of Environment and Planning Support believes it’s this: to ensure success, you have to engage the grassroots to affect change.

Speaking at the ’Better Air’ symposium in Prince George, Mark Bekkering told those in attendance that environmental issues have been the number one concern of Toronto residents for the past two years, surpassing crime and health.

Bekkering said Toronto’s action plan focuses to a great extent on fostering and supporting community-led initiatives because it’s the people that want this ’greening’ to happen and they’re finding ways to make it work.

Bekkering went over four examples of projects that he’s been involved with, where people on the ground have been the biggest catalyst for change - including a group buy of solar panels that involved 100 residents in one neighbourhood go in on the purchase, and an urban farm on 10-acres in an area of the city struggling with social issues.

He said the city will launch a $25-million dollar, five-year ’Live Green Toronto" program in June of this year. The objective is to provide seed money to community green projects, employ ’community animators’ to connect people with green ideas, and, generally, catalyze neighbourhoods.

Bekkering said the money could have been given to institutions for retrofits, but the city wanted to engage community groups, neighbourhoods and businesses in the effort to address climate change.

Responding to the Bekkering’s presentation, one woman in the crowd said, "I’m really stoked about what you’ve said -- about the community market and community farm -- because they’re do-able."

Gale (who asked that her last name not be used) continued, "Not only do we have a pocket of bad air (here in Prince George), we have a pocket of forward-thinking people."

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Posted on Monday, February 04, 2008 03:48 AM in News by Michelle Cyr-Whiting

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Comments

Posted by: giterdun on February 4 2008 8:02 AM

" WE HAVE A BAD POCKET OF AIR...." YES WE DO, SO WHY IS OUR CITY SO DETERMINED TO ADD MORE PARTICULATE TO THE BOWL AREA BY BUILDING A THERMAL GENERATION PLANT DOWNTOWN? COULD SOMEONE AT CITY HALL PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION? I SMELL A POLITICAL RAT HERE.

Posted by: owl on February 4 2008 8:41 AM

"Not only do we have a pocket of bad air (here in Prince George), we have a pocket of forward-thinking people."

????????

I know where the bad air is ..... where are those forward-thinking people???? Not where they are supposed to be where they can make a difference. Not in government, not on the AQ implementation committee for the last 10 years.

No one has been pulling on the rope ... several have been pushing on the rope and they are getting frustrated since that is an impossible task.

So what is Gale talking about?

Posted by: Harbinger on February 4 2008 11:36 AM

How about a Skytrain out to Beaverly? Sure would cut down traffic at Domano and Highway 16.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 4 2008 11:43 AM

Mark Bekkering suggests "and an urban farm on 10 acres (not hectares)in an area of the city struggling with social issues". First issue is the guy saying acres. I bet he buys 2x4's and 4x8 sheets of plywood too. It figures. The only ten acres I know that has "social issues" is ther 'hood or VLA. Is he suggesteing we demolish it, plow it over and develoip a farm therwe? That would work for me. Lastly, this aint Toronto.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 4 2008 11:49 AM

One woman was quoted as being "stoked" about what Mr. B. said. Stoked in my dictionary says, exhilarated, ecstatic. Then dinner and a movie ought to put her over the moon. Twice !