- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Not really about AT except
by Stacy Matwick 20 May '08

20 May '08

That it's a really nice leisurely peddle down Wellington Crescent on a Saturday afternoon and Steve has promised light refreshments. Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx _____________________________________________ From: Stephan Barg Sent: Monday, May 19, 2008 5:27 PM To: Winnipeg Staff Subject: Charity Sale of Peruvian Handicrafts - Saturday, May 24. Hello all, My sister has started a Canadian NGO to help support children who are burn victims in Lima, Peru. She became familiar with the needs in Peru, and the organizations that help the children, while she was living in Lima several years ago. She will be here on the coming weekend, and we are holding a sale at our house of handicrafts from Peru in order to raise money for her organization. The sale will include these things: - High quality silver jewellery, such as earrings, rings, bracelets, and necklaces - Baby sweaters, washable, embroidered, sizes up to about four years - Adult sweaters, alpaca wool (much better, the Peruvians say, than sheep wool) - Cotton scarves in many colours - Wool winter scarves and hats - Table cloths, in small and medium sizes The cause she is supporting is a good one - helping children who have been burned get medical treatment and also counselling, to assist them to lead normal lives. The organization in Peru that she is supporting is called ANIQUEM, which has a staff of doctors, social workers and so on who do their best to help the burn victims. More details are available from its web page, at www.aniquem.org<http://www.aniquem.org>. My sister's NGO is called Canadian Friends of Aniquem or CAFA, and more details are available from its web page, at www.friendsofaniquem.org<http://www.friendsofaniquem.org> . CAFA is a registered charity under the Income Tax Act in Canada. Two final points - CAFA has almost no expenses - for example, my sister pays her own travel expenses when she goes to Peru. Thus over 95% of any profits from the sale of handicrafts go straight to helping the burn victims in Peru. And secondly, both ANIQUEM and CAFA are completely independent of the government of Peru, thereby avoiding various potential problems. Place - 93 Harrow Street, Winnipeg - just down the street from Kelvin High School. Time - 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Saturday, May 24 Phone - 452-8911 We hope to see you there. Coffee, tea and light refreshments will be served. Best regards, Stephan Barg Associate International Institute for Sustainable Development

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If you missed it - from today's Free Press
by Stacy Matwick 15 May '08

15 May '08

Winnipeg is made for bikes and bike lanes (View from the West) Nicholas Hirst Winnipeg Free Press Updated: May 15, 2008 at 12:40 AM CDT (page A13) Winnipeg's and Manitoba's economies appear more robust than they have for many years. As the nation's labour force stagnates, Manitoba's continues to grow. Houses continue to sell at more than their asking price and, while spring always makes Winnipeggers feel better, there is a sense of optimism in the air. This optimism and growth needs sustaining. To do so, the province and the city need to become truly innovative. We need the image of our city to be such that it becomes a magnet for people because it is ahead of the curve. We need to make ourselves one of the most creative places to do business in Canada. As Minneapolis has dubbed itself, Winnipeg needs to be "one cool city." How would we do that? Not so much by big moves but by small gestures. The big moves are developments like the human rights museum. That's going to be a huge attraction adding to the perception that Winnipeg is a city to live in. Other developments have created a cool image for us -- the Louis Riel bridge is one, the continuing success of our arts and culture is another. But it is smaller, non-institutional developments that often really turn the image of city -- its restaurants, clubs, a digital movie theatre, a new festival, a new feeling. The best innovation of this type builds on natural advantages -- winter skating on the Assiniboine is an example -- next year we should get Starbucks to provide stops along route. The restaurants and open spaces and access to the rivers at The Forks are another. The water buses are way cool. In an environment where gas is more expensive than it has ever been and a barrel of oil worth four times what it was a couple of years ago, anything that looks like an answer to the looming energy crisis is worth its weight in image gold. Winnipeg has one key advantage that seems almost to be forgotten about. It's flat. That's why it once had streetcars. Bringing streetcars back would be innovative but is a big ticket item, not one of the smaller gestures that can bring as much notice. Our city has the ideal typography for bicycling. Not just bicycling for recreation along the four designated streets closed to cars in May for the weekend, but bicycling to get to work, visit your friends and run easy errands. Despite an active lobby to encourage commuter bicycling and the city promise of $500,000 for biking and walking trails, true commuter bike paths and lanes are few if not non-existent. There are signs for biking on lesser used roads, but not bike lanes to go with them. Why not? The last place I lived that was as flat as Winnipeg was on the Plain of Holderness in England. The city was Hull and you couldn't move for bikes. Commuter bike lanes in Winnipeg would do all kinds of good, at least in the summer. It would encourage a healthier lifestyle, reduce the number of cars on the road and save energy. In other cities, kids too young to drive and too poor to own cars bike to see their friends, to school and to university. Who in their right mind would bike down Waverley or Pembina at rush hour? With bike lanes, it would be possible. Winnipeg could also follow Washington D.C. and create a public-private partnership to rent bikes by the hour similar to the Zipcar and Autoshare plans I recently wrote about. Why not combine the two? A city that is serious about combating its energy usage takes easy routes to get cars off the road. That has to start somewhere and it is unlikely to get going without a public commitment. So, Mr. Mayor and city council, get going. Create bike lanes for children and commuters. Get in touch with the bike shops and bicycle lobbyists to set up a bike-sharing scheme. Try a pilot plan with bikes located behind the barriers at Portage and Main and at The Forks. Combine the bike-sharing scheme with a car-sharing scheme. Recreational biking is fine. But in Winnipeg, it often means taking your bike on a rack on your car to where the recreational trails start. It doesn't have to be that way. An innovative city sees its natural advantages and takes small measures for big gains. Designated bike lanes and bike and car sharing -- maybe working together -- are the types of innovation that would get our city talked about and put it ahead of the curve. Will we do it? If not, why not? Nicholas Hirst is CEO of Winnipeg-based television and film producer Original Pictures Inc. (c) 2008 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Three interesting short items
by Stacy Matwick 14 May '08

