All Partner Meeting March 24th
imagineCALGARY Partners are invited to a special All Partner Meeting on Wednesday, March 24th. This event is being organized to offer Partners a chance to share successes to date, and to plan for future collaborations and strategies to achieve imagineCALGARY targets.
The meeting will include an opportunity for Partners to participate in breakout discussion groups around priorities that have emerged from the Steering Committee’s Engagement and Recruitment Action Plan. Topics will include:
• Engagement events
• Communication
• Promotion
• Recruiting new Partners
• Committees
The All Partner Meeting will be held at the Fish Creek Library in SE Calgary (11161 Bonaventure Drive SE) from 10 a.m. to noon on Mar. 24th. Space is limited, so please register in advance by email: john@intelligentfutures.ca.
For further information about the All Partner Meeting, please click here.
Sustainable Eco-Living Book Discussion
The Sustainable Eco-Living Book Discussion series sponsored by three imagineCALGARY Partners (Sustainable Calgary, The Eco-Living Fair and the Calgary Public Library) offers a unique opportunity to explore the work of leaders in the sustainability community.
Upcoming discussions include:
Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis by Alanna Mitchell
March 17
Author Alanna Mitchell outlines the crisis facing the world’s oceans, bringing together work from disparate research that has never before been considered as a whole. She describes the oceans as the “mother eco-system” that contain the switch to life on earth, and argues that our concern with the atmosphere and land has allowed us to ignore what is happening to the habitat of most of the earth’s living creatures. She argues that our concerns should be directed to ocean acidification, the increase in size and density of marine dead zones and the destruction of coral reefs.
Hope in the Dark: Untold Stories, Wild Possibilities by Rebecca Solnit
April 14
Author Rebecca Solnit argues persuasively that activism and dissent is far healthier today than many believe. Activists often fail to recognize the power of their activity and her goal is "to throw out the crippling assumptions with which many activists proceed." Using examples including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Zapatista uprising, and the successful protests against nuclear testing in Nevada, she makes the case that we have the power to change the world.
Living Green: Communities that Sustain by Jennifer Fosket
May 12
The book features communities that explicitly integrate social and human factors into their design and planning, and examines the impact living in these communities has on personal health, well-being and the capacity for pursuing sustainability. It includes interviews with developers, architects and residents, highlighting personal ideals and efforts to pursue a sustainable lifestyle.
Each of the Sustainable Eco-Living Book Discussions will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Calgary Public Library (4th Floor North Meeting Room, 616 Macleod Tr. SE).
The discussions are free-of-charge, and everyone is welcome. Simply drop in, register online using your library card at calgarypubliclibrary.com or call (403) 260-2620 to ensure sufficient seating.
PLEASE NOTE: copies of these books are available at the 4th Floor Information Desk, Castell Central Library. To check availability, call (403) 260-2785.
Progress in a New Light February 24th
imagineCALGARY Partner Volunteer Calgary and Leadership Calgary are hosting Progress in a New Light: Progress, Sustainability, Decline and Collapse; Leadership, Adaptive Development and Survival in the 21st Century on February 24th. This workshop will explore some of the basics of adaptive development in individuals, organizations and societies. Participants will explore the reasons for conflicting ideas about what progress is and how to achieve and sustain it. The destructive and potentially catastrophic effects of limited conceptions of progress, and the implications for progressive leadership and development in every sector will be addressed.
This workshop will also provide a brief introduction to the Leadership Calgary curriculum framework, and a refresher for alumni.
The workshop will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Nexen Theatre (2900 801 7th Avenue SW). Fees are $50 for the general public or $30 for alumni/current participants.
For more information, visit the Volunteer Calgary website, call Roopa Khanna at (403) 231-1402 or email rkhanna@volunteercalgary.ab.ca.
Transition Calgary Meeting February 25th
Launched in 2005 in the UK, the Transition Movement has spread rapidly from one city to the next, presenting positive solutions for the joint challenges presented by climate change and decreasing availability of fossil fuels. Transition brings together those activities that build resilience in our communities.
If you’re interested in engaging, discussing and contributing to a Transition Movement here in Calgary, please join the conversation on Thurs., Feb. 25th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. It will be held at Mountain Equipment Co-op in downtown Calgary (830 10 Ave SW).
Interested in learning more? You can visit Transition US, or pick up a copy of ‘The Transition Handbook’ either at Green Calgary’s Ecostore or at the Arusha Centre’s library.
You can also join Transition Calgary’s Facebook page to get more involved – click here.
