• Partners
• Aliant
• Antigonish Sustainable Development
• Bathurst Sustainable Development
• Halifax Regional Municipality
• Halifax Shambhala Centre
• iNova Credit Union
• Jacques Whitford Ltd.
• Just Us! Coffee Roasters
• P'lovers, the Environmental Store
• City of Saint John
• Stewardship Outreach Section, NS DNR
• Town of Stratford
• Town of Wolfville
• Network Partners

Antigonish Sustainable Development

The Project’s Purpose

Antigonish Sustainable Development seeks to assist our community to identify and set goals related to sustainable development, and to come up with a framework required for success.

A Sustainable Community

A growing global population, increased consumption and unsustainable demand for resources continue to compromise the “natural capital” upon which we depend for our well-being and prosperity. Sustainability is intended as a means of configuring human activity so that economic and social needs of societies can be met at present and in the future while preserving bio-diversity and natural ecosystems. While there are many challenges that need to be addressed from a sustainability perspective in health, economy, environment, infrastructure, services and overall quality of life, two immediate challenges that demand our attention are climate change and dwindling natural resources. These challenges cannot be met without important changes personally and in the choices we make in our businesses and public institutions.

There are many ways to look at the concept of community sustainability depending on who you are and where you fit in the scheme of things. We all have basic needs that must be met; we all desire to live productive, healthy lives, and to have the ability to hand the same opportunities to our children and further generations. Sustainability is about maintaining this capacity into the long-term future.

Background

In late 2006, the Antigonish area completed Phase One of Antigonish 2020 Foresight, a community-driven visioning project. In Phase Two, which is currently in progress, the community is engaged in identifying projects that mesh with the visions identified in Phase One. These projects will be categorized and prioritized under the four pillars of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan: economic, environmental, cultural and social. In addressing all sustainability aspects of the project, collaboration with the organizations and community is on-going. Antigonish Sustainable Development is an outcome of this process.

Transfer of Knowledge

Becoming a sustainable community provides the opportunity to develop a rich knowledge base of achievable actions and best practices which can then be transferred to other communities seeking to become more sustainable. The Antigonish area is well positioned to become a model sustainable community in the Province of Nova Scotia and in Atlantic Canada because of the leadership taken in this area by the Town and County, and by community interest groups.

Steps towards a Framework

A model for Antigonish as a Leading Sustainable Community was presented in February 2007 to provincial and municipal leaders who expressed support for furthering the initiative. The Deputy Minister of Environment expressed an interest in Antigonish becoming a leading sustainable community based on the model that was presented. The project team has recognized that Antigonish could very well be considered a pilot community in Nova Scotia for implementing a comprehensive framework. Following upon that, the municipal councils of Antigonish Town and County jointly contributed funds to launch the project and provide professional project management for a period of three months with the primary outcome as the development of a plan to move the Antigonish area toward Sustainability. The project is housed in the Antigonish Regional Development Authority and guided by the Antigonish Sustainable Development Steering Committee (formed in April 2007) made up of 12 community volunteers representing four pillars (economic, social, environmental and cultural), municipal councillors, and academia. The project draws on strengths from various models including The Natural Step Framework, The Five Capitals Model and The Ecological Footprint.

In July 2007, the Framework for Antigonish as a Leading Sustainable Community was completed following extensive participation of, and consultation with, local and provincial stakeholders. On-going consultation with provincial stakeholders has included representatives from the Department of Environment and Labour, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. Phase Two of the Project, the implementation of the framework, will be launched in the fall of 2007. Below, please find electronic, printable versions of the Framework for Antigonish as a Leading Sustainable Community, Early Adopters Kit and letters of support from stakeholders for your information.

• Antigonish Early Adopters Kit (335k pdf)
• Framework for Antigonish as a Leading Sustainable Community (253k pdf)

In November 2007, Antigonish Sustainable Development successfully delivered its first day-long Early Adopter Session to 22 representatives of Businesses and Organizations from the Antigonish area (in line with our project goals in the Framework and the Early Adopter Kit). Delivery was to representatives of 16 organizations and business that signed the one-year Early Adopter Charter. The Town of Antigonish was also represented as en Early Adopter.

The purpose of the first of five sessions was to provide a background on Sustainability, discuss models (TNS, Footprint, Five Capitals), discuss the science behind it (TNS) and to begin the Visioning process (TNS A-B-C-D). The organizations will be working closing with the Antigonish Sustainable Development team and their own respective staff to develop Visions, have 10 quick hits and share best practices between now and January 2008. In February the next day-long session will be held to discuss the Visions, provide means and resources for conducting Audits.

The Framework

The framework is modular which means that it is flexible and it can be developed in various segments and adjusted as we move towards the vision of a Sustainable Antigonish. The project’s core operations will be funded from external sources and therefore will not impact on municipal capacity. The project staff and/or contractors will work with various stakeholders to complete the following tasks:

• Aid both municipalities, as appropriate in developing and implementing their sustainability action plans.
• Develop Integrated Community Sustainability Plans (ICSPs) for either or both of the Municipalities.
• Aid organizations and institutions in the Antigonish area in developing sustainability action plans.
• Build educational awareness about and provide solutions to the community at-large for becoming sustainable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sustainable Development?

The classic definition
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."(1)

A shared framework for Antigonish as a Leading Sustainable Community
“A dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential and improve their quality of life in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth’s life support systems.”(2)

What is the difference between Sustainability and Sustainable Development?

Sustainability is the intended outcome. Sustainable development refers to the steps taken to get there.

What is the link between Prosperity and Sustainability?

To further the prosperity of Antigonish, and to maintain a viable economy the well-being of the community and a healthy culture, we must maintain a healthy environment. To achieve this, it is important that a sustainable approach be taken. The following diagram illustrates how we can best protect our interests for a prosperous and sustainable Antigonish:

The economy is dependant on the health of the society which in turn is dependant on the health of the environment. For prosperity, it is thus important to take care of the environment and society so that our economy can continue to flourish is a sustainable manner. Sustainability is the balancing of these three areas (economy, society and environment) through efficient management of our natural, human, social, financial and manufactured capitals (assets).

For more information, please see ASD's Sustainability Champion Kit (504k pdf).

ACSI Sustainability Summit report

Learn more about ASD's work as an ACSI Partner by reviewing their progress report (1.1MB pdf) from the ACSI Sustainability Summit, held April 17-18, 2008.

1. The Brudtland Report: www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Sustainability/Older/Brundtland_Report
2. Forum For the Future: www.forumforthefuture.org.uk

Contact: Kuli Malhotra, Executive Director,
Antigonish Sustainable Development
Address: 274 Main Street, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, B2G 2C4
Phone: (902) 863-2351 Ext. 240
Fax: (902) 863-0460
Email: kmalhotra.asdp@gmail.com

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