14 May '08

Bicycles Pedaling Into the Spotlight J. Matthew Roney 12 May 2008 Earth Policy Institute The world produced an estimated 130 million bicycles in 2007-more than twice the 52 million cars produced. Bicycle and car production tracked each other closely in the mid-to-late 1960s, but bike output separated sharply from that of cars in 1970, beginning its steep climb to 105 million in 1988. Following a slowdown between 1989 and 2001, bike production has regained steam, increasing in each of the last six years. http://www.earthpolicy.org/Indicators/Bike/2008.htm Bikes Ahoy : UW grad students win $25,000 environmental prize for plan to start innovative sharing program that could be a North American first http://alumni.uwaterloo.ca/alumni/e-newsletter/2008/may/bikes.html and finally the Magic Wheel Foot Scooter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v96i8ldtdbE&eurl=http://www.treehugger.com/f… Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx

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It's time to sign up for Commuter Challenge!
by Jessie 12 May '08

12 May '08

How did you get to work today? Resource Conservation Manitoba is sponsoring The Commuter Challenge, a yearly event that encourages people to use environmentally friendly forms of transportation from June 1 to 7, 2008 . It is a cross-Canada event that features friendly competition between similar-sized cities, towns, communities and workplaces. Participants log their green kilometers online and are entered to win exciting prizes such as a fantastic bike from Olympia Cycle & Ski and gear from Mountain Equipment Co-op! Participants can be individuals or workplaces. If you would like to coordinate the Challenge in your workplace, we offer training and resources to help you every step of the way! For more information please call Sara at 925-3775, e-mail challenge(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca or visit our website: www.resourceconservation.mb.ca. Sara Perlmutter Commuter Challenge Coordinator Resource Conservation Manitoba 3rd fl., 303 Portage Ave, R3B 2B4 Phone: 925-3775 Fax: 942-4207 sara(a)resourceconservation.mb.ca Resource Conservation Manitoba: Living Green, Living Well Practical solutions for yourself, your community and the environment Green Commuting, Environmental Education, Reducing Waste, Composting

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If you missed Saturdays WFP
by Stacy Matwick 12 May '08

