BC communities embraced planning and innovating for sustainability

The Smart Planning for Communities (SPC) program, managed by FBC (2008-2016), offered advice and support to over 100 BC communities. A team of dedicated sustainability facilitators  supported communities, large and small, in their quest to create more sustainable ways for people to live, work and play.

BC communities gained opportunities to better understand and undertake integrated community sustainability planning. They did this in a manner consistent with each community’s vision for the future and taking into account social, economic and environmental considerations.

With financial support from a number of partners, SPC offered education, resources and advice for local and First Nations governments, particularly in rural communities, to help them carry out community sustainability planning. Communities fulfilled their undertakings in various ways, some through stand-alone sustainability plans and others through Official Community Plans, asset management plans, climate change action plans or policy statements. An important outcome of the program was stronger connections and relationships between local governments, and between local and First Nations governments.

To learn more, see the 2016 wrap-up report on the implementation of community sustainability plans, including what participating communities saw as pivotal to success: Implementation of Community Sustainability Plans by BC’s Local Governments.