Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP) Chair Truper McBride was a guest speaker at the Sustainable Cities International (SCI) Annual Symposium in Vancouver, May 1.
McBride’s presentation at the international event focused on the Cochrane Sustainability Plan.
“There’s great respect for the Cochrane Sustainability Plan and as a result, we’ve been invited to be part of this international group of sustainable communities,” said McBride, who is also Cochrane’s mayor. “Cochrane’s progressive approach has earned it a spotlight on the global stage and shows the changing face of Alberta.”
During his talk, McBride also reflected on the CRP’s Calgary Metropolitan Plan, a 50-year plan for the region that seeks to address sustainability issues such as water, transit and infrastructure.
“I was asked… to speak on the progress we have made in our corner of the world with the CRP, which is presenting a new image for the Calgary region,” said McBride. “Alberta still has a negative stereotype in some parts of the world… it is always nice to go out and tell the true Alberta story about the progress we are making here.”
McBride said several delegates, who travelled to the symposium from as far as South America and Africa, expressed surprise at the innovations taking place in the region.
This year’s symposium was held from April 30 to May 3. Attendees discussed how to accelerate innovation for sustainability in the areas of energy, food and water.
Symposium delegates from all over the world explored case studies where challenges to innovation have been overcome and examined institutional arrangements that enabled innovation to flourish.
Attendees also visited several sites, such as Richmond’s Terra Nova Rural Park.
