Community Sustainability

Task Force releases report and recommendations

In February 2011, Mayor Stephen Mandel appointed the Community Sustainability Task Force in response to the strain on the city’s core neighbourhoods and the need to ensure Edmonton’s mature neighbourhoods and schools are viable, vibrant and sustainable.

After months of input from stakeholders and Edmontonians, exploring related research and work on community sustainability, and much discussion about the best ways to achieve sustainability in the city’s mature neighbourhoods, Mayor Stephen Mandel and the Community Sustainability Task Force released ELEVATE - its report and recommendations – to the public on February 2, 2012.

The ELEVATE Vision

ELEVATE’s vision will guide how the report and recommendations are enacted and it is hoped  the report will support a community resolve to “elevate” all Edmontonians.

Edmonton is a city in which engaged and informed citizens work together to create strong and sustainable neighbourhoods and communities. Our community will embrace diversity, will  provide a physical and social environment where we can live, learn, work, and play, and will meet the needs of current and future Edmontonians through their entire lifetime.

The Task Force had nine recommendations, each with a number of associated action plans to be implemented.

The ELEVATE Recommendations

Recommendation 1

Bring together the four jurisdictions (federal, provincial, municipal, school boards) to create innovative partnerships and re-configured policy and funding models designed to assemble a new urban agenda.

Recommendation 2

Create a new channel for collaborative community sustainability work in Edmonton. This new channel—which may or may not be a new body, depending on the resources brought to bear—will act as the focal point for the city’s community sustainability network.

Recommendation 3

Create a template for the development of an asset-based development plan for every mature neighbourhood (which will change over time), to understand strengths and areas of need, to engage the community directly, and to ensure that community goals and input are prioritized, particularly when development is being pursued and/or advocated.

Recommendation 4

Ensure that initiatives for community sustainability are based on good information. The new channel—the Edmonton Community Sustainability Partnership (ECSP)—will oversee the effective distribution of this information.

Recommendation 5

Develop a collaborative regulatory environment that strengthens and supports communities.

Recommendation 6

Create and support business diversity within communities, and develop stronger partnerships with and between the community, Business Revitalization Zones, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Department of Sustainable Development.

Recommendation 7

Foster healthy communities through offering a diversity of housing, and through encouraging and educating around issues of diversity and densification.

Recommendation 8

Recognize that education is the foundation of a successful future for both communities and individuals, and that life-long learning is a foundation for community sustainability. Ensure that all community-driven plans include the delivery of life-long learning opportunities for all.

Recommendation 9

Encourage the Province of Alberta to provide innovative and sustainable infrastructure funding to guarantee that existing and new schools are modern, multi-functional and able to accommodate a diversity of programs.

Next Steps

Though the work of the Task Force is complete, the implementation of its recommendations is  only just beginning and will involve all key stakeholders - the City, school boards and Alberta Education.

For more information:

Community Services