OUR VISION Canadian Biosphere Eco-Cities strengthening each other nationally and internationally to create a world culture of sustainability through engagement and cooperation

OUR MISSION 

• Promote the use of BEC Themes & Tools to engage Canadians in sustainability
• Connect Canadian Biosphere Eco-Cities to promote their success
• Mentor and support new Biosphere Eco-Cities
• Show Canadians how the BEC approach benefits them
• Export the BEC concept to other countries

ABOUT BIOSPHERE ECO-CITIES CANADA:

Biosphere Eco-Cities Canada (BECC) is a national, non-profit network that works to connect all Biosphere Eco-Cities across Canada. 

A Biosphere Eco-City (BEC) is an urban area and surrounding countryside where cooperation and collaboration ensures that everyone’s actions can contribute to sustainability; ultimately fostering a culture of sustainability. Currently, there are five BEC initiatives across Canada; Ottawa (OBEC), Toronto (TBEC), Brampton (BBEC), Edmonton (EBEC) and Vancouver (VBEC).

BECC provides support and acts as a resource and tool for collaboration among BECs while also implementing national sustainability projects. BECC helps in developing each of the BECs by providing resources, support and guidance. BECC creates handbooks and manuals that act as a step-by-step guide on how to start up BEC projects, recruits volunteers for each BEC, drafts email templates and pitches, conducts outreach to organizations to partner with, applies to grants and foundations to support BEC projects, and provides overall advice to the BECs on how to grow and expand the BEC initiative.

BECC takes the lead on National Sustainability Projects and National Round Tables. Projects in the works include the National Youth Council and Agricultural Biodiversity project. 

Quarterly National Round Tables (NRT) bring together all BECs and allow BEC members to give updates on ongoing projects and ask questions. This is also a chance for BECC to give advice and tips on how to expand the BEC initiative. 

BECs use 10 Themes of Sustainability (transportation, energy, design, habitat, food, natural capital, waste, health, recreation, and sense of place) and 5 Tools of Engagement (Database of Projects, Sustainability Plans, Workshops on Individual Themes, Demonstration Projects, and Council of Stakeholders) to create a culture of sustainability through community engagement, cooperation, innovation and sharing of knowledge, skills and information for sustainability. 

Based on the 5 Tools of Engagement, there are several BEC projects and activities that can be executed: (1) The Database of Projects summarizes and showcases local sustainability projects within cities that anyone can access and be inspired by

(2) Climate Action Plans, Community Sustainability Plans, and School Sustainability Plans can be developed for schools, communities, government departments, businesses, etc., to outline an agenda for action on key issues of climate change and sustainability; 

(3) Tree Talks and Themed-Workshops explore aspects of a specific Theme of Sustainability through talks from experienced guest speakers and participant discussion; 

(4) Demonstration projects such as Self-Guided Sustainability Tours take participants on a tour to visit ‘sustainability landmarks’ in the city; 

(5) The Council of Stakeholders brings people and organizations together to talk about sustainability which will lead to cooperation and better projects.

Any of these projects and activities can be carried out by BECs with the support of BECC. BEC activities provide a space for community members to directly voice and take action on their concerns and ideas related to sustainability; a space for interactive community dialogue, for networking, and for knowledge and skills-sharing. They promote a feeling of sense of place and belonging, which contributes to peoples’ overall sense of environmental stewardship for their local environments.