Cranbrook Connected Hires Sustainability
Coordinator
The members of the
Cranbrook Connected committee are
excited to announce the recent hiring of Dana Osiowy as Sustainability Coordinator
to help implement goals in “Connecting to our Future”, a long term community
sustainability plan for Cranbrook.
According to Cranbrook Connected chair Chris Ayling, the
hiring of a sustainability coordinator was written into the final Plan document
and is a key action for moving ahead.
“We undertook over
four months of public consultations. We came up with a sustainability plan
built around eight “big ideas”. Those big ideas contained fifty specific action
items that would help Cranbrook move towards a more sustainable community,”
explained Ayling. “However, we knew that the actions might sit on the shelf if
we didn’t have someone working with us to get things moving. Dana is going to
help make that happen.”
Ayling advised
that since Osiowy came on board her main focus has been to facilitate
connections between what community and service groups are already doing in
town, as well as helping those who want to partner in tackling other
sustainability goals in the Plan.
Osiowy brings an
extensive background in community development and communications, including Youth
Liaison for the Columbia Basin Trust, Chair of the Social Planning Council of
Cranbrook, and most recently as Executive Director for Big Brother Big Sisters
of Cranbrook. She was especially interested
in the unique nature of the coordinator position, working with the citizen
volunteers on Cranbrook Connected.
“I was impressed
by Cranbrook Connected’s creative
approach,” said Osiowy. “Cities across BC are being challenged to do more with
less, and this is an innovative way to try to harness the great work that is
already being done in many areas of our community.”
Osiowy pointed out
that over the past year a significant portion of the Plan’s goals have been
achieved. “Since the launch of the Plan one year ago, almost half of the 50
sustainability goals have either been achieved or are in process. The City,
community groups and individuals have really embraced the concept of
sustainability and that we should be building a stronger community for those
who come after us.”
The
cranbrookconnected.ca web site was recently updated to reflect the latest
achievements and to provide regular updates as our community continues to
tackle the remaining sustainability goals.
The current
members of Cranbrook Connected are:
Chris Ayling –
Economic Development Committee
Dave Butler –
Advisory Planning Commission
Patricia Whalen –
Cranbrook in Motion Committee
Jeanette Sissons –
Environment and Utilities Committee
Gord Johnston –
Family and Community Services Committee
Garry Anderson –
Wellness and Heritage Committee
Iain MacLeod –
Downtown Business Association
Denise Pallesen –
City Council Representative
“Connecting to our
Future” can be viewed at
Contact:
Chris Ayling, Chair
Cranbrook Connected
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