Sustainability for Breakfast February 26th
The Sustainability for Breakfast series is intended to:
• Bring people together, including unlikely allies
• Provide a forum for introductions and networking
• Explore key questions on topics central to sustainability in Calgary
• Create space for idea generation and synergies that could lead to innovative action
The next breakfast meeting will be held on February 26th -- all individuals, organizations and businesses with an interest in advancing sustainability in Calgary are welcome to attend.
To learn more, click here.
Reel Fun Film Festival February 15-21
The 4th annual Reel Fun Film Festival (RFFF) will include seven days of international family films and activities. Unique to Western Canada, RFFF's family event showcases award-winning feature presentations, thought-provoking documentaries and animated films to engage and excite children of all ages.
On Family Day, February 15th, experience the RFFF Open House Celebration at the newly opened Cardel Theatre. Watch films and experience interactive activities hosted by film professionals from the Alberta film industry.
Other events include:
Feb. 16-20: Film Festival Screenings
Feb. 20: The Directors Cut Red Carpet Event
Feb. 21: Official Closing and Family Celebration
Cost: Adults $7, Students/Seniors $6, Children $5 (under five free), Family Pass $20.
For complete information, visit www.reelfunfilmfest.com.
Calgary Awards Deadline March 5th
Calgary is a vibrant city and there are many active, involved citizens making a difference in our community. Now is your chance to recognize them.
In 1994, The City of Calgary established the Calgary Awards to celebrate and recognize outstanding achievements and contributions made by Calgarians. Each year, individuals, corporations, community groups, schools and organizations are nominated in five major award categories, for a total of 17 awards.
Award recipients are selected by a jury comprised of community and business representatives, retired Aldermen and previous award recipients. Their recommendations in turn go to City Council for approval.
This is your chance to nominate a person, group or organization for a Calgary Award.
All nominations must be received by Fri., Mar. 5th. To learn more, visit www.calgary.ca/calgaryawards, email calgaryawards@calgary.ca, or contact the Calgary Awards line at (403) 268-8881.
Frameworks For Inspiring Change March 11-13
Are you interested in constructive change in organizations and communities?
Imagine Chicago is offering its next Frameworks for Inspiring Change Masterclass from March 11-13 in Chicago. This is the only time this winter the class is being taught in North America.
With much involuntary change underway, it is especially important for change agents to be able to help individuals and organizations to reconceptualize positive identities based on new goals, values and choices. How can you inspire engagement and create a culture of hope in yourself, your organization and your community? How can you ask better questions that motivate constructive behavior shifts? How can you reliably align actions around a personal or shared goal?
In this hands-on, “train-the-trainer” workshop, you will learn and apply proven development frameworks, tools and facilitation practices for individual development, team building and community regeneration.
This course will introduce and apply Appreciative Inquiry, Imagine Chicago’s pioneering frameworks for building community, and current therapeutic models of individual change and identity. You will leave this workshop with effective tools, strategies and creative activities for building on strengths and empowering constructive change at every level.
The $850 registration fee includes comprehensive training materials with permission to adapt them for use in other settings. Registration is available online.
For further information please contact Bliss Browne at (773) 275-2520 or bliss@imaginechicago.org.
Calgary Go Green Expo March 27-28
Calgary welcomes the Go Green Expo this March with a two-day event featuring hundreds of different exhibitors. The expo is dedicated to providing information, products and services to help Calgarians live a greener lifestyle. There are several themes, including Green Homes and Gardens, The Local and Organic Marketplace, as well as a Green Kids activity zone.
A variety of special guest presentations are planned, including an Eco-Fashion Show with REAP Calgary, an imagineCALGARY Partner and winner of the 2009 imagineCALGARY Partner in Action Award.
The Expo will be held March 27 and 28 at the Roundup Centre, Stampede Park.
Learn more by visiting the Go Green Expo website.
Measuring and Assessing Environmental Performance March 1-26
Mount Royal University’s Continuing Education division is offering a certificate program, Environmental Management for Business, with five online courses. Measuring and Assessing Environmental Performance
will explore environmental issues and trends and then examine your own organization to define day-to-day environmental priorities. Find out how improved environmental performance translates to improved business performance.
Learn more or register online here.
Green Calgary Events
Green Calgary (formerly the Clean Calgary Association) offers a full range of environmentally themed events designed to help protect and preserve the planet. With topics including composting, green procurement, waste management, eco-logic and more, there are plenty of workshops and courses to choose from.