12 May '08

He's a trailblazer for cyclists: Founder of One Green City gets things done Erin Madden, Winnipeg Free Press-City and Business, B2 Updated: May 10, 2008 at 08:29 AM CDT He could easily be one of Winnipeg's busiest volunteers, donating his time to more organizations and committees than he can count on his fingers. Thirty-year old Anders Swanson is dedicated to helping Winnipeg become a greener city by improving the cycling network, with more trails, safer lanes on roads and maps that will get beginner cyclists and veteran cycling commuters alike, from point A to point B. The Mayor's Environmental Committee, the City of Winnipeg's Active Transportation Committee , Bike to the Future , BIZ Transportation Committee, and the Winnipeg Trails Association are just a few of the groups he's involved with. In addition, he helped form the North Winnipeg Commuter Cyclists, the West Central Commuter Cyclists and was the founder of One Green City -- a service which liaises cycling groups and encourages them to connect. "I am essentially volunteering with as many cycling related committees and volunteer groups throughout the city as I can to try to bring them together around the idea of building a comprehensive network of cycling routes," said Swanson, a Corydon Village resident who hasn't owned a car for more than five years. "I really felt I understood why people weren't cycling. I wanted to address the reasons that they weren't rather than just telling them to." His hard work is paying off. Since he became involved just a few years ago, progress has already been made with a $600,000 commitment from the city budget now dedicated to building a trail infrastructure and the creation of the Northwest Pioneer Greenway. He said that with a larger budget dedicated to the issue, cyclists will be safer and the tensions between motorists and those riding bicycles will be lessened. "The more cyclists you have out and the more cycling infrastructure there is, the less people get hurt," explained Swanson, who works as a bike mechanic at Natural Cycle. "I think the key is reducing conflict. I don't drive now, but as a driver I was scared of hitting cyclists. It's stressful." Janice Lukes, co-ordinator for the Winnipeg Trails Association, said the work done by Swanson for her organization and the many others he volunteers for, has been nothing short of amazing. "I have been involved in trail development since 2001 and have met a ton of volunteers, all passionate, all motivational," she wrote in an e-mail to the Winnipeg Free Press. "But Anders Swanson's commitment, dedication and passion to help others embrace the bicycle as a means of transportation and source of recreation is simply unprecedented. I know many of the trail and cycling organizations in Winnipeg would agree that Anders has been instrumental in helping secure more trails and bike pathways for Winnipeggers!" For more information about the work done by Swanson, visit www.onegreencity.com. To learn more about the Winnipeg Trails Association, visit www.winnipegtrails.com.

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PN2008 Opening Event
by Richard Milgrom 03 May '08

03 May '08

PN2008 Winnipeg The Planners Network Conference Planning in Challenging Climates July 17-20, 2008 www.pnmb.org/PN2008.htm Conference Opening Event Open to the Public Sustainable Transportation: Research, Advocacy, Realization Thursday, July 17, 2008, 7:00pm, Red River College Speakers: Todd Litman, Victoria Transport Policy Institute (see http://www.vtpi.org/resume.htm) Will Toor, Boulder County Commissioner (see http://www.bouldercounty.org/bocc/board/toor.htm) Reception to follow. Displays from local organizations. More information soon about Friday and Saturday evening events. Friday July 18th Planning with Aboriginal Communities Saturday July 19th Local Local Local: Food, Music and Art

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PN2008 Winnipeg - Registration Open
by Richard Milgrom 02 May '08

02 May '08

PN2008 Winnipeg The Planners Network Conference Planning in Challenging Climates Registration in now open Website: http://pnmb.org/PN2008Reg.htm Register online, by fax or by mail. Early registration deadline has been extended to May 31st, 2008 Thanks to our partner, the Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNET) for sharing their online registration system!

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PN2008 CFP - DEADLINE EXTENSION
by Richard Milgrom 01 May '08

01 May '08

PN2008 Winnipeg The Planners Network Conference Planning in Challenging Climates CFP Deadline Extended to May 31, 2008 We have receive numerous requests for an extension to the April 30, 2008 deadline, and have now extended it to May 31, 2008. PLANNERS NETWORK is an association of professionals, activists, academics, and students involved in physical, social, economic, and environmental planning in urban and rural areas, who promote fundamental change in our political and economic systems. WINNIPEG and Manitoba have long histories with struggles for social justice. The city was the site of Canada¹s best known general strike in 1919. It played significant roles in the development of the co-operative movement in the mid-twentieth century. This led to the formation of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) a political party that supported farmers and workers, and called for public health insurance, public housing, and public ownership of major industries. In the early 1960s, with the Canadian Labour Congress, the CCF became the New Democratic Party and Manitoba is currently the only province with an NDP government. There is strong history of community economic development in the city, and it is known for its high rate of volunteerism and its vibrant arts culture. The region is also known for its long winters. Unfortunately this is not the only challenging climate faced by progressive planners and advocates for social and environmental justice. The pervasive neo-liberal climate has undermined social programs; sprawl has created a climate intolerant to active transportation, and competes with the downtown core for amenities; and the growing aboriginal population struggles to overcome a history of oppression. CALL FOR PARTICIPATION: PN2008 will bring together an array of planning practitioners, community and economic development professionals, organizers, policy analysts, designers, students and faculty. They will discuss strategies addressing social and environmental justice in challenging climates - including social, political and economic climates. Topics of interest to the conference include, but are not limited to: models for community economic development inner city community development art and the city planning and aboriginal communities neighbourhood revitalization downtown redevelopment housing and homelessness promoting active transportation urban ecology green buildings and sustainable communities social impacts of sprawl heritage planning progressive planning and the media age-friendly communities. A range of session types are encouraged, from conventional panels to participatory workshops and ³how-to² sessions. Please send proposals for individual contributions or full sessions to <PN2008Sessions(a)pnmb.org>. The deadline for proposals is April 30, 2008. Space is limited. Please include the proposed session content, format and a list of potential speakers, panelists or participants. Additional conference information, including preliminary schedule, accommodations and mobile workshops, is available at <www.pnmb.org>. The web site will be updated regularly as the conference program develops.

