Discussion and action on sustainability often focus on the environment with less emphasis on social issues. Two great threats to humanity’s future – poverty and climate change – show the need for an approach based on principles of equity. The discussions, led by key people in the field, will demonstrate that social justice and environmental protection are equally important legs of sustainability.

Presenters include: Ian Bruce (David Suzuki Foundation), Ernie Crey (Sto:lo Tribal Council), George Heyman (Sierra Club BC), Bill Hopwood(Sustainability Activist), Marc Lee (Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives), Adrienne Montani (First Call), Mark Roseland (SFU Centre for Sustainable Community Development), Jim Sinclair (BC Federation of Labour), Vanessa Timmer (One Earth), Ben West (Wilderness Committee)
$49 (60645)

Introduction to Transition Towns – the movement and the model

Tuesday, June 15, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

How do you engage a whole community in a transition driven by energy descent? What are the lessons from the Transition Town model and movement after 5 years? The workshop will be open and interactive engaging participants in activities that set the context for Transition and provide an overview of the model, the movement, and Transition examples from around the world.

Lena Soots is a Research Associate and Instructor at the Centre for Sustainable Community Development at Simon Fraser University and a PhD Candidate in the Faculty of Education. A member of the Village Vancouver Steering Committee and a certified Transition Trainer, she works with communities to build resilience and create sustainable futures.
$45 (60908)

Oil Scarcity: What are the implications for Vancouver?

Tuesday, June 15, 1:30– 4:30 pm

In 2004, the film, “The End of Suburbia was released and confronted us with projections from experts like Richard Heinberg, Matt Simmons and Colin Campbell of what the world might look like when Peak Oil occurred. Six years later, as we enter the second decade of the 21st century, we’re looking back at these predictions to gain insight into our world. To what extent did the film anticipate the “Great Recession,” the end of the growth economy or the expansion of war through Iraq and Afghanistan to Pakistan and beyond?

Ann Pacey is an environmental engineer and a member of the Village Vancouver Steering Committee.
Philip Be'er is a sustainability consultant, a member of Village Vancouver Steering Committee and a member of Vancouver Peak Oil Executive.
$29 (60919)

Sustainability 101

Tuesday, June 15, 6:30-9:30 pm

Are you wondering what sustainability means and how it applies to you? Do you feel confused by contradictory information in the media? Learn sustainability basics: how sustainable are we in North America? How do we compare with the rest of the world? We’ll also take a look at our own life choices and the impact of these on our sustainability.

Alexandra Henriques has been an adult educator at the college and university level for over 25 years. In 2001 she launched her own sustainability consulting and education firm, Eco-Audit.
$29 (60642)

Shifting from Knowing to Doing

Thursday, June 17, 1:30-4:30 pm

You’ve educated yourself about living a lifestyle that supports sustainability. You know that living sustainably offers significant benefits like better health and less stress due to a supportive community and healthy, organic food. This workshop explores the “transition to sustainability” by providing you with information and tools for setting priorities and allocating your valuable time and financial resources.

Philip Be'er
$39 (60617)

Edo Period of Japan as a Model of Sustainable Society

Thursday, June 17, 7 – 9:30 pm

Edo period of Japan, from 1600 to 1868, was a time in which Japan was closed to the outside world. No significant amount of material came in or went out and the only input was solar energy. They had a highly vibrant culture and sustained a fairly large population and even improved the environment based on the solar energy alone. Hence, this is a small scale model of the Earth which is closed materially and has only solar energy input. We will discuss how they did it and why they could do it.

Eiichiro Ochiai, PhD, taught and conducted research in chemistry at universities in Japan, Canada, United States, Sweden and Germany. Since retiring he has been involved in the peace and sustainability movements.
No charge (60911)

The (Sustainable) Story of Stuff

Monday, June 21, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

This workshop starts by looking at Annie Leonard’s fantastic video The Story of Stuff. Her work documents the journey of all ‘stuff,’ from extraction of resources, through production, distribution, consumption and disposal. This workshop goes one (very important) step beyond and takes participants on a journey to look more closely at what a Sustainable Story of Stuff could look like. Of course we need to reduce, reuse and recycle, but this workshop will look at what an alternative extraction-to-disposal cycle could look like for the stuff we do need to consume.

Jessie Rain Ann Smith has run popular education courses and workshops on economic and social justice for over 15 years. She has been teaching Latin American Studies at Langara College since 2001.
$39 (60923)

Sustainable Leisure Summer Edition

Tuesday, June 22, 6:30-9:30 pm

Protect the environment - and your health - while relaxing in the summer. Apply your awareness of sustainability to summer fun. This participatory and hands-on session will provide you with concrete ideas to live more sustainably. We will look at camping, sports, children, traveling including cruises, and more.

