University of Calgary, Craigie Hall C, Room 119 see map

For information call 403-270-3200 

$10 admission Calgary Dollars Accepted

Visionary author and lecturer Dr. David Korten will speak on the themes of his most recent book, Agenda for a New Economy: From Phantom Wealth to Real Wealth, which sets forth a framework for an economy designed to bring humans into balance with Earth's biosphere, equitably share the wealth of our common human heritage, and make democracy a living practice. Korten, a former Harvard Business School professor, is known for his clear and unflinching critique of an economic system ruled by global corporations and financial markets and his practical proposals for a future in which economic power is rooted in people and communities of place. 

Edmonton, 7-9pm

Greenwoods Bookshoppe is located at 7925 - 104 Street

When Bob Lovelace set out to write about the struggle of his people against uranium exploration in Ontario, he wrote it from a Canadian maximum security prison. The 61-year old grandfather, and a chief of the Ardoch Algonquin, was in prison for standing up for social justice and environmental protection. To write, Lovelace used a pencil sharpened by scraping it across the metal staircase near his cell. The first handwritten copy was 'lost' by the prison authorities.

Lovelace wrote again and his second copy became the prologue to one of two books by Edmonton researchers that will be celebrated at Greenwood's Bookshoppe, Thursday, April 8. Randy Haluza-DeLay, a sociologist at The King's University College in Edmonton, and Laurie Adkin, political scientist at the University of Alberta invite those interested in environment, social justice and democracy in Canada to the launch of the paperback editions of these two unique books.

Both books are published by UBC Press. Haluza-DeLay is a co-editor of Speaking for Ourselves: Environmental Justice in Canada. Adkin edited Environmental Conflict & Democracy in Canada. Alberta chapters cover the Lubicon Cree, prairie farming as environmental injustice and ecological citizenship, with other chapters on water, forestry and industrialization.

Wine and light refreshments will be served! Books will be available for purchase. The launch runs 7-9pm. Greenwoods Bookshoppe is located at 7925 - 104 Street, Edmonton.

Contact

Gail Greenwood (780) 439-2005

Randolph Haluza-DeLay (780) 465-3500 ext 8063

Laurie Adkin (780) 492-0958

Edmonton 

Participants will...

• Review and understand what current research teaches us about moving learners to take action
• consider different program models and program elements that best help learners move to action
• Articulate the specific action goals of your education program, and describe exemplar action projects that might result
• Identify changes that could be made to optimize the action dimension of your program

• Dr. Rick Kool - Royal Roads University
• Gareth Thomson - ACEE

CLICK HERE to register for the Edmonton workshop.
CLICK HERE to register for the Calgary workshop.

More information is on ACEE's website.

Click here for the invitation.

Friday April 16th, 2010 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday April 17th, 2010 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Location: Red Deer College - Cafeteria Board Room (1007A) (Red Deer, AB)

It all starts off when a small collection of motivated individuals within a community come together with a shared concern: how can our community respond to the challenges, and opportunities, of increasing costs of fossil fuels ("peak oil") and climate change?

They begin by forming an initiating group and then adopt the Transition Model with the intention of engaging a significant proportion of the people in their community to kick off a Transition Initiative.
A Transition Initiative is a community working together to look Peak Oil and Climate Change squarely in the eye and address this BIG question: "for all those aspects of life that this community needs in order to sustain itself and thrive, how do we significantly increase our resilience (to mitigate the effects of Peak Oil) and drastically reduce carbon emissions (to mitigate the effects of Climate Change)?"

After going through a comprehensive and creative process of:

• awareness raising around peak oil, climate change and the need to undertake a community-led process to rebuild resilience and reduce carbon
• connecting with existing groups in the community
• building bridges to local government
• connecting with other transition initiatives
• forming groups to look at all the key areas of life (food, energy, transport, health, heart & soul, economics & livelihoods, etc)
• kicking off projects aimed at building people's understanding of resilience and carbon issues and community engagement
• eventually launching a community defined, community implemented "Energy Descent Action Plan" over a 15 to 20 year timescale

This results in a coordinated range of projects across all these areas of life that strives to rebuild the resilience we've lost as a result of cheap oil and reduce the community's carbon emissions drastically.

