Vancouver & Whistler, CAN

Hållbarhet 2009 (Canada)—February 6th - 8th, 2009

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Backcast yourself to be in Vancouver & Whistler this February. This Western Canadian event is a parallel gathering to the Hållbarhet in Australia to bring together the Masters in Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability alumni in the Pacific Northwest region.

The venues for this exciting parallel learning and sharing experience will be in the dynamic, cultural city of Vancouver and in in the stunning Coast Mountains of British Columbia;

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Theme: Increasing Positive Impact by a Power of Ten

EVENTS

Friday, Feb. 06, Vancouver, BC

8:00 TNS Workshop - (Click here for Full Description)

Introduction to Strategic Sustainable Development

Saturday, Feb. 07, Whistler, BC

• 9:00 Sustainability Applied: Dialogue Café for Sustainability Professionals

11:45 Lunch We will have sandwiches from Ingrid’s in the library. Please bring a plate, cloth napkin, cutlery and cup. There may be an additional charge for those without these amenities.

• Inspirational speakers, discussion & case studies:

1. 12:45XAnn Duffy, Corporate Sustainability Officer, VANOC, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
2. 1:30XDave Waldron, Synapse Strategies, Strategic Advisor for the Suzuki Foundation
3. 2:15XTTed Battiston,Strategic Energy and Emissions Manager, Whistler Centre for Sustainability
4. 3:00XArthur DeJong,Mountain Planning and Environmental Resource Manager,Whistler/Blackcomb

• World Cup Bobsleigh Get $5 tickets for this original Olympic sport here. (more info below)

• Evening Dinner and socializing Saturday Social - please RSVP
In the evening we are hoping to share dinner and a chat with a few locals. Please let Mitch Rhodes (rhodes.mitchell[at]gmail.com) know if you are interested in attending.

Sunday Feb. 08, Whistler, BC

• Sector Engagement Event - please choose one

Options for Sunday include: please let Laura (laurajmackay[at]gmail.com) know your choice more information below
1. Getting to Zero Waste: Tour of Whistler’s New Compost Facility + cross-country ski
2. The Possibility of Sustainable Retail: Walking Tour of Whistler’s Retail Sector with former Lululemon Athletica Manager

• Closing event (2pm): Video-conferencing with parallel Hållbarhet event in Australia

Participants can register by sending an email to: magdalena.szpala [a] gmail.com. Registration deadline January 23rd Please note in your email the days you will be participating and if you require accommodation. (see below).

Please forward our flyers on to friends and Colleagues:

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENT

COST
Cost for the workshop is $89 until Jan.16th, after $100, there is also rate for members of the alumni, please contact Magdalena if you are interested in attending.

Please bring $30 in cash to Saturday’s event. This will cover the cost of facility rental, lunch and fika.

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VENUES

Friday’s workshop will be held at the central located Robson Square: 800 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, Tel: 604-822-3333:

Saturday’s Dialogue Cafe will be held at the beautiful Whistler Public Library – a LEED Gold building with ground-source heating and cooling, durable building construction and green roof technology. 4329 Main Street, 604.935.8433.

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EXCURSIONS
World Cup event for 4-Man Bobsleigh: Saturday, Feb. 7 4pm: Sliding Centre in Whistler
Bobsleigh combines speed, power and agility as racers begin by pushing off and running as fast as they can for 50 metres and then jumping into the bobsleigh for a seated descent down the track. Men compete in two- and four-man events and women compete in two-person events. Bobsleigh is one of the original sports of the Olympic Winter Games. Tickets, $5 can be purchased here.

Slideing Centre opens at 2pm: to get there - ride up in the Excaliber gondola (in the main Village Square) all the way to Base II, and will be directed from there - which is very cool!

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Sunday Options: please let Laura (laurajmackay[at]gmail.com) know your choice

• Leveraging Tourism for Sustainability: Join a TreeTrek Tour in Whistler’s coastal rainforest with Ziptrek guides. Learn how this tourism-driven business integrates and communicates The Natural Step framework to tens of thousands of visitors each year. Followed by strategy session with Ziptrek staff.

• Getting to Zero Waste: Join a Tour of Whistler’s New Compost Facility and Wastewater Treatment Plant. The plant is one of the most advanced wastewater treatment facilities in British Columbia. Carney’s Waste Systems has just operationalized in the Callaghan Valley, a new Wright In-Vessel Composting System that was selected based on its processing of complex feedstock. Learn about recent successes in Whistler in terms of organics collection. To be followed by a cross-country run in the spectacular Callaghan Valley, or hang-out at the Callaghan Lodge.

• The Possibility of Sustainable Retail: Join a former lululemon athletica Manager on a Walking Tour of Whistler’s Retail Sector. Learn about how lululemon and Hatley are championing sustainable retail in Whistler. To be followed by a sustainable retail visioning session for Whistler.

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TRANSPORTATION

You can get to Whistler from Vancouver by car or Greyhound bus. Friday departure, 3pm or 5:00pm (arriving in Whister 2.5 hours later) and Sunday leaving at 5pm (arriving in Vancouver at 7pm).

If you are coming from the airport Budget rent a car has some great rates $39.00 (unlimited KM) or from downtown Vancouver $47.83 (unlimited KM) for 2-days rental, fuel-efficient car, winter tires: budget.ca.

If you need or can offer a rideshare, please email Laura MacKay: (laurajmackay[at]gmail.com) with the number of seats you need or can offer.

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ACCOMMODATION
Whistler is a popular place. Accommodation gets booked quickly. Especially when the snow conditions are good (which they are at the moment - current snowbase 143cm!! - it’s a winter wonderland up there!). We encourage you to book your accommodation as soon as possible.

Here are your options:

1. There is a few of us that booked a three bedroom at Legends Hotel in Whistler Creekside, legendswhistler.com. For two nights the total cost was $1,125 and there’s 8 beds there. We want to share the cost and are looking for people that would like to stay with us. Let us know asap if you’re interested.

2. There is a Hostel in Whistler: hihostels.ca/pm/982/hi-whistler_hi-whistler_hostel.hostel

3. Other arrangements:
- book via the official website: whistlerblackcomb.com (note that some of us will be at Legends Hotel)
- try your luck at Craig’s list vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/vac - These are private listings and you can find a great deal there (We used it last year and it was great!). However, there’s no ‘guarantee’ what you get and who it is you’re renting from.
- perhaps you know someone who lives in Whistler and can stay with them?

ZERO WASTE

Hållbarhet 2009 has a Zero Waste target. This means taking a preventative approach to waste by finding ways to avoid disposables and to divert resources from landfill during the gatherings. Our special focus will be on organics diversion. Please bring a cup, plate, cutlery and a cloth napkin. Bins for recyling and organics will also be provided. And join the Zero Waste list! (by emailing jennichols[at]hotmail.com)