Alexandra Henriques
$29 (60643)

Crude Oil Tankers in Burrard Inlet: The Risk

Wednesday, June 23, 7 – 9 pm

Currently, an average of two oil tankers each week carries up to 700,000 barrels of Alberta Tar Sands crude oil through the port of Vancouver. The industry's plan is to increase the capacity to 10 tankers per week. Each of these tankers carry's 3-times the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez. What is the risk of an oil spill in Burrard Inlet or Georgia Strait? Are we prepared? Can we prevent it? An alliance of fishermen and concerned citizens are challenging the oil industry and attempting to preserve the marine environments in BC waters. They are planning a flotilla for the fall. This presentation will explain the risks and the plan to prevent a catastrophe.

Rex Weyler is a published author, historian, and ecologist; his books and essays on ecology and social history include Greenpeace, Blood of the Land, and The Jesus Sayings. He writes a monthly column, “Deep Green” for Greenpeace International.
No charge (60927)

Transition in Vancouver: from Fossil Fuel Dependence to Resilience

Friday, June 25 & Saturday, June 26, 9 am – 5 pm

Join leaders of the transition movement in Vancouver for a 2-day workshop and dialogue introducing the principles, steps and lessons of the successful Transition Town model of local response to global challenges. This is a full 2 days of both practical and theoretical learning. You will learn how to initiate a transition group in your community, build awareness of peak oil and climate change and engage citizens from all walks of life in neighbourhood or community projects.

William Aal is a certified Transition Town trainer from Seattle. For the past 20 years, he has been a trainer and organizer, helping communities transform to be more just and sustainable. His passion is to work with diverse rural and urban communities, to help transform the way we live - to be more just, sustainable and joyful.
Lena Soots
$195 (60828)

Facilitating Change

Setting the Context for Change: Exploring the Pathways to Ecological Sustainability

Monday, June 14, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Explore the cultural and economic causes of the various Global Crises. We investigate key underlying western values, beliefs and institutions, and the blocks to social change. Is the fundamental root cause of our global crises over-population, personal/spiritual, political, lack of efficiency in our systems, or institutional – the growth economy? This exploration leads to understanding the possibilities for a positive future.

Kathryn Cholette, MA has been an activist for 25 years focusing on social justice, bioregionalism and green cities. In the early 1990s she coordinated the Tin Wis Coalition of First Nations, unions and environmental groups. She is a Left-Green served as federal leader of the Green Party of Canada from 1988-1990. Currently working with Village Vancouver to promote the Transition Movement, she serves on the board of the New City Institute.
$75 (60646)

Making Change Happen

Monday, June 14, 7 - 9:30 pm

This evening dialogue explores the million-dollar question: how can we make the world a better place? We examine what turns conservatives into progressives and what inspires people to action. We look at history to see what people have done to actually make positive change happen. We consider strategic action we each can take to turn this ship around. A lecture will be followed by pair and group discussion.

Jessie Rain Ann Smith
By donation (60918)

Debunking Free Market Myths

Thursday, June 17, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

This workshop critically analyzes the main arguments put forth by proponents of the free market model. A step-by-step look at the weaknesses of the model allows participants to internalize the arguments against it. This workshop prepares you for those family dinners when you disagree with your uncle; you will have all the intellectual defence you need to back up a progressive, people and planet friendly vision.

Jessie Rain Ann Smith
$29 (60921)

Effective Social Change Through Nonviolent Communication

Friday, June 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Join us in an exploration of how to increase our effectiveness in social change work through nonviolent communication (NVC). NVC consciousness facilitates clarity about the changes we want and helps to communicate our needs and requests from a place of power. We’ll explore how to deal with the intense emotions (e.g., frustration, disappointment, anger) that arise in social change work.

Raj Gill, CPCC is a CNVC Certified Trainer, Certified Professional Speaker, and Certified Co-active Coach. She has been teaching NVC for 7 years. She is a professional coach and has 30 years experience in teaching, training and facilitation. Leslie Kemp, MSW, coordinates community development programs for Langara Continuing Studies. She has 25 years of experience in community development and is active in social change and community arts.
$100 (60615)

The Art and Science of Interviewing

Saturday, June 19, 9:30 – 4:30 pm

We all ask questions in our daily lives but how do we know what questions to ask to get the information we need or the results we want? Two journalists tell you how to ask the right question at the right time to achieve your goals.

