Water Sustainability in Canada's West: Lethbridge, July 30

From the event website:

"Climate variability, water scarcity, flooding, and the various demands of population and economic growth are influencing developers, infrastructure managers, city officials and provincial planners.  Governments, industries, and community development professionals are responding to the emerging need to plan for and manage risks associated with extreme weather events, flooding, droughts and other climate related stressors on our community infrastructure systems.

This full-day workshop will provide an introduction to the drivers and trends toward low impact and green development and the "state of" municipal and provincial water and water management policy and legislation (rainwater & storm water capture, reuse, water infrastructure management), as they influence the planning and construction of provincial, municipal, and residential infrastructure-related projects."

The workshop content will include:

- climate change, variability, and adaptation

- legislation, policies, guidelines, and best practices

- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

- low-impact development tools & technologies

- sustainability of watersheds and water balance model

For more information and to register, click here to visit the event website.

The event runs from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm in Lethbridge on July 30.  The registration cost is $400, but may be subsidized for non-profit organizations and community citizens.  The event is hosted by the Oldman Watershed Council and delivered by Sustainability Resources Ltd., a consulting firm.  SASCI is not associated with the event in any way.

SAVE THE DATE! Volunteer Program Development Workshop, September 13

Following the success of our first Volunteer Program capacity-building workshop for community service organizations (read about it here!), delivered last fall in Pincher Creek, we are planning to deliver the workshop again in the Crowsnest Pass!  

This free workshop aims to help community service organizations design and deliver a compelling volunteer program.  The workshop will explore the motivations and expectations behind volunteering, potential barriers to volunteering, and possible solutions.  The workshop also will examine the essential qualities of the volunteer experience that ensure both the volunteer and the service organization achieve meaningful outcomes.  

To deliver this program, SASCI has partnered with highly regarded Canadian consultants, Chris Jarvis and Angela Parker of Realized Worth, who specialize in providing training and hands-on involvement in the design and implementation of outstanding and sustainable volunteer programs in both the private and public sectors.  

We will run the program on Thursday September 13.  Typically, the program runs from about 9 am to 3 pm. Lunch will be provided.

We'll confirm the timing and venue closer to the day.  Meanwhile, if your community service organization or non-profit wants to do a better job of attracting committed, enthusiastic volunteers, plan to attend this workshop!  To help us in our planning, please let us know if you are interested in attending.  We hope to have as many different groups participating as possible, but there's lots of room!

For more information, to reserve a space at the workshop, or to be an event sponsor, please contact Celesa Horvath, Board Chair of SASCI, at (403) 627-9427 or clhpublic@gmail.com (our SASCI email address is currently experiencing technical difficulties!).  

This capacity-building workshop is made possible through grant funding by Devon Canada's Investing in People program.

AltaLink Open Houses re Goose Lake-Etzikom Coulee Transmission Project

AltaLink will be continuing their series of public Open Houses in southwest Alberta regarding the proposed Goose Lake to Etzikom Coulee Transmission Project.

The remaining Open Houses will take place this week as follows:

Stirling 
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 from 4 - 8 p.m.
Stirling Lions Club Community Centre, 417 - 2nd St

Cardston 
Wednesday, June 13, 2012 from 4 - 8 p.m.
Tanner Centennial Seniors Centre, 260 - 1st St W

Pincher Creek 
Thursday, June 14, 2012 from 4 - 8 p.m.
Heritage Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, 919 Waterton Ave

For more information, click here to be redirected to AltaLink's webpage.

Community Values Assessment Public Presentation

SASCI and the Municipal District of Pincher Creek No.9 will be hosting a public presentation of the results of the Community Values Assessment conducted for the MD.  The presentation will be held at the Heritage Inn, Salon A, in Pincher Creek, on Thursday, March 29th, starting at 7:00 pm.

The findings will be presented on behalf of SASCI and the MD by representatives of Praxis, the consulting firm that conducted the work.  Representatives of the MD Council will be on hand, and SASCI's Manager, David Green, will facilitate discussion after the presentation of results.

The Community Values Assessment was made possible through a funding partnership between the MD, SASCI, and Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development (a Rural Community Adaptation Program grant).

Facilitation Techniques for Community Building, February 14 (on-line)

ACE Communities (Active, Creative and Engaged Communities), an initiative of the Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA), will be hosting a FREE on-line webinar, Facilitation Techniques for Community Building, on February 14, at 10:00 am.

Course overview:  "Community building happens when residents gather and talk about important aspects of their community.  Learn how to engage residents in discussions and decisions and how to gather community input and feedback.  This interactive webinar will provide an introduction to some of the popular and productive community conversation techniques."

Click here to register on-line.  There are only about five spaces left as of January 31.

For more information about the webinar and presenter, click here.