Minutes from the Sask RCE Conference Planning Meeting

19th December 2007

Luther College

Location: Luther College at the University of Regina

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

ATTENDANCE

Roger Petry / Luther College /
John Ippolite / Sask Agriculture /
Michele Huszar / Advantage Employment Youth Build Saskatchewan /
Glenn Sutter / Royal Saskatchewan Museum / gsutter@royalsask,useum.ca
Murrey Brych / Sask Watershed Authority /
Kim Sare / City of Regina /
Dale Weisbrut / Sask Agriculture /
Malin Hansen / Native Plant Society of Sk /
Ruben Rajakumar / University of Saskatchewan /
Satya Panigrahi / Sask Ag and Food /
Curt Schroeder / SIAST Wascana /
Janet Baker / SIAST Wascana /
Carla Ballman / Sask ESD Network /
Peta White / SOEEA /
Jon Gillies /
Billy Patterson / RCE SK, EAN UR /

REGRETS: Lyle Benko, Dwight Mercer

Note: These notes were taken during the discussion at the meeting. Please see the Agenda for this meeting for additional information that was compiled from the November meetings of the RCEs of the Americas and the RCE Saskatchewan gathering. The agenda is available on the RCE Saskatchewan website as an attachment for this meeting.

Action items are in bold.

CONFERENCE GOALS

  • Research is a primary focus of the RCE
  • Host poster sessions at conference (on display throughout the conference) would facilitate the sharing of research
  • This conference should offer concrete deliverables and tools (from Susan Kingsbury – Environment Canada)
  • This conference should offer practical tools for people to take away
  • Research is useful in how it is applied to the real world
  • Connecting UN Decade for ESD to the conference mandate
  • Explicit mention of indicators (Glenn) How do we know that our work is actually leading to behaviour and attitudinal change? Since we have an education focus we need information and processes and knowledge about how we are changing (transfer of knowledge). We need outcome based indicators
  • Some goals are very different (local building capacity and networking as compared to international collaboration) How can we structure the conference to successfully achieve both?
  • Other RCE's should feel empowered when they leave and other groups should have an opportunity to share and leave feeling connected.
  • How will we reach out to the public (lots of projects need public understanding / input / involvement)?
  • Our strength is leadership (and achievement without much money) so we should “show and tell” how we achieve this so well
  • Promotion – locally... (local communities need to be involved) and need to be aware of RCE Saskatchewan and the global RCE network
  • This conference should involve celebration
  • Showcase Saskatchewan (and our environment)
  • Who is our audience? The majority of RCE's of the Americas will hopefully send some representation and we should extend a general invitation to global RCE's
  • Offer leadership opportunities for international participants (presentations/panels from other RCEs)
  • Need to determine how many people can we accommodate
  • We should record sessions for possible streaming/sharing (possibly SCN). Live hook ups?
  • There may be a need for translation (perhaps the UN University could assist with this)

CONFERENCE THEMES

  • We might come up with a list of great themes and RCE conferences could use them over time
  • Water – easy to deal with in SK (innovative water management strategies) and keep it pragmatic at the community / local level. Local visits – watershed planning activities, Education: Project Wet and Wild. Research on water issues (earth, environmental aspects). So this could be a good theme to investigate all that is going on under this theme.
  • Perhaps we should use a broader perspective than water (although the theme is good). Huge opportunities here
  • Community sustainability and vulnerability of infrastructure – sustainable communities and liveable communities
  • Structure sessions around the theme (sub-theme) – different streams (concurrent sessions) – so that different kinds of presentations will appeal to different delegates
  • Need to provide training in environmental sciences (environmental assessment etc) – sustainable education needs here. SIAST cold work on this. SEIM focus on linking environmental business community to incorporate aboriginal people. (Jon)
  • Building Sciences (SIAST) – building community from the inside – using people to build with local building materials and practices and people (Curt)
  • ESD needs to be locally relevant and culturally sensitive - from Chuck Hopkins. Needs to be one focus and keep it simple – ONE theme
  • cultural physical needs (food, water, nature, shelter) – room for all interests...
  • an holistic focus – so look for things to tie together – creativity Homer Dixon – cross- cutting theme
  • Indicators – eg ecological footprint (the most powerful indictor out there) (Glenn)
  • Basic needs – food water shelter and wellness/health – this could be a good theme. So broad – can go anywhere from there....
  • Is the theme the name of the conference??? RCE Saskatchewan already has themes (6 themes and 2 cross cutting – Theme Area Working Groups (TAWGS)). So stick to these (they already have sub groups). Use these categories. (Malin)
  • Look for conference name first (this is what attracts someone to the conference). Agriculture is the number one issue here in SK. Community sustainability and sustaining communities – look for the strong words. Provide continuous R&D – for farmers and people. Secondary agriculture. What is new to us? An area where we can attract people – this is important. How will our local people be benefited? Look after our own community in empowering our farmers through ongoing R&D.
  • Need to “brand” the conference – so need to have “RCE Saskatchewan” in the title
  • Cultural perspectives in sustainable development – learning from each other and the world.
  • We want to learn from other regions and share what we have learned...
  • Homer Dixon – ingenuity gap: issues are coming at us so fast – faster than we can apply our ingenuity – so there is a gap... can education shrink that ingenuity gap? Another good argument to get Homer Dixon here... (Glenn)
  • A sub-committee has been structured to continue this discussion and to hammer out possible title and overarching theme for the conference as well as identify possible keynote speakers appropriate to the theme. Over-arching theme should be inclusive of 6 sub-themes of the RCE TAWG’s which can be used to help structure the conference.
  • Sub-committee members: Satya Panigrahi (U of S), Janet Baker (SIAST), Jon Gillies, Billy Patterson (Chair), Glenn Sutter, Carla Ballman
  • Committee will provide details regarding the title, theme, and possible keynote speakers by January 15th, 2008.