The community also recognises two crucial points:

A) That we used immense amounts of creativity, ingenuity and adaptability on the way up the energy upslope, and that there's no reason for us not to do the same on the downslope

B) If we collectively plan and act early enough there's every likelihood that we can create a way of living that's significantly more connected, more vibrant and more in touch with our environment than the oil-addicted treadmill that we find ourselves on today.

Training Overview

This 2-day, 12-hour course delivered by international-level trainers will cover the basics of Transition Towns and how to:

• Understand the context for Transition and how the model has evolved - from inspiration to working groups
• Gain knowledge of the main steps of Transition to work out a plan of action for yourself and your community
• Understand the inner and outer aspects of Transition in order to hold an inspiring talk on TT in your community

The event will include lunch and light snacks with coffee/tea breaks. The course is limited to 35 participants. Hosted by Sustainable Red Deer, RDC Green Campus, and Sustainability Resources Ltd.

Registration

$220 + GST - RDC Students (valid ID req'd)$250 + GST before and including March 26

$300 + GST after March 26

To Register: Contact Ron Besuijen at 403-392-8758 or ron@homesynergy.ca - payable by Visa, MC, cheque, cash, or money order.

More info at www.sustainablereddeer.com OR www.transitiontowns.org

NOTE: all proceeds will go towards land stewardshipand economic localization projects in Red Deer & District, led by TT-trained members of ReThink Red Deer.

Cancellation Policy

In the event of limited resources or lack of registrants, we reserve the right to cancel the event by Friday, March 26th. Full refunds will be issued if this happens.

If you need to cancel your registration for any reason:
If notified 7 days in advance we will refund your course fee but will deduct a $50 administrative fee;
Less than 7 days in advance we are unable to provide a refund but would allow you to send someone in your place

Calgary 

Participants will...

• Review and understand what current research teaches us about moving learners to take action
• consider different program models and program elements that best help learners move to action
• Articulate the specific action goals of your education program, and describe exemplar action projects that might result
• Identify changes that could be made to optimize the action dimension of your program

Resource people:

• Dr. Rick Kool - Royal Roads University
• Gareth Thomson - ACEE

CLICK HERE to register for the Calgary workshop.

CLICK HERE to register for the Edmonton workshop.

More information is on ACEE's website.

The 2nd Annual Barrhead Green Expo and Trade Show will be held on April 23 & 24, 2010

Friday April 23, 2010

• 3:00pm Expo Doors Open
• 8:00pm Expo Doors Close

Saturday April 24, 2010

• 10:00am Expo Doors Open
• 7:30pm Door Prizes Awarded
• 8:00pm Expo Doors Close

Reserve your space at the 2010 Barrhead Green Expo and Trade Show.

Put your GREEN product or service on display in Barrhead on April 23 & 24, 2010! We want to see your:

• Agriculture and Permaculture Systems
• Sustainable Architectural Design
• Building Products
• Recycled Products
• Solar Products and Services

Read more

The Town of Black Diamond and Alberta Acts on Climate Change are hosting two open forum dialogues focusing on moving the Black Diamond Sustainability Plan forward, and creating an action plan for climate change solutions in the community. All community members of Black Diamond and the surrounding area are invited to take part.

Join Black Diamond Mayor Sharlene Brown and the Black Diamond Sustainability Committee in charting out a detailed plan for moving your community forward!

Black Diamond residents discuss sustainability at the first Forum on the Future

Part II: Action Planning & Moving Forward

Saturday, April 24th, 2010 from 9:30 am- 2:00 pm
(lunch provided)

 Griffith Memorial Centre, 126 Government Road South

Registration is free but required to attend. Lunch and childcare will be provided.   