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Jane's Walk reminder
by Beth McKechnie 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

Looks like the weather will be fantastic for the Jane's Walks this weekend. Hope you'll come out and join us! If you have problems viewing this email, please click here to download the email in pdf. Winnipeggers Invited to get out and Walk! Celebrate the legacy of urban thinker Jane Jacobs on a 'Jane's Walk' May 3 and 4, 2008 Have you ever wondered about the history of that house on the corner, or the little business that has been there for longer than you can remember? Step out this May 3rd and 4th and join a 'Jane's Walk' to learn and share in the vibrant history of Winnipeg's communities and neighborhoods. Jane's Walk is an annual event taking place in Winnipeg, Toronto, New York, and cities across Canada and the United States. These walks will showcase great Winnipeg neighbourhoods in a new and exciting manner while celebrating the legacy of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs. Jane's Walk is an exceptional opportunity for Winnipeggers to discover their city - both places they think they know well and places they want to explore. Walks are taking place all in communities across Winnipeg. Currently walks are taking place in the Downtown, Riverview, Kingston Crescent, the West End, along Selkirk Avenue, in Point Douglas, the Bois des Esprit in south St.Vital, St. Norbert, West Broadway, West Wolseley, and Wolseley. A full list of walks, start times, locations, and descriptions is available at www.janeswalk.net. Circle May 3rd and 4th on your calendar and get out to enjoy and learn about what makes your community unique and special! Sincerely, The Jane's Walk Winnipeg Team! Where Can I Walk? Winnipeg walks are taking place in St.Norbert, West Broadway, Downtown, Wolseley, West Wolseley, Riverview, the Bois des Esprits, Kingston Crescent, along Selkirk Avenue, in Point Douglas, and the West End. Visit www.janeswalk.net for all of the locations, start times, and descriptions. Share Your Stories The best expert on your community is YOU! Jane's Walk is about meeting and sharing stories with your neighbors. Bring your photos and stories to share about the community. All our walk leaders are local residents and neighbours learning about their community, just like you. Jane Jacobs Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was an urbanist and activist whose writings championed a fresh, community-based approach to city building. She had no formal training as a planner, and yet her 1961 best-seller, The Death and life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve and fail that are now common sense to today's architects, planners, politicians and activists. Foremost is her simple yet revolutionary idea that dense, mixed use neighborhoods are the key to the health and survival of a city. "No one can find what will work for our cities by looking at ... suburban garden cities, manipulating scale models, or inventing dream cities. You've got to get out and walk." Jane Jacobs, "Downtown is for people", from the Exploding Metropolis A full list of walks, start times, locations, and descriptions is available at www.janeswalk.net.

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Interesting article
by Stacy Matwick 29 Apr '08

29 Apr '08

>From TreeHugger: New York Unveils Plan to Be More Bicycle-Friendly by Andrew Posner, Rhode Island, USA on 04.29.08 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/new-york-unveils-plan-to-be-more-bi… Most of the steps are transferable to any urban area, just maybe on a smaller scale. NYC Dept of Transportation Strategic Plan http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/stratplan.shtml Cheers Stacy Matwick Information Centre International Institute for Sustainable Development 161 Portage Ave. E., 6th floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4 Voice: (204)958-7755 Fax: (204)958-7710 Email: smatwick(a)iisd.ca Website: http://www.iisd.org "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read" Groucho Marx

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