DATES (concerns/opportunities)

  • Lyle talked about having a trade show highlighted at SIAST on the Sunday/Saturday (Curt)
  • SOEEA and Marlin will work on the tour concepts
  • Wednesday – host something for the Premiers in Regina (Jon) as they then go on to their own conference in PA for Thursday and Friday.
  • International representatives might be interested in joining in on the Premiers Conference (Roger) Possibly talk to external vice president about protocol
  • Sat/Sun showcase from industry and academic institutions and maybe schools etc.
  • Field day in Regina, Craik, Saskatoon
  • Ask for sponsorship from Saskatchewan Tourism
  • Bird migration is still on at time of year… although at its end
  • Concern about lack of lead time (especially as it is an international conference)
  • We need to get out a Conference Alerts posting asap
  • We need to invite RCE leaders immediately
  • Logistics – inform hotels (reserve rooms ask for discounts) etc... list options on website
  • Invite Minister for Education - opening, Innovation and Science – closing, Minister of Environment – involved and profiled....
  • Look into the Residence – to host students here and offer 2 weeks accommodation for students attending previous Students for Sustainability Conference (Billy)
  • Luther College has residence to provide an on-Campus accommodation alternative for people attending from out of town.
  • Provide travel agent for delegates
  • Carbon offset options – please lets offer something here

LOCATION

  • Arrange walking tour from U of R to the RSM.... this could include FNUC, Science Centre and RSM.... possibly SOEEA could arrange it and also visit wildlife in Wascana park on the way
  • Members of this committee should send in a short BIO – profile current work and picture to Carla Ballman to go on the website asap

FUNDING

  • Ask Ministers for funding?
  • Extra $ will stay in the RCE for use elsewhere
  • City of Regina? Potential funding source Green Ribbon Committee; Curt to contact Councillor from Ward 1 – Louis Brown and Fred Clipsham and send letter to City Council working with Lyle Benko
  • SCIC – City of Saskatoon (have a conference also in May)
  • SIAST – could also make a contribution – Curt
  • Sask Tourism – focus on sustainability – creating sustainable development installations currently.... Janet will follow up on this
  • Rubin – follow up U of S and other sources

CONFERENCE STRUCTURE

  • End Banquet – finally.. theme at future event (feature Barcelona?? maybe with a Spanish meal... invite RCE Barcelona to be involved???)
  • Outdoor BBQ/events
  • Panel – made up from other RCE representatives (and maybe keynote)
  • Concurrent sessions
  • Keynote speaker
  • Wine and cheese welcome – Sunday night
  • Local food....
  • Youth component highlighted – have youth attend sessions and involved with last session
  • RCE conference call - need to report materials at that time. ROGER will call Susan to make sure that this is on the agenda
  • Partner and side events (Saturday and Sunday) tours, maybe all weekend tours as well and possibly morning birding/hiking tours
  • Show case SK ESD Network
  • Show case Universities and SIAST
  • ESD resources for teachers and students (SOEEA)
  • A Sub-committee has been structured to develop an outline of the conference structure/schedule.
  • The Subcommittee includes: Peta White, Carla Ballman, Rubin Rajakumar, and Michelle Huszar
  • The Plan is due Jan 15th, 2008.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

  • Add this job to the themes sub-committee (Billy chair)
  • Panel – made up from other RCE representatives
  • Other suggestions to be sent to the subcommittee
  • Carla – Conference coordinator

OTHER BUSINESS

  • Keep Target Audiences as an agenda item for next meeting
  • Establish a Sub-committee for show case plans – next agenda
  • Documentation – next agenda
  • Co-Chairs of Conference Planning Committee: Jon Gillies and Satya Panigrahi
  • Murray Brych (?) will contact Saskatchewan Environment for a possible representative on the Conference Planning Committee.
  • Carla will book the next meeting (and look into venue)
  • Curt Schroeder will start work on the conference website in conjunction with Carla Ballman

NEXT MEETING OF CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

2 – 5pm Thursday 24 January 2008 including opportunities for people phoning in

Conference coordinator to arrange location for meeting