Priya Ramu is a radio journalist with CBC in Vancouver as a reporter, documentary makers, program producer and host.
Peg Fong is a journalist with more than 15 years experience and has interviewed everyone from prime ministers to drug dealers. She is currently the western Canada bureau chief for the Toronto Star. She is an instructor at Langara’s journalism program.
$100 (60913)

Building the World We Want

Wednesday, June 23 &
Thursday, June 24, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Come explore how we can build a more just and sustainable Canada – and world. Interactive activities take you on a journey that starts by envisioning what the future could look like, then explores how we can be effective change agents, and ends with an understanding of how to overcome the obstacle in our path. This workshop does not dwell on the woes of the world - it celebrates solutions.

Jessie Rain Ann Smith (see # 7)
$75 (60926)

Making a Difference in Your Own Backyard

Thursday, June 24, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

What would you like to see changed in your community? What issues concern you? Learn how small actions can have a big impact. Hear stories from people who've made a difference in their own communities and in anti-poverty, food security and human rights work. Learn what motivated them to take action, their struggles and challenges and how the world is better for what they’ve achieved.

Leslie Kemp
No Fee (60663)

Creating Collaborative, Resilient Communities

How to Create a Village in a City

Tuesday, June 15, 7 – 9 pm
Getting to know your neighbours can be a lot of fun and can also be a powerful way of responding to issues of climate change and depletion of finite natural resources. This session will discuss how to create and sustain a neighbourhood village.

Ross Moster is the founder of Village Vancouver. He is a member of the Vancouver Food Policy Council and the Westside Food Security Collaborative, and serves on the NOW BC Co-op, Car Free Vancouver, SPEC, and IMAPON boards, SFU’s Local Food Project advisory committee, and the Vancouver Peak Oil Executive.
By Donation (60909)

Cross-Cultural Conflict Resolution

Wednesday, June 16, 10 am – 5 pm

While conflict is universal, how we deal with it isn't. Learn about the emerging field of cross-cultural conflict resolution. Through activities and reflection, discover different ways of resolving conflict, practice new skills and come away with a framework for how to build a culturally-sensitive, collaborative process tailored to fit your communities and cultures (including ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexuality and gender).

Lee-Anne Ragan, BSW, MEd, President of Rock.Paper.Scissors Inc., has worked locally and internationally training groups in conflict resolution, diversity and community development. Her lively and engaging workshops have been serving the not-for-profit, community-based and corporate sectors for more than 16 years.
$100 (60655)

How to Start Your Own Craft Collective

Wednesday, June 16, 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Creativity multiplies when people get together! Create a crafting community and benefit from the sharing of skills and stories with other hands-on 'DIY' folks. Participants will have a chance to network with other like-minded individuals sharing an interest in crafting, art and community. The workshop aims to provide a space for the sharing of skills and ideas and an opportunity for participants to begin forming their own craft collective.

Sidra Hawkins loves crafts and community organizing.
By donation (60920)

Introduction to Nonviolent Communication

Thursday, June 17, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

"Language of the Heart", also known as Nonviolent Communication (NVC), was developed by Marshall Rosenberg. In this interactive workshop, you'll gain a basic understanding of how NVC can bring empathy and compassion into your life, get your needs met and deepen your connection with others. You will also have an opportunity to use the language of NVC and get some practice.

Raj Gill
$100 (60614)

Community Mapping

Thursday, June 17, 6:30-9:30 pm & Friday, June 18, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm

Learn how to use community mapping as a tool for planning, building community capacity, or social action. Gain a critical understanding of the power relations embedded in both conventional and alternative mapping processes. Discover how community mapping has been used in a variety of projects and how you can use the tool of community mapping in your own project or community.

Eric Brown works for Sustainable Cities, where he manages a number of youth-led development projects. Eric has used asset mapping as a technique for engaging young people in sustainable urban development and he has taught courses in community mapping for youth workers in Vancouver. $139 (60619)

How to Organize a Community Block Party Saturday, June 19, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Madeleine and Shannon will offer workshop participants a briefing on how people can organize their own community block party, referring specifically to the Car Free Vancouver guidelines. Various styles of parties, ranging from one block affairs to large community festivals, will be covered. (Co-sponsored by Car Free Vancouver, Car Free Kitsilano & Village Vancouver).

