civil society in metropolitan governance: metro vancouver, corporate relations heather schoemaker...

Civil Society in Metropolitan Civil Society in Metropolitan Governance: Metro Vancouver, Governance: Metro Vancouver,

Corporate RelationsCorporate Relations

Heather SchoemakerHeather SchoemakerManager, Corporate RelationsManager, Corporate Relations

Metro VancouverMetro Vancouver

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

• History of civil society History of civil society engagementengagement

• Public outreach and Public outreach and involvementinvolvement

• Civil society engagementCivil society engagement• Public consultationsPublic consultations• Public ForumsPublic Forums

History of civil society History of civil society involvementinvolvement

• Harry Lash, Director of Harry Lash, Director of Planning, GVRD, 1969-1975Planning, GVRD, 1969-1975

• Three parts to the planning Three parts to the planning process:process:• PoliticiansPoliticians• PlannersPlanners• PeoplePeople

• 1970s - defining livability1970s - defining livability• 1980s - “Choosing Our 1980s - “Choosing Our

Future”Future”

Public outreach and Public outreach and involvementinvolvement

• Metro Vancouver meetings Metro Vancouver meetings open to the publicopen to the public

• Delegations heard at Delegations heard at meetingsmeetings

• Representation on advisory Representation on advisory committeescommittees

• Collaborative Collaborative implementation of policies implementation of policies & regulations& regulations

• Website: information, Website: information, statistics, and reportsstatistics, and reports

• Public consultationsPublic consultations• Public forumsPublic forums

Public outreach and Public outreach and involvementinvolvement

• Public education Public education campaignscampaigns

• Tours of facilities Tours of facilities (watersheds, utilities)(watersheds, utilities)

• Opportunities for Opportunities for volunteer activityvolunteer activity

• Outreach to schoolsOutreach to schools• The Sustainable Region The Sustainable Region

TV showTV show

Civil society engagementCivil society engagement

• Public consultationsPublic consultations• Public forumsPublic forums

Public consultationsPublic consultations

• Consultations on projects, Consultations on projects, plans and initiativesplans and initiatives

• Large and small public Large and small public meetings, open housesmeetings, open houses

• Input via telephone, Input via telephone, correspondence (email / correspondence (email / letter)letter)

• Web surveysWeb surveys• Report to Metro Vancouver Report to Metro Vancouver

Committees & BoardsCommittees & Boards• Maintain dialogue between Maintain dialogue between

consultationsconsultations

Public forumsPublic forums

• Livability Livability and and SustainabilitySustainability• Urban Region – systems of Urban Region – systems of

systemssystems• Collaborative governanceCollaborative governance


Metro Vancouver - Metro Vancouver - • Principal political Principal political

organization operating at organization operating at a regional scalea regional scale• Main forum for community / Main forum for community /

political discussion on issues political discussion on issues affecting the regionaffecting the region

• Significant instrument for Significant instrument for informing the community on informing the community on regional issuesregional issues

• Leadership, Catalyst and Leadership, Catalyst and Facilitator RoleFacilitator Role• Complex regional issuesComplex regional issues


• Future of the Region Future of the Region Sustainability DialoguesSustainability Dialogues

• Sustainability Sustainability Community BreakfastsCommunity Breakfasts

• Sustainability SummitsSustainability Summits

Future of the Region Future of the Region Sustainability DialoguesSustainability Dialogues

• In 2006 and 2007 - 31 dialogues In 2006 and 2007 - 31 dialogues across the region, which engaged across the region, which engaged over 2,000 citizensover 2,000 citizens

• assist decision makers shape the assist decision makers shape the future of the region by inviting a future of the region by inviting a range of views which challenge range of views which challenge conventional wisdom and stimulate conventional wisdom and stimulate fresh thought on regional issuesfresh thought on regional issues

• transportation, labour and transportation, labour and immigration, industry, health and immigration, industry, health and wellness, housing, energy, drugs wellness, housing, energy, drugs and crime, culture, security and and crime, culture, security and safety, regional economy, and safety, regional economy, and agricultureagriculture


• Private sector, public Private sector, public sector, elected officials, sector, elected officials, academics, community academics, community leaders, media, leaders, media, concerned citizensconcerned citizens

• Partners - Chambers of Partners - Chambers of Commerce /Boards of Commerce /Boards of TradeTrade


• Create a unique space for Create a unique space for open discussionopen discussion

• Address complex regional Address complex regional issuesissues

• Identify opportunities for Identify opportunities for actionaction

Sustainability CommunitySustainability CommunityBreakfastsBreakfasts

• Networking opportunities Networking opportunities for citizens and for citizens and organizations interested organizations interested in sustainabilityin sustainability

• Monthly meetingsMonthly meetings• Presentations and Presentations and

updates on on-going updates on on-going projectsprojects

• Up to 150 participants in Up to 150 participants in each meetingeach meeting

Sustainability SummitsSustainability Summits

• Beginning in 2008 - high level Beginning in 2008 - high level biannual meetings (with sub-biannual meetings (with sub-regional meetings in the off-regional meetings in the off-year)year)

• Review progress towards Review progress towards collaboratively set collaboratively set sustainability targets, set new sustainability targets, set new targets and exchange targets and exchange experienceexperience

• Collaborative governance and Collaborative governance and implementationimplementation• Shaping a sustainable region Shaping a sustainable region • Building trust amongst actorsBuilding trust amongst actors• Creating integrated solutionsCreating integrated solutions

Livable Region Strategy Plan Review towards 2031

Questions?Questions?

[email protected]@metrovancouver.orghttp://www.metrovancouver.orghttp://www.metrovancouver.org

civil society in metropolitan governance: metro vancouver, corporate relations heather schoemaker...

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