The April 24th Forum for the Future includes a tour of Black Diamond's sustainability successes:

• The renewable energy-powered Oilfields Regional Arena
• The Diamond Valley Community Garden
•  The pocket gardens on main street...and more! 

Click here for more information and to register

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED

For the past year The BC Alberta Social Economy Research Network (BALTA), a collaboration of academics, social economy institutions and practitioners has funded a research project titled Prospects for Socializing The Green Economy: The Case of Renewable (Wind) Energy. On April 28 you are invited to a workshop hosted by the BALTA research project team. This workshop is not about re-inventing the wheel, but about building upon the work many of you have been involved in over the past several years. It will be another milestone on the path to the social economy becoming an important player in the development of Alberta's renewable energy resources. Below is an outline of the agenda.

The Summit Room

Holiday Inn on 67th

6500 - 67 Street, Red Deer, Alberta
 
Wednesday, April 28, 2010; 10:00 am - 2:00 pm (lunch provided)

1. Eye on the Prize - Riding the Wind to Success, the latest intelligence on wind electric potential in Alberta; barriers, key policies that need to be in place; and elements of the 'Alberta lens' that provide a context for Wind development strategies.
2. Review of BALTA Sponsored Research Findings - An overview of research undertaken over the past 6 months focusing on social economy opportunities in Alberta's wind energy industry. This will include identification of relevant precedents in Canada, North America and Europe; review of Alberta social economy assets with respect to exploitation of the wind energy opportunity; mapping of the social economy players and presentation of five potential foci of a strategy for success: Financing Opportunities, Partnerships with Private Sector, Small Community Owned Installations, Municipal Partnerships, and Advocacy through Education and Information.
3. The Ontario Experience - Continental Leaders. Presentation and discussion of current and planned community based renewable energy projects in Ontario.
4. Do we have The Right Ingredients? What's Missing?
5. Scenario Building. We will complete the day by developing 3 - 4 scenarios, strategies, or roadmaps for how the social economy will achieve success in the wind energy industry in Alberta; identify key elements of a best-case scenario and identify immediate (two year horizon) Steps Toward Success. 

More information is here. 

Please note that while we will be focusing on the prospects of wind power for this session, we are taking this as a starting point from which community and local ownership lessons can be adapted where appropriate to renewables in general.

Please RSVP your attendance to: paul.cabaj@gmail.com
We look forward to seeing you there.

Regards
Paul Cabaj

Hosted by Alla Guelber, with special guests:

• Karen Kun, founder of Waterlution and publisher of Corporate Knights magazine
• Rob Sinclair, founder of Conscious Brands
• Adrian Buckley owner of Big Sky Permaculture
• Thomas Labelle, manager at the Environmental Careers Organization (ECO Canada)
  
• Kurt Archer, founder of My World, My Choice! and youth grants coordinator at Alberta Ecotrust Foundation
• Teresa Chilkowich, nature reconnection guide at Gaia Collaborative Medicine

Are you wondering how to launch a small business or not-for-profit project with an environmental and social mission?

How can you line up your values with the way you make a living?

Join us for this inspiring residential workshop, evening of Friday, April 30-Sunday May 2, 2010 at Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel.

Program Overview

The old economic structures are no longer working, but the new structures have not yet been created. This is the struggle for many young professionals in Canada who are seeking meaningful work and "Green Jobs" that allow us to do work that is in line with personal values for social justice and environmental integrity.

The purpose of this 2.5 day retreat is to provide a forum for young professionals in Alberta (~ages 20-35, but open to all) to spend a weekend with like-minded peers and inspiring professionals, deeply engaging with questions around vocation, sustainability, and social innovation. Join us for this unique opportunity to:

• incubate innovation in an inspiring setting
• explore your own leadership style
• develop your own ideas for creative social and environmental projects
• learn about upcoming trends in the environmental careers sector
• connect with others from a variety of backgrounds and start building a community of practice... and much more!