Madeleine Kipling has organized events ranging from medical conferences to city-wide fundraisers. Madeleine has been a core organizer for Car Free Vancouver for a few years and sits on the Board of Directors.
Shannon Moore has been a core organizer for Car Free Vancouver for 3 years and sits on the Board of Directors. She has a background in community building projects and communication.
No fee. (60914)

Collaborative Action Planning for Organizations

Monday, June 21 & Tuesday, June 22, 9 am - 4:30 pm

Develop the leadership, communication and collaborative skills needed for effective, consensus-based, action planning. Develop your ability to facilitate creation of collaborative action plans. Position your organization for success with proven methods for success. Take back the tools you need to plan effective and dynamic meetings and programs.

Dorothy Argent has twenty years of community development work and is well known for her collaborative and leadership skills.
Dr. Neils Christiansen has fourteen years of designing and facilitating consensus-based planning processes with non-profit organizations.
$179 (60633)

A Place to Call Home: Multicultural Environmental Education

Wednesday, June 23, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

We will explore experiential environmental education as a way to help newcomers to Canada develop a sense of home and environmental responsibility. We will take the Multicultural Environmental Education Program of the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS) and the new Rangi Changi Roots: Many Cultures, One Climate organization as case study to learn from.

Megan Thom is the Nature Outings and Events Coordinator at the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, a centre that has been serving newcomers in Victoria since 1989. She has worked in the field of environmental education and cross-cultural communication in places as diverse as Switzerland, Estonia, Montreal and Burkina Faso.
$5 (60925)

Cultivating Food, Cultivating Neighbourhoods

Growing and Sharing Food in Your Neighbourhood

Wednesday, June 16, 7 – 9 pm

We have tremendous resources in our neighbourhood, which we could put to great use - if only we knew our neighbours! Getting together with others to grow, share, and celebrate food is not only fun, but can lead to satisfying connections which can free up time and save us money, and make our blocks, neighbourhoods, and communities safer, healthier, and more sustainable. Learn what Village Vancouver and others are doing to help neighbours connect. We encourage you to bring ideas and to share what's happening in your neighbourhood.

Ross Moster
By donation (60910)

Mad City Chickens: Coming to a Backyard Near You!

Friday, June 18, 7:30 – 9:30 pm

Mad City Chickens (79 min film) is a sometimes serious, sometimes whimsical look at the people who keep urban chickens in their backyards. From chicken experts and authors to a rescued landfill hen or an inexperienced family that decides to take the poultry plunge—and even a mad scientist and giant hen taking to the streets—it’s a humorous and heartfelt trip through the world of backyard chickendom. Following the film, there will be a discussion, and Village Vancouver will talk about its neighbourhood Coop Co-op project and upcoming backyard chicken workshops.

By donation (60912)

Backyard Chickens 101

Saturday, June 19, 12:30-2:30 pm

Learn about the proper care and keeping of small urban flocks of hens. This interactive session will help participants discover the ease of caring for small flocks and allay fears and animosity about backyard hens.

Jordan Maynard is the manager of Southlands Heritage Farm in Vancouver. He is an Agroecology student at UBC, and he enjoys potlucking and gymnastics.
By Donation (suggested $10) (60904)

Building Neighbourhood Food Networks

Wednesday, June 23, 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Building Neighbourhood Food Networks brings together groups that provide neighbourhood and city-wide food security/ food system activities, and describes networking opportunities in and between different Vancouver neighbourhoods. We invite individuals and groups that work on food security and food system issues to meet colleagues, share ideas, and explore ways to work together toward common food security goals.

Barbara Joughin is a past member of the Vancouver Food Policy Council, where she currently coordinates a study on the state of Vancouver's food security. She has provided documentation services and project management to nonprofit organizations, business, and government for over 25 years.
Ross Moster
No charge (60916)

A Brief Introduction to Permaculture

Thursday, June 24, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

We will explore the origins, core principles, key methodology and ideas of Permaculture, including energy transfers and harvesting water. We’ll examine Permaculture principles that can effectively create holistic cultivation intended to maintain permanent horticulture or agriculture by relying on renewable resources and a self-sustaining ecosystem. We will also take a close look at a couple of Permaculture projects developed in different climate zones, such as ‘Greening the Desert’ project, to further understand how we can incorporate Permaculture principles into our daily lives.

