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RCE Tantramar-2012-2012

RCE Tantramar-2012

Submitted by RCEeaphillips on Thu, 2012-08-16 00:00
1. Leadership, Vision and Objectives
1. Vision of your RCE: 
Vision:
to gather the resources and imaginations of Tantramar’s communities to plan and take action on sustainability through education that promotes the region’s collective environmental, economic, and socio-cultural well-being.

The establishment of RCE Tantramar and its vision come as a follow-up to the immediate priority within the Tantramar 2040 plan, which is supported by all municipalities in the region, to:
“Focus on education as it relates to themes of sustainability. The lack of public knowledge prevents action to make the region more sustainable.”
2. Leadership structure
a. Administration: 
5
b. Transactional : 
3
c. Transformational : 
2
2. Social Network
3. Core partners: 
Mount Allison University Department of Geography and Environment: The Mount Allison Geography department has been committed to educating its student on sustainability in both theoretical and hands-on methods. The Department offers undergraduate teaching and community-based research programs, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies or Geography, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences. There are currently about 125 Majors and 125 Minors in the Department. The department is the most logical connection to the University for the RCE and will be the primary contact and facilitator for the centre. The university can be a source not only for knowledge and academic resources, but also for potential financial support.

EOS Eco-Energy: EOS Eco-Energy has been committed to sustainability within the Tantramar region through the promotion of renewable energy and the education of the region’s residents on how to reduce their carbon footprint. EOS was responsible for securing funding for the Tantramar 2040 project and co-facilitated the project alongside the Tantramar Planning District Commission.

Tantramar 2040: The Tantramar 2040 report will be the foundation for RCE Tantramar. Representatives from the Tantramar 2040 steering committee have expressed support for the project as education for sustainability has been recognized as the strongest tool for implementing the plan.

Tantramar Planning District Commission: The Tantramar Planning District Commission, one of the co-facilitators for the Tantramar 2040 and Picture Port Elgin sustainability plans, as well as the sole developer of Sackville’s ICSP, has also expressed support for this project. The TPDC serves a large portion of the Tantramar region including Sackville, Dorchester and Port Elgin.

Tantramar Regional High School: The only school that serves the entire region, TRHS offer an English and French immersion program and is a resource for the youth within Tantramar. Classes within the school teaching sustainable practices throughout the curriculum and many projects aligned with the RCE Tantramar vision are developed within the school. The school was designated a provincial Model School for Sustainability Education in 2007 and it houses the Tantramar Wetlands Centre for Environmental Education and Wildlife Conservation. The school, through its Grade 12 shop class, is currently planning a Habitat for Humanity home build that will include energy efficient design. The high school is the first step in incorporating the remainder of public schools within the region.

The New Brunswick Department of Education: The Government of New Brunswick is a signatory to the Council of Ministers of Education for Canada Commitment to Sustainability Education Across Canada and wishes to work with the Tantrmar RCE in designing sustainability education though community-based projects and regional approaches to sustainability curriculum design. With no faculty of education at Mount Allison, the provincial government will be able to act as a strong partner in educational policy and direction.

Canada Research Chairs in Geography and Environment: Mount Allison presently has two Canada research chairs who have agreed to lend their expertise to RCE Tantramar and to communicate the results of their research with RCE stakeholders.

Town of Sackville, New Brunswick: The largest of four municipalities in the region, the municipal government’s support will mean a stronger government support for RCE Tantramar.

Greater Sackville Chamber of Commerce: The GSCC acts as a strong partner between Candidate RCE Tantramar and the private sector. The GSCC is committed to promoting local business development in the greater Sackville area including the majority of the Tantramar region. Its membership includes over 300 regional businesses who have committed to RCE Tantramar through the GSCC’s board of directors.
Potential Partners for RCE Tantramar from Commitment to Tantramar 2040

Village of Memramcook, New Brunswick: With the largest proportion of French residents, Memramcook has been a strong supporter of the Tantramar 2040 project.

Village of Port Elgin, New Brunswick: A coastal municipality, Port Elgin will be severely impacted by rising sea levels and coastal erosion.

Village of Dorchester, New Brunswick: Dorchester has supported sustainable education within the region and is the fourth government representation for the region.

