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BSC '07 Highlights

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

The foundation’s inaugural target audience is local governments through a program called Building SustainAble Communities (BSC). BSC focuses on educating and engaging elected officials and staff through programs designed specifically for them. In keeping with community-based social marketing principles, the foundation conducted extensive market research to determine what types of sustainability information they want and need, how they would like to receive it, and how often. The research also identified other communication products and services the foundation could provide to help local governments better communicate with their colleagues and constituents about sustainability.

Market research included three components:

1. a facilitated focus group with about 150 attendees from the 2006 BSC conference;
2. a facilitated focus group of ten Central Okanagan elected officials and local government staff; and
3. an online survey distributed to more than 900 local government representatives throughout BC (See survey results here).

This ‘complete’ research approach, using qualitative findings to guide the development of a quantitative research tool, painted a clear picture of what communications tools local government representatives in BC want to help them and their constituents learn more about sustainability, and to put that information to good use in their communities.

Online survey findings were very interesting and validated what the foundation's board of directors had originally envisioned as logical first steps for the local government audience:

1. To conduct regular workshops and meetings throughout BC,
2. To publish a regular electronic magazine about sustainability, and
3. To continue hosting the annual Building SustainAble Communities conference.

In response, the foundation conducted a series of four regional workshops in March 2008. It also hosted a Breakfast of Champions for community leaders in Kelowna in May. An electronic magazine was launched in June 2008, a sustainability film fest (Reel Change) is slated for October 2008, and the next Building SustainAble Communities conference is planned for February 24th to 26th in Kelowna.