Queenly Lee is a Certified Permaculture Design Consultant with the pacific Permaculture Institute since 2009 and is one of the facilitators of the Vancouver Permaculture group. Currently, Queenly is one of the Coordinators of ‘CROWs Point Community Garden’, where she offers workshops on companion planting and cooking with local foods.
Sheryl Webster is a landscape designer, Permaculture educator and consultant with extensive knowledge in natural building, green materials and sustainable design.
$49 (60928)

Self-Care, Creativity and Renewal

Make Light Work

Wednesday, June 16, 9 am- 4 pm

Come learn simple, practical innerwork techniques relevant to all areas of your life. This experiential, participatory course introduces quick ways to check intuition, set energy, make decisions, and gain insight into problems. Access the powerhouse of your inherent insight and creativity because each of us is sitting on a gold mine that can make light work in our lives.

Kate Sutherland is a consultant and facilitator in community and organizational development. She learned inner work techniques at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland, where she lived for 3 years in the early 1990s. Kate uses inner work on a daily basis in both her professional and personal life, and is writing a book on the subject.
$125 (60660)

Circle Dance : Turn the World Around Monday, June 21, 7 – 9 pm

Unitarian Centre, 949 West 49 Ave

Circle dance mixes traditional folk dances, mainly from European or Near-Eastern sources, with recently choreographed ones to a variety of music both ancient and modern. Circle dance is fun and builds community.

By donation (60915)

Inner Peace and Global Peace: Reflections for Change Makers

Tuesday, June 22, 8:30 – 11:30 am

This workshop will help those who work on community building to take some time to go within and listen. We’ll use meditative and creative techniques to access our inner wisdom, release stress and imagine what is possible for ourselves and the world. We’ll also engage in listening exercises to enhance our ability to work with others.

Dr Farah M Shroff, PhD is an educator, activist and student of yoga and meditation. She feels passionately that it is possible to create a better world and that building inner peace and global peace are connected
$45 (60924)

Embracing Creativity: How to Rediscover Your Creative DNA

Wednesday, June 23, 10 am – 5 pm

Feel the need to be more creative but not sure where to start? Is the pace of change outpacing your ability to keep up? We’ll open the door to your creative DNA through fun and engaging activities. We’ll combat common myths (I’m not creative) and common fears (I’m not creative enough) through practical application of 6 main creativity skills for use both at home and in the workplace.

Lee-Anne Ragan
$125 (60654)

Walks and Tours

A Walk on the Wild Side

Saturday, June 19, 9 am - 5 pm

Explore the lives of the wild animals that are our urban neighbours! Learn about the life histories of the most common species brought in for rehabilitation, how our habits affect their well-being, and how humane pest control operates. We will tour a rehabilitation centre, survey diverse habitats at Burnaby Lake Park, and discuss how we can co-exist with other species.

Abby Schwarz and members of the Wildlife Rehabilitators Network of BC
$49 (60616)

Secrets and Surprises in Stanley Park Saturday, June 19, 1:30 – 4:30 pm

Meet at Heron Room, Stanley Park Dining Pavilion, 2nd Floor

Over the past several years, six artists have worked with the Park Board, Stanley Park Ecology Society and CACV to design, create and share environmental art created in situ around the park. Six short videos (from 4-10 minutes each) will introduce you to the work, then we will dialogue about environmental and community art and walk with other participants to discover some of the “surprises and secrets” that have taken up residence in the park, noticing how nature and human interaction have affected the works.(Co-sponsored by the Community Arts Council of Vancouver, Stanley Park Ecology Society, and Vancouver Park Board.)

Susan Gordon has a long and strong background in the community and environmental arts in Vancouver. She currently is on the CACV board and the board rep for environmental arts. (See more at cacv.ca).
Derek Irland is the chair of the CACV Community Arts Activities Committee.
Mary Bennett is the administrator for the Community Arts Council of Vancouver, is a visual artist and interested in community and environment issues through various organizations.
No charge (60905)

Taking a Stand for Affordable Housing in Vancouver: A Walking History Tour
(and Dialogue) of the Little Mountain Housing Community

Saturday, June 29, 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Meet at the NW corner of Main & 36
Join community activist, long-time resident and volunteer of the Riley Park/Little Mountain neighbourhood, Ingrid Steenhuisen, in an historical walking tour of (and dialogue about) the Little Mountain public housing development, now demolished except for one building. Learn about the historical significance of this site, the civic contributions of Little Mountain residents, the perils of selling public land to developers and the risks to affordable, public housing in BC, plus a Century’s Need for Housing Affordability within the city/region.

Ingrid Steenhuisen
By donation (60922)

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Langara College

Summer School (CS)

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June 11 - 26 2010

Transition to Sustainability

Talking & Walking Sustainability: Keeping both Environment and Social Justice on an Equal Footing