Fort Folly First Nation: As the only Aboriginal community within Tantramar, Fort Folly First Nations will provide a unique perspective for sustainable education that will complement the long-term perspective of sustainability planning and the vision for RCE Tantramar.

Beaubassin Planning District Commission: The planning commission responsible for Memramcook, it is important that the BPDC be involved with planning decisions for the region.
4. Cooperation and communication : 
RCE Tantramar maintains closest contact with the Mount Allison Department of Geography and Environment and the Tantramar Planning District Commission because these two locations supply office space for RCE coordinators and affiliates.

Many regional partners are in direct communication with RCE Tantramar through its Secretariat work for the Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee (Sackville Town Council, Town of Sackville Directors, EOS Eco-Energy, Sackville Rotary Club, Sackville Chamber of Commerce, Tantramar schools), and many other groups, though not major partners of the RCE, cooperate on projects contributing to SD in the region (ex: SappyFest music festival, Westmorland Albert Solid Waste Commission).

All partners can communicate with RCE Tantramar via email, Twitter, Facebook page, and website, and RCE Tantramar has reached out to existing and new partners since its launch via web and in-person meetings.
5. Facilitating development
Connections / Partnership with
UN institutions
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve
Other international organizations
yes/no: 
No
Other RCEs
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
RCE Saskatchewan, the RCEs of the Americas in the lead-up to the 2012 international RCE Conference
International experts
yes/no: 
No
Expert organizations at national, regional and global levels
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
New Brunswick Environmental Network, New Brunswick Community Inclusion Network, Westmorland Albert Solid Waste Corporation
Others
If yes, give examples: 
Cape Jourimain Nature Centre, Tantramar Family Resource Centre, Sackville Community Garden, EnerGreen Builders Co-op
6. Social network
a. Information network (exchanging information, e.g. building up a database for SD projects): 
3
b. Knowledge network (creating knowledge by collaboration, e.g. finding synergies between partners by experience exchange): 
4
c. Innovation network (creating innovation by co-creation and shared vision,e.g. investigating new solutions for challenges by f: 
3
3. Participation
7. Participation of actors : 
Since RCE Tantramar's launch in May 2012, the following partners/social network members have had some degree of partnership with RCE activities (in no particular order):
• Sackville Town Departments (ex: Public Works)
• Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee (with members representing Sackville Town Council, EOS Eco-Energy, Sackville Rotary Club, Tantramar Regional High School, Mount Allison University)
• SappyFest music festival
• Westmorland Albert Solid Waste Corporation
• Mount Allison University Student Administrative Council
• Mount Allison University Department of Geography and Environment
• Tantramar Planning District Commission
• New Brunswick Environmental Network

Opportunities for participation have originated predominantly when either the RCE or a partner initiates an idea for a project contributing to SD. Brainstorming about potential projects happens frequently during Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee meetings, outreach meetings with new partners, and spin-off ideas occur while discussing other projects with existing partners. RCE Tantramar is open to as much partner involvement/coordination in a project as the partner can provide and is also willing to support or carry out work that a partner cannot in order to ensure projects for SD are carried out.
8. Participation opportunities
a.Informational participation (people get informed about decisions and actions): 
2
b.Consultation participation (people are asked about their needs and opinions): 
5
c.Decision influencing participation (people are involved in decision making processes): 
3
4. Education & Learning
9. Educational activities : 
RCE Tantramar aims to incorporate educational components in all of its projects in order to reinforce the principles of SD. This education has involved bringing experts to residents (ex: bringing Westmorland Albert Solid Waste Corporation representatives to SappyFest to teach community members about the regional recycling system), reaching out to community schools (RCE Tantramar and the Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee plan to develop a project in which gardens are built at all local schools so that children can learn agricultural and food skills), and targeting new members of the community at Mount Allison University (the “greening” of Orientation for first-year students and educating them about regional recycling practices, local food sources, etc.).
10. Competences and capabilities : 
This summer a few of RCE Tantramar's projects has revolved around proper recycling, a challenge for communities in the Tantramar region who have a history of difficulty with navigating the rules of the regional recycling system (Wet/Dry). RCE Tantrmar's work has contributed to competence about proper waste management; this capability was practiced at SappyFest, and will be practiced during Mount Allison's first-year student Orientation and other major municipal events such as the Sackville Fall Fair.

