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Tools & Resources

We have compiled tools, resources and web links that we hope will be helpful in developing plans for a sustainable Gabriola.

Activities

  • Dear friends,
    On behalf of the participants in Sustainable Gabriola, I am writing to update you on our collective progress. Following on our fall planning workshop, we now have 13 topic areas and groups working on a variety of projects and activities. The hallmarks of each of these groups is that they are collaborative, -- engaging people from different organizations and areas of interest, -- and they are open to anyone who is interested in participating. Here is a brief description of what is going on in each of the topic areas:
    • Community Resilience and Well-Being
      The Community Resilience and Well-being group is offering the first in a series of Community Conversations on the topic of resilience and well-being. Join us at Island of Peace Yoga Studio on February 13th from 2:00 to 4:00. Share your ideas, exchange viewpoints, build dialogue. For more information contact: Teresa.b@shaw.ca
    • Agricultural Land and Food Security
      The main objective of the group is to grow more local food. To learn more about the possibilities, please join us at our Food Forum on Saturday 20th February, 12 - 4pm at Community Hall. Take part in information exchange and dialogue between growers, gardeners, food enterprises, artisans and food advocates. Hosted by Gabriolans for Local Food Choices. For more info: ericveale@shaw.ca
    • Energy
      The objective of the Energy group is to find ways of using less energy on the island, thus decreasing reliance on off-island energy. A first step is the island-wide energy audit presently being conducted by Island Futures in conjunction with its study of greenhouse gas emissions. Contact Bob McKechnie -       bobmck@shaw.ca or 247-8197 for more information.
    • Housing
      If you read the papers you will know that the Housing Task Force is actively looking at sustainable housing for Gabriola. The group meets regularly. For information e-mail jstorness@shaw.ca
    • Environmental Sustainability and Natural Areas
      The Environmental Sustainability and Natural Areas group is looking for people who are interested in identifying what the island wide priorities for the environment and natural areas are and how we should go about achieving them. If you are interested in participating in this conversation, please e-mail ddfarley@shaw.ca. In the meantime, we are supporting community efforts towards broom and daphne laurel eradication and collaborating with GaLTT in support of the Tunnel Trail proposal which has been approved by the RDN board to move forward for Ministry of Transportation approval.
    • Transportation
      One objective of the Transportation group is to increase paths for bikes, walking and electric vehicles on or near road shoulders. And recently we got the go ahead from the Local Trust Committee to move ahead with the creation of a Gabriola Cycle Route Plan. Anyone interested in attending the next planning meeting on February 8 to provide input should contact Jim Ramsay at 247-9374.
      Another objective is to establish public transit on Gabriola. Considerable work has been done to date in surveying Gabriolans about their transportation habits, and preparing some of the groundwork. BC Transit has undertaken to prepare a feasibility study. Discussions are continuing with BC Transit and the RDN for funding support. In addition, work on a biodiesel processor is continuing.
    • Waste Management
      In collaboration with GIRO, the Waste Management group is looking at different approaches to addressing household and garden composting that works to Gabriola’s benefit.
    • Emergency Response and Community Preparedness
      The immediate focus of the Emergency Response and Preparedness group is gaining understanding of the present system – tentatively identified as fire protection, first response, medical care, ambulance, police, helicopter, coast guard, ferry, Forest Service, GESS, RDN, PEP, HAMS, individuals, animals, and neighbourhoods. Contact Bob McKechnie - bobmck@shaw.ca or 247-8197

    Please let us know if you want to participate in any of these areas. Many hands do make light work and we would love to expand our work groups. Some of our topic areas are developing at a slower pace (e.g., learning, economic sustainability, youth, and water). Please consider getting involved with one of them.

    Our next step will be to convene a spring meeting to get your ideas on how we can measure our progress and ultimately to determine how effective we have been at achieving our objectives and living up to our vision.

    Dyan Dunsmoor-Farley on behalf of Sustainable Gabriola 250 247-9779 ddfarley@shaw.ca