A stunning early autumn day in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.  Some interesting developments here that might be of interest to some of you.

Creation of the Centre for Public Involvement

The Faculty of Extension at the University of Alberta and the City of Edmonton have created a new centre that has as a mission:  To provide leadership in understanding and applying innovative practices and new technologies for citizen participation.  Jointly funded by the University of Alberta and the City of Edmonton, the CPI is dedicated to leadership and excellence in the theory and practice of public involvement.  It will be sharing expertise in:  Community-Based Research, Combining Scholarship, Policy and Practice, International Leadership, Building communities of practice, Knowledge and Capacity Building.

For further information contact:  Fiona Cavanagh  [email protected]

Alberta Climate Change Dialogue (ABCD)

Prof. David Kahane ([email protected]) of the University of Alberta is the leader of an exciting community-university research and action partnership funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and others.  Designed to bring together scholars of deliberative democracy, practitioners of deliberations and participatory citizen engagement with NGO, local and Provincial governments, market sector leaders. The goals of the ABCD project (which is in year 1 of 5 years of funding) are to make academic knowledge about deliberative democracy and best practices in the processes of citizen engagement available to government and related settings where the many issues of climate change and adaptation.  The ABCD brings together a network of scholars and practitioners from across Canada and in other parts of the world.  One of the major projects that the ABCD is working on now is a partnership being developed with the City of Edmonton which has recently passed a “Green” environmental strategic plan.

The Way We Green-The City of Edmonton’s Environmental Strategic Plan

The Way we Green (www.edmonton.ca/thewaywegreen) is the City of Edmonton’s environmental strategic plan.  It sets out principles, goals, objectives, policies and approaches for the City of Edmonton (the most Northern large city in Canada with about 750,000 inhabitants) to live in balance with nature.  It is important to know that Edmonton is located in the Province of Alberta which is the home of what has been billed by international environmental movements the ‘dirtiest’ oil production process in human history.  This makes the appearance of a very progressive green strategic plan here of particular national and international interest.

One of the key persons responsible for providing leadership at the City level is Don Iveson, an elected City Counsellor with a rare combination of community values, environmental awareness and political astuteness.  He is the key City link with David Kahane from the University of Alberta on ABCD developments.

For more information:  [email protected]