Another major competence RCE Tantramar will target this fall and winter is regional adapatation to climate change, specifically related to the dykelands and flood risks in the Tantramar region. Municipal governments in the area will have to demonstrate competence and practice capability in this area as they inform residents about this information and develop policy related to adaptation.
Connections / Partnership with
a. Access to quality basic education
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
RCE Tantramar will provide high quality, basic information on regional adaptation to climate change through a course offered at Mount Allison University (and open to Tantramar community members) during winter 2013.
b. Training for different sectors of the society
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
RCE Tantramar has worked over the summer of 2012 to train different sectors of society about proper waste management (Public Works, SappyFest festival organizers and volunteers, Sackville residents, Mount Allison students).

RCE Tantramar is also working with the New Brunswick Environmental Network to organize a weekend of workshops in the Tantramar region in October related to environmental themes and SD. This weekend will highlight several local groups contributing to SD and will provide training to workshop attendees (representing many different sectors of society).
c. Public awareness
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
RCE Tantramar is planning with the Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee to launch a public awareness campaign aimed at informing the public on topics related to SD (ex: highlighting sustainable local businesses, sources of local food, pilot projects for SD, etc.).
d. Reorientation of existing education
yes/no: 
Yes
If yes, give examples: 
RCE Tantramar is planning with the Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee to create a program providing basic education related to food skills, food security and adequacy, nutrition, and gardening at Sackville's schools.
12. Educational activities
a. Theory (communicating of ESD principles, strategies, examples): 
2
b. Discussion (knowledge exchange and mutual learning on ESD): 
4
c. Interactive & Multidimensional (Action oriented learning, e.g. workshops, intergenerational, interdisciplinary,…) : 
2
5. Research Integration
13. Research & Development (R&D): 
Many affiliated researchers are focusing their research on concepts related to the sustainability of the Tantramar region (dykeland mapping and assessment, flood risk assessment, documenting local knowledge/observations about climate change, sustainability science as applied to the Tantramar region).
14. Research partners : 
Dr. Michael Fox (Mount Allison University – Planning)
Dr. Georgia Klein (Mount Allison University – Climate Change Effects on Aquatic Systems)
Dr. Ian Mauro (Mount Allison University – Human Dimensions of Climate Change)
Dr. Dave Lieske (Mount Allison University - GIS, Biogeography, and Applied Conservation Modelling)
Dr. Jeff Ollerhead (Director of the Coastal Wetlands Institute)
Tracey Wade, (Tantramar Planning District Commission - MCIP Planner – Integrated Community Sustainability Planning)
James Bornemann (Tantramar Planning District Commission - GIS Analyst)
Emily Phillips (Master's student – Sustainability Science (applied to Tantramar))
15. Description of research
a. Disciplinary (focusing on one discipline of research, e.g. social aspects) : 
2
b. Interdisciplinary (taking interrelations between disciplines into account, e.g. economic effects on the environment and peopl: 
4
c. Transdisciplinary (involving affected people into your research activities, e.g. interviews with affected people): 
4
Tagging
Continent: 
Americas
Country: 
Canada
Region: 
Americas
Type: 
Project Reports
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RCE Tantramar-2012

Submitted by RCEeaphillips on Thu, 2012-08-16 00:00
1. Aim: What was the aim of your evaluation? : 
This evaluation was completed in order to fulfil the reporting requirements of UNU RCEs, to reflect on the progress of RCE Tantramar since its launch in May 2012, to refresh the RCE Tantramar Coordinator on the core goals/deliverables expected of RCEs, and to comprehensively and consistently record the progress of RCE Tantramar projects.
2. Time: When was your evaluation undertaken? : 
August 13th and 14th, 2012
4. Method for getting information: How did you obtain information necessary for evaluation? : 
As RCE Tantramar Coordinator, Emily had access to all necessary information for the evaluation. Much of the information on which this evaulation reports can be found on the RCE Tantramar website www.recetantramar.org.
Country: 
Canada
Region: 
Americas
Continent: 
Americas