Visit the Meaningful Work Retreat page to register and for more information

7-9pm

MacEwen Hall, University of Calgary

A gathering of people of all ethnicities sharing a common vision a healthy, peaceful and joy-filled planet

Register here

Hillhurst United Church - 1227 Kensington Close NW

10am - 12pm

Join Facilitator Kris Vester of Blue Mountain Biodynamic Farms and spend the morning exploring the following questions:

• How can I grow food in my own backyard?
• How can I increase my spiritual connection to food?
• What is the role of food in local and global economic systems?

To register, call Sunnyside Natural Market at 403.270.7477 or follow this link.

Suggested donation: $10.

Weather permitting, we will be in the dirt for some of the time so please dress appropriately. Barbecue will follow.

Edmonton, Westmount Community Hall (10970 127 St)

7pm

Join us for the showing of "In Transition: 1.0," a Snack and Chat event. We will be showing this informative and stimulating movie to provide fodder for our discussion.

Transition Towns explores one of the most compelling community movements around the world. The concept of a Transition Town focuses on exploring the head, heart and hands of energy descent, and at the same time stimulating community renewal.

Popping up everywhere (having started in the UK and Ireland around 2006), Transition Towns are grass-roots movements that embrace the full spectrum of local resilience. Communities have successfully delivered Transition programs that encourage local currency, re-skilling, energy alternatives and inspire new policies for local government.

Join us in a discussion about community development and sustainable living in Westmount. Treats sponsored by the Duchess Bakery and beverages will also be provided.

Please let us know if you plan to attend by Friday, May 10th to events.wcl@gmail.com.

Peace River

7:30 pm at the Catholic Conference Centre

Do you think you have to choose between a great job and a healthy environment for your children? You don't have to!

Learn the facts about Alberta's potential for a green collar economy and how we can work together to put the power back in the hands of Albertans!

Alberta can build a strong economy while maintaining a healthy
environment. By shifting towards a just, clean energy economy we not only make our communities more resilient and healthy, we also diversify and strengthen our economy. We create good green jobs for Albertans that secures a sustainable future for all of us in the process.

Join speakers and experts for an evening discussion on green jobs, renewable energy, and how we can unleash Alberta's true potential.

A better Alberta is possible. Now let's start building it..

What: RePower Alberta: Green Jobs and Healthy Communities
When: Monday, May 17th, 2010, 7:30pm
Where: Catholic Conference Centre
Cost: FREE

What: RePower Alberta: Green Jobs and Healthy Communities
When: Tuesday, May 18th, 2010, 7:30 pm
Where: Legion Hall.
Cost: FREE.

Speakers include:

• Tim Weis, Professional engineer and the Director of Renewable Energy and Efficiency Policy at the Pembina Institute.
• Randall Benson, Journeyman electrician, and founder Off The Grid - Renewable Energy Power Systems
• Denis Sauvageau, President Peace River Environmental Society
• Sheryle Carlson, Associate Director, Sierra Club of Canada Prairie Chapter
• Mike Hudema, Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner

Event Sponsored by:

• Peace River Environmental Association
• Green Peace Canada
• Sierra Club of Canada - Prairie Chapter

7pm

The HUB, Red Deer

Panelists include

• Bill Moore-Kilgannon of Public Interest Alberta; 
• Dave Thompson, independent consultant; and 
• Morris Flewwelling, Mayor of Red Deer

11:30am - 1:30pm

Fort Calgary Officers' Mess

750 9 Ave SE, Calgary

Growing Calgary's Green Economy

Imagine new opportunities for Calgary's economy! One that is green and provides real opportunities for people living on low-incomes... 

Join Thrive as we explore the potential for expanding green job opportunities in our economy. 

This event is free; registeration required (a light lunch will be served) 

RSVP to Brenna Atnikov by May 20 | brennaa@momentum.org | 403.204.2668 

Join Jeff Loomis from Momentum and other community members, for a presentation of Green Collar Jobs: A Workforce Development Feasibility Study and to reflect on some key points: 

• What Calgary businesses are already creating jobs in
• Calgary's green economy? How can businesses benefit from creating green jobs? 
• What are green collar jobs and how do they contribute to reducing poverty? 
• What can we do to create new green collar job opportunities that benefit Calgary's underemployed workers? 