Click here to learn more.
Green Living Series with REAP and Conscious Home
imagineCALGARY Partner REAP (Respect for the Earth and All People) and Conscious Home have developed the Green Living Series to provide information and inspiration for Calgary households to make changes that reduce their environmental footprint. The series consists of four 2-hour workshops designed to introduce you to Calgary’s green scene and provide resources for you to make changes in your home right away. Toolkits of useful, local and sustainable products can be purchased at each workshop to make immediate action easy.
Workshop 1: Going Non-Toxic
On a typical cleaning day in the average Canadian home, chemical levels in the indoor air can be hundreds to thousand times higher than the outdoor air in the most polluted cities. Participants will learn about the major sources of poor indoor air quality and the causes of chemical sensitivities. Discover easy, cost effective, non-toxic alternatives and win a toolkit to get you started!
Toolkit includes Small Planet Germs-Be-Gone Concentrate, Claudia's Choices phosphate free washing powder, microfiber cleaning cloth, recipe book of do-it-yourself cleaners from Conscious Home, 10% discount from No Cleaner Maid Service. Retail value $30.
Workshop 2: Greening Your Garbage
The average Canadian generates about 30 green garbage bags of solid waste each year. (Imagine how many that adds up to for a household of four!) Participants will learn how to significantly reduce the amount of waste they send to the landfill by composting (backyard and indoor vermicomposting), reusing common household items, and reducing plastic. Discover why the 3Rs have become 6!
Toolkit includes reusable shopping bag, no junk mail sticker, stainless steel travel mug, and a gift certificate for green organizing. Retail value $30.
Workshop 3: Energy and Water Efficiency
Utility costs continue to rise, so we can all benefit from good conservation practices. Participants will learn how to make their homes more efficient by viewing it as a system that is part of a larger whole.
Toolkit includes compact fluorescent light bulb, shower timer, outdoor water saver kit, and bike path map. Retail value $30.
Workshop 4: Shopping Responsibly
Green is the new black! Participants will learn where and how to buy responsible fashion and personal care products. Know what to look for and how to assess the true cost of a product, including the social, environmental and economic consequences. We will focus on fashion and cosmetics (for men and women) with a fashion show* hosted by Riva's Eco Store and SwizzleSticks SalonSpa.
Toolkit includes discounts on green products and services, tour and tasting for two at Big Rock Brewery, and a tin of fair trade, organic tea from Verde Tea. Retail value $50.
*Due to the resources required to mount a fashion show, this is only available for groups of 30 or more. Where possible, communities or groups may combine this workshop with other communities or groups in order to include a fashion show.
Pricing
Organizations may host the Green Living Series for a flat fee of $2,000 plus toolkits at $30 each, which can be raffled off at the events. Additional toolkits may be purchased by participants at a cost of $30 each.
Workshops are interactive and have been designed to encourage discussion and build a sense of community; therefore, it is recommended that registration be capped at 30 participants per workshop. The host will handle all promotions and registration for the series and REAP and Conscious Home will deliver the content and provide the toolkits. To assist with recruitment and registration, REAP will provide a poster or ad for your organization's newsletter and a promotional video for your website or Intranet.
Learn more on the REAP website.
Save the Date: Green Calgary Earth Day April 22nd
Green Calgary is hosting a special Earth Day event at the Uptown Theatre in Calgary later this year. Be sure to mark Thurs., April 22 at 5 p.m. on your calendar – and check back for further details closer to the date.
Take Part in Jane’s Walk
Jane’s Walk is a weekend of free walking tours led by local people to engage their community. Organized in Calgary by The Calgary Foundation, volunteers are now being recruited to take part in the 2010 event slated for this May.
Jane’s Walk honors the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs, who championed the interests of local residents and pedestrians over a car-centred approach to planning. These walks are organized in communities across North America in an event that celebrates life in our city’s neighborhoods.
It’s not too early to get involved. Simply decide the route you want to walk, the stories you want to share and if you like, recruit some neighbors and friends to help out. Then contact The Calgary Foundation so you can be booked as a leader.
Want to learn more? Visit The Calgary Foundation online. You can also contact Julie Black, Citizen Engagement Associate, at the Calgary Foundation with any questions by emailing jblack@thecalgaryfoundation.org or calling (403) 802-7720.
This April, check back to see the full roster of Jane’s Walks. Then, on the first weekend of May (May 1st and 2nd) join a Jane’s Walk for insight and conversation. |
