Slides from the presentation on Sustainable Living Ottawa East.

1. Building Sustainable Community
Some experiences from
Sustainable Living Ottawa East

2. Locally-based sustainability
help to build community
resilience and vibrancy by. . .
initiatives

3. Fulfilling the Desire for Action

4. Delivering Tangible Results

5. Satisfying the Urge to Connect

6. Providing reasons to celebrate

7. SOME KEY ELEMENTS OF
SLOE’S APPROACH

8. Linked to Existing Community Identity
•Committee of Community Association
•Coverage under OECA insurance policy
•Strong presence in community newspaper

9. Committed Initial Core Group
• Great range of skills & knowledge
• Quickly jelled around identity/purpose and action-orientation
• Built energy by brainstorming compelling initial project ideas
• Priority projects chosen based on willing leaders

10. Focused on
action
versus
policy

11. More Network/Incubator than
Organization
• Decision to keep organization “lite”
• Supports ideas brought forward by
community members
• Provides networking, fundraising,
promotional support
• Successful projects take on a life/identity of
their own

12. Leveraging of Community Assets
1 4
1 2
2 6 4
2 6 8
2 4
3 2 1
3 3 3
1 6
2 0
2 2
Natural features
Underused greenspace
Institutions, businesses, etc.

13. Lots of Partnering & Collaboration
= >Capacity +>Resources + >Odds of Serendipity

14. Environmental Sustainability Plus
Civic Life

15. KNOTWEED
CONTROL
TRIAL
DEAR NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS:
This site may look like heck right now, but if we don’t get
on top of the spread of Japanese knotweed, it threatens
to take over our shoreline.
Assisted naturalization (removing invasives and
encouraging desirable native species) is one of the aims
of the Rideau River Nature Trail project. If/when
we can get this knotweed patch under control, we will be
planting this site with sumac and other native species
You can help! Please contact us.
SLOE@sustainablelivingottawaeast.ca
Sustainable Living Ottawa East
Vie Ecologique d’Ottawa Est
Communication & Consultation
Open houses, walk-abouts, talks
Lots and lots of
newspaper articles
Posters for information, events,
opportunities for involvement

16. Some Related Ideas
• Shift from frustrated dissenter to constructive
partner/actor
• Common initiatives/events between community-
based groups can bring more profile – e.g., bicycle
scavenger hunt; car-free day celebrations
• Compatible City initiatives can be leveraged with
support and collaboration and sharing plans can
maximize potential for synergies

17. Summary - some key SLOE Features
• Linked to existing community identity
• Committed (amazing!) initial core group
• Focused on local action versus City policy
• More network/incubator than organization
• Leverages community assets
• Lots of partnering & collaboration
• Environmental sustainability plus civic life
• Lots of communication/consultation efforts

18.  Less Resource
Intensive
 More Ecologically
Attuned
 More Egalitarian
 More Joyful
 Highly Networked
The Global Future
Cities & Towns
Crucibles for
Developing &
Applying Place-
Attuned Design,
Economies,
Technologies
Community
Human-Scale
Venues for
Engagement &
Action
One more piece of advice
Have a framework that inspires you . . .
But don’t expect it to speak to everyone. Let
participants find their fit.

19. Some SLOE Challenges
• Coherence &
identity
• Broad-based
engagement
• Maintaining core
energy
• Place of politics
• Financing

20. A Necessary Shift
“Deep Green” Development of the
Oblate Lands: Research and Politics
http://youtu.be/ae4_EryLTlc