Sustainable Development

The following links provide information for local governments and First Nations to meet human needs while preserving the environment, so that these needs can be met in the present and in the indefinite future.

Please note that the Province of British Columbia is not responsible for the material and/or content presented on any non-provincial government site listed below.

Resources

BC Rural Network
A coalition of organizations, communities, and individuals who share a commitment to building the capacity of British Columbia to develop responses to rural and remote community issues.
http://www.bcruralnetwork.ca

Canadian Home Builders’ Association
Dedicated to fostering a housing environment in which the industry operates effectively and professionally while maintaining affordability and profitability.
http://www.chbabc.org

Canadian Rural Partnership
Is the key policy framework supporting federal rural policy efforts, whose goal is to enhance the quality of life in rural communities and better equip the communities to compete in a global economy.
http://www.rural.gc.ca

Centre for Sustainable Community Development, Simon Fraser University
Uses the resources and talents of the University to teach and encourage sustainable community development.
http://www.sfu.ca/cscd/

Chinook Institute for Community Stewardship
A charitable non-profit organization that assists growing communities to plan for and manage change in a way that protects the important natural and cultural assets of a place, and supports local initiative that promote responsible use, stewardship and conservation of natural landscapes.
http://www.chinookinstitute.org

Columbia Basin Trust
Supports efforts by the people of the Columbia Basin to create a legacy of social economic and environmental well-being and to achieve greater self-sufficiency for present and future generations.
http://www.cbt.org

CommunityFutures.com
Lists over 200 community programs that are searchable by category, sector, and organization. These pages provide information on sources of funding and support primarily for social, economic, and environmental community development initiatives in rural areas, however the programs are not necessarily exclusive to rural.
http://www.communityfutures.com/cms/Funding_Sources.2.0.html

Community Development Trust
Launched in 2008, this initiative includes three programs: the Transitional Assistance Program supports older workers as they move towards retirement; the Tuition Assistance Program helps forestry workers upgrade skills; the Job Opportunities Program creates short-term job opportunities for forestry, fishing, agriculture, mining or manufacturing resource workers.
http://www.cd.gov.bc.ca/cdt

Community Futures British Columbia
Plays a significant role in the socio-economic development and diversification of the communities it serves through entrepreneurial and community development.
http://www.communityfutures.ca/provincial/bc

Communities in Transition: Real Estate Foundation of BC
Helps land use practitioners, in the widest sense of the term, have better access to cutting edge work being done on sustainable land use and conservation practice in non-metropolitan BC.
http://www.communitytransition.org

Construction Industry Training Institute
Engages in training partnerships with employers, labour organizations, Aboriginal groups and governments; provides advice on training methods and opportunities; identifies funding options for training from provincial and federal government programs; promotes the advantages of careers in the trades and helps young people, students and others gain access to apprenticeship training and facilities.
http://www.bcciti.org

Fraser Basin Counci
Is a unique organization that is focused on advancing sustainability throughout the entire Fraser River Basin. The long-term vision of the Fraser Basin Council is to ensure that the Fraser Basin is a place where social well-being is supported by a vibrant economy and sustained by a healthy environment—a true reflection of sustainability.
http://www.fraserbasin.bc.ca

Institute for Resources, Environment & Sustainability, University of British Columbia
Works to foster sustainable futures through integrated research and learning about the linkages among human and natural systems, to support decision making for local to global scales.
http://www.sdri.ubc.ca

Island Coastal Economic Trust
The Island Coastal Economic Trust provides funding to create new and sustainable regional economic growth through strategic investments in targeted “sectors” with the north Island, coastal and Sunshine Coast regional economy.
http://www.islandcoastaltrust.ca/index.php

Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund
The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society is a grant-making agency that assists the people of North West British Columbia, and in particular the Nechako region and Kitamaat Village, by sponsoring sustainable economic and social projects in the area most affected by the Kemano project and the creation of the Nechako Reservoir. The NKDF will invest in community economic development projects and/or programs that are supported by the community, as long as they do not subsidize private business.
http://www.nkdf.org/

