Release:
April 28, 2011, Halifax, NS – Guest speakers David Donnelly and Bruce Lourie will discuss managing urban sprawl and why it matters to Downtown at this year’s 10th Anniversary Carmichael Lecture, presented by the Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) in partnership with the Ecology Action Centre. The Lecture will take place on Thursday, May 12, 6:00-8:00 pm, in the Atlantic Ballroom of the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel, 1181 Hollis Street. The event is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
“As HRM continues to grow, so do the challenges of balancing Downtown revitalization, regional growth, transportation, and environmental and economic sustainability,” said Paul MacKinnon, Executive Director of DHBC. “What we build and where we build it dictate all of these things.”
2011 will see a review of HRM's Regional Plan, the development plan that allows and guides future growth of the municipality. HRM's challenges around transportation, sprawl, lack of Downtown redevelopment, as well as failing to meet environmental and fiscal goals indicates that HRM needs to change how it has been growing.
David Donnelly and Bruce Lourie were instrumental in establishing Greater Toronto's Greenbelt, which will have a major impact on how that city reinvigorates its downtown, resists sprawl, and protects its local food source. They will be here to challenge HRM on how it moves forward, and to actually embrace smart growth.
David Donnelly is an environmental lawyer, former Executive Director of the Environmental Defence Fund and is one of Canada’s leading environmental lawyers and advocates for smart growth. He has been an advisor to government on law and planning reform, including the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Ontario Environmental Bill.
Bruce Lourie is co-author of the best-selling book Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health. He is President of Ivey Foundation, a private charitable foundation in Canada, a Director of the Ontario Power Authority and a Director of the San Francisco-based Consultative Group on Biological Diversity. He is a member of the Ontario Premier's Climate Change Advisory Panel and has acted on numerous federal, provincial and municipal bodies advising on energy policy and climate issues.
About The Carmichael Lecture:
Kate Carmichael, who tragically passed away far too young in 2001, was the former DHBC Executive Director and a tireless advocate for Downtown Halifax. This year marks the 10th anniversary of her passing and DHBC continues to honour her memory by inviting speakers to share ideas and stimulate change in our city. Invited lecturers speak on topics designed to inform and educate on key issues that create a thriving Downtown.
About Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC):
The Downtown Halifax Business Commission is the voice and resource for the 1,800 businesses located in the central business district of Atlantic Canada’s busiest city. The DHBC’s mission is to make Downtown Halifax a great place to live, work and play. For more information, visit www.downtownhalifax.ca.
