Smart Growth in Ontario and Why it Matters: Shaping the Ontario Smart Growth Network

The Ontario Smart Growth Network (OSGN) invites you to an exciting webinar on smart growth issues and trends in Ontario.

Description
What is “Smart Growth” and why does it matter? Join this interactive discussion on how community planning can better support health and quality of life here in Ontario. Find out about upcoming opportunities to inform key planning policies including Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the Green Belt Plan. Hear from experts and volunteers working in the field. Share your experience and ideas.

Speakers
• Moderator: Jeff Kohl - Community Consultant, Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition (OHCC)
Jeff has more than 20 years of experience as an adult educator, community animator and facilitator. He has supported a wide range of organizations, partnerships and networks at the local, regional and provincial levels to plan, deliver and evaluate healthy community initiatives, uncover local assets, engage local leaders, set strategic directions, evaluate programs and monitor results. Jeff is trained as a facilitator using Asset-based Community Development, Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space and Transition Town processes.

• Melanie Hare - Planner and Partner, Urban Strategies Inc.
Melanie is an urban planner and Partner with Urban Strategies Inc. For 20 years Melanie has been working with communities across North America on city building initiatives in particular related to growth management and sustainable communities. She was involved in policy development for employment, intensification and urban growth centre components of the Ontario’s Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Growth Plan). Melanie also recently led two respective regional community consultation programs in Niagara Region and Durham Region to prepare for Ontario’s 2015 review of the Greenbelt Plan. She is currently leading a Growth Strategy for Alberta’s Capital Region Board.

• Michelle Noble - Dir. Partnerships and Consultation, Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Michelle Noble is the Director of Partnerships and Consultation with the Ontario Growth Secretariat. The Secretariat is responsible for Ontario’s efforts to manage growth and development to create healthy, robust and inclusive communities in a fiscally responsible and environmentally sustainable manner. Michelle joined the Secretariat in 2013 from Waterfront Toronto, the agency responsible for Toronto’s massive waterfront revitalization. For five years she led marketing, communications and consultation efforts for the innovative city building organization.

• Heidi Matthews - Volunteer with Transition Erin
Heidi Matthews is co-chair of Transition Erin’s Sustainable Development Working Group which was responsible for gathering community input and visioning for growth for the Town of Erin. This information was used to create a set of principles and a checklist to assist Town Council in their decision making. The principles and checklist were accepted by Erin Council, on April 1st of 2014 and they will be considered when updating the Official Plan in early 2015.

The agenda for this webinar is as follows
Part 1: What is "Smart Growth" and why does it matter? ~ Melanie Hare
Part 2: Update regarding Ontario's Places to Grow policy ~ Michelle Noble
Part 3: OSGN into the future ~ Heidi Matthews and Jeff Kohl
Part 4: A focus group discussion with participants

In addition, we invite you to complete our short survey on smart growth and the OSGN. The results of this survey will be shared during the webinar.

The OSGN is a project of the Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition.