Flying Elephants and Travel Emissions – Part 3
In Part 1 of this theme, we made a case for using the recent slowdown in long-haul travel to explore how to tackle visitor travel emissions. In Part 2, we explored the imperative for low carbon travel, industry targets, what low carbon travel might look like, and the...
Increasing Rental Housing through Accessory Dwelling Units
In many communities across BC, there continues to be a lack of rental housing and housing diversity. Recent housing needs assessments conducted in a number of small-to medium-sized communities indicate a predominance of single-family homes, with few purpose-built...
A predictable planning and engagement cycle doesn’t have to be boring
Creating an annual planning, budgeting and engagement cycle that is predictable doesn’t have to be boring – in fact, it can be just the ticket to fostering the culture of civic engagement and community-grounded decision-making you’re seeking, while also saving on the...
The Elephant in the Room
The Elephant in the Room Flying Elephants and Travel Emissions Part 2: In our last newsletter, we made a case for using the recent slowdown in long haul travel to explore how to tackle visitor travel emissions. With vaccination plans rolling out and news that in...
Helping hybrid models of engagement fly in your community
COVID-19 has taught us three things for sure about engaging people online: It removes barriers by eliminating travel time, travel costs, child care needs, and inconvenience; People get tired of engaging online as their sole way to participate; and Not everyone has...
Advancing climate action in Metro Vancouver
BC communities have nine years to meet the provincial target of a 40% greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction below 2007 levels by 2030. Metro Vancouver has set a slightly more ambitious target of a 45% GHG emissions reduction below 2010 levels by 2030, and is...
Metro Vancouver’s new low-carbon centre will have strong Whistler voice at the table
The Whistler Centre for Sustainability’s executive director Cheeying Ho has been tapped to serve on the core project team for the Metro Vancouver Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3) Innovation Centre, which is aimed at accelerating “urban climate solutions through...
Local government – Indigenous Community to Community (C2C) Forum events – the December 4th grant deadline is fast approaching
Do you want to strengthen relationships and foster co-operative action between your local government and Indigenous communities in your region? This has been the overarching goal of the Community to Community (C2C) Forum grant funding that the Province has offered...
Want to build trust and increase participation in your community?
Our Engagement Review process can help. If you share the core belief that inclusive public participation is essential for trust and good governance, then you’ll want to explore what our Engagement Review process can offer. Our process will help reveal what you’re...
Flying Elephants and Travel Emissions
WCS Engagement + Planning’s recent work to support the “Big Moves” climate action initiatives in Squamish and Whistler highlights the importance of understanding and addressing travel emissions. While this “elephant in the room” of Whistler’s tourism based economy and...
Strategic Planning – A Good Move
“The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do.” (Michael Porter, Harvard Business School) Choosing what “not to do” is arguably more difficult than choosing what to do, and during these uncertain times when budgets are tighter, making those hard choices may be...
COVID-19 Recovery Planning
Tips for Engaging Your Community While the COVID-19 crisis has created tragedies and unearthed tremendous inequities, out of a challenging crisis can come opportunity – foundations shift enough that cracks become visible and new possibilities emerge. Use this time to...