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Economic Diversification Infrastructure Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Economic Diversification Infrastructure program provides municipalities, regional districts, First Nations and non-profit groups funding via Northern Development’s six (6) principal Trust Accounts: the Regional Development Accounts (Cariboo-Chilcotin/Lillooet, Northeast, Northwest, and Prince George), the Pine Beetle Recovery Account, and the Cross Regional Account. As Northern Development’s primary community economic development funding program, projects that serve to diversify local and regional economies are eligible for infrastructure and capital investment funding.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Feasibility Studies or Marketing Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Feasibility Studies or Marketing Program provides municipalities, regional districts, First Nations and non-profit groups such as industry associations with a grant up to a $20,000 for: a feasibility study that will demonstrate a strong business case for an infrastructure project that is aligned with Northern Development’s Economic Diversification Infrastructure funding program that will diversify and provide direct measurable economic benefits to the local or regional economy, or; development and implementation of a marketing program that will increase revenues within the region.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Community Foundation Funding Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Community Foundation Funding Program assists all municipalities and regional district electoral areas in the Northern Development Initiative Trust region of central and northern British Columbia in building an endowment fund that supports local social, cultural and environmental needs via local decision-making.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Economic Development Capacity Building
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Economic Development Capacity Building Program funding provides $30,000 annually from the Cross Regional Account to ensure stable economic development funding for municipalities and regional districts. An additional $5,000 is available to each eligible local government, specifically for a collaborative project with another local government, regional economic development alliance, or another group, with outcomes that deliver measureable economic benefits to the area.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding...

Northern Development Initiative Trust - Industry Attraction Rebate Program
The Northern Development Initiative Trust's Industry Attraction Rebate Program provides up to $20,000 in matched funding from the Cross Regional Account directly to communities in central and northern British Columbia to hire appropriate resources to create jobs through industry attraction. As an output from this work, communities will: understand the needs of the target industry; how they can meet those needs; and implement focused marketing and discussions with senior executives at target companies.
http://northerndevelopment.bc.ca/community-funding/industry-attraction

Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem Institute
A Canada and United States commitment to actively work together on meeting common challenges for the future of the Puget Sound Georgia Basin Ecosystem.
http://www.epa.gov/region10/psgb/us_canada_partnerships

Rural Team BC
Guided by grassroots direction and regional rural input, this partnership network of federal, provincial and community-based organizations is committed to working with rural British Columbians to help identify and address their priorities by focusing on local assets and resources, community capacity and a strong connection between rural communities and government.
http://www.rural.gc.ca

Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust
A $50-million Southern Interior Development Initiative will give communities the funding and ability to create new opportunities for sustainable economic growth and more jobs. The mission of the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust is to support regionally strategic investments in economic development projects that will have long-lasting and measurable regional benefits for the Southern Interior.
http://www.sidit-bc.ca/

UNBC Community Development Institute
By taking research, sharing information, and supporting education outreach, the Institute provides a vital partner to communities interested in making informed decisions about their own futures.
http://www.unbc.ca/cdi/index.html

Urban Development Institute
Regional branch of a national non-profit association of the development industry and related professionals, which is dedicated to fostering effective communication between the industry, government, and the public. Its aim is to improve both housing and job opportunities for all British Columbians.
http://www.udi.bc.ca

Volunteer Futures
Is an annual training event for boards of directors from around the province, a forum where board members come together to learn, grow their organization and draw energy and inspiration from interacting with other volunteer leaders from BC’s voluntary sector.
http://www.volunteerbc.bc.ca/volbc/documents/flyer.pdf (PDF, 100KB)

Volunteer Vancouver Leaders Forum
Has now opened registration for their Leaders Forum 2009, which will include a full day training session looking at building better boards, staff management, the wired not-for-profit, mission-based marketing, financial empowerment, planning, and social entrepreneurship.
https://www.netforumondemand.com/eWeb/...