Other panelists include representatives from 

DIRTT Environmental Solutions and 

Avalon Master Builder 

1pm

Riley Park, Calgary (10th St and 5th Ave NW)

Download poster

Pedal*Power*Party!

Join in the celebration as Powered by The People hosts its sneak-a-peek evening for special friends.

When:   Tuesday August 17th, 2010
Where:  Hearth Room, HSCA 1320 5 Avenue NW
Who:     You! Kris Demeanor & (Woody Harrelson, Ken Kesey, Bob Weir & Michael Franti in a movie on the big screen)

Whats Up!

    7  Doors open - get your solar-powered popcorn & spare loose change for a bevvie or five (or hop on our shiny, new blender bike to mix your own margarita!)
   7:30     Local talent: Michelle Dias & Brandy Dahrouge
   7:45     Kris Demeanor 
   8:30     Screening of 'Go Further' (See the 'Go Further' trailer here)

Questions, ideas or inspiring thoughts: contact heather@poweredbythepeople.ca

Thursday Sept 9, Calgary

Friday Sept 10, Edmonton

Participants will...

• Understand what a logic model is 
• Build a logic model for an existing or new environmental education program
• Review instruments that can be used to measure outputs, outcomes, and impacts
• Create a draft evaluation plan that can be used to evaluate the success of your environmental education program

Resource people:

• Philip Cox - Plan:Net
• Gareth Thomson - ACEE

CLICK HERE to register for the Calgary workshop.
CLICK HERE to register for the Edmonton workshop.

More information is on ACEE's website.

The Solar Energy Society of Alberta & Grant MacEwan University Presents:

Renewable Energy: The Path to Energy Independence, Reducing Our Footprint & Utility Bills 

Register here (click on "Classes"; fee: $250)

Class runs Sept. 14 - Oct. 26 Tuesdays (6:30 - 9:30 p.m.)

Grant MacEwan University City Centre Campus rm.  7-139

The Solar Energy Society of Alberta and the Grant MacEwan Institute of Environmental Studies presents a seven-week evening class focusing on Energy Efficiency; Solar Electricity; Solar Hot Water; Solar Home Design, Non-toxic building and Green Transportation. The class includes a Saturday tour of solar installations.

Each Student will develop their own energy independence map. Tools will be provided to determine your energy usage. A wide variety of alternative energy systems will be introduced. Solar equipment will be demonstrated.

Instructor: Rob Harlan, Executive Director, Solar Energy Society of Alberta. Mr. Harlan has installed over 150 solar hot water and solar electric systems. He has lived off of the utility grid in a solar house for 25 years.

Noon - 1:30pm

Hosted by the Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) - 1715 Mayor Magrath Drive S., Lethbridge

Medicine Hat's Energy Sustainability Department is focused on providing its citizens with energy conservation and renewable energy education, incentives and leadership through a variety of "Hat Smart" initiatives. The mission of the department is to help Medicine Hat reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and position itself to thrive in the post carbon economy. 

The speaker strongly believes municipal energy strategies should include energy efficiency, conservation and renewable energy, as they will play a critical role in the sustainability of all communities in the 21st century. Leadership from provincial and federal governments is also needed and will ultimately be paramount to the success of such strategies.

Lethbridge and Medicine Hat have been friendly rivals for over a century, often trying to outdo each other, but could it be that Lethbridge is being left in the dust regarding sustainable energy? The speaker will explain the issues and offer his perspective.

Speaker:       Russ Smith

Russ Smith is the City of Medicine Hat's Energy Sustainability Manager. He has worked for the City of Medicine Hat for the past fifteen years in a variety of roles with the City including extensive financial and strategic planning within the City's Energy division.  Russ earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Calgary in 1991.

Moderator:    Tom Cain

Cost:            $10.00 (includes lunch)