PARC Symposium 2008

David Courtemanche- Leading Minds Inc -

Political Perspective Mayor- City of Greater Sudbury Economic Development Corporation Board of Health Federation of Canadian

Municipalities

Community Perspective Healthy Communities Cabinet Bicycle Advisory Committee Conservation Authority EarthCare Sudbury Heart Health

Consultant Perspective Walkable Communities report Breathing Life into Public Policy Leadership- The Invisible Heart

Launch of Rainbow Routes

Tax dollars Infrastructure Public property Planning & development Delivering services Public works Local Transportation Recreation Economic development

Pot holes or playgrounds?

New vs old infrastructure Public interest vs private

profit Hard services vs soft

services Trail building vs trail

maintenance Health or safety Tourist vs resident Recreation or utilitarian

Transportation Network

• Off road trails or lanes• Motorized or non-

motorized • Multi-purpose trails• All season uses• Hard or soft surface• Bikes on sidewalks

Property acquisition Not in my backyard! Accessibility Liability insurance &

legal issues

Tax base Local resources Services (e.g. Public

Transit) Geography &

Topography Urban vs rural vs

suburban North vs south Climate New vs retro

communities Amalgamation Community readiness Public attitudes

“What kills a city are people who want only low taxes and their

cities to be about pipes, pavement and

policing.”

(Glen Murray, Former Mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba)

Shifting local cultures and attitudes and getting community leaders

to understand the importance of the built environment as a priority issue affecting

thehealth, economic and

environmentalprofile of the community is a significant challenge

“Adding lanes to solve traffic congestion is like loosening your belt

to solve obesity”(Glen Hemistra)

“The Edsil is here to stay” Henry Ford, 1957

“Sensible and responsible women do not want to vote”President Cleveland, 1905

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” Henry Warner, Warner Bros. 1927

“Everything that can be invented has been invented” Charles Duel, U.S. Patent Commissioner, 1899

“Heavier than air flying machines are impossible” Lord Kelvin, President, Royal Aviation Society, 1835

 The Popsicle Test

A neighbourhood must be planned so that an 8-year old

can walk to a corner storewithout crossing major roads

buy a popsicleand get back home

before it melts 

Quotes• “Walk the talk”• “Show me the money!”• “Quality of life”

Key words• Leadership• Vision• Growth

City Hall• Master plans• Official plans• Bylaws, resolutions, etc• Committees, task forces, etc• Meetings blood meetings!

“Automobiles need quantity and pedestrians need quality.”

(Dan Burden, Director of Walkable Communities)

Fat kids Seniors walk & vote Walking is affordable Traffic congestion Sustainable Infrastructure Leveraged funding Urban green space Community image

“Any town that does not have sidewalks

does not love its children”(Margaret Mead)

It’s not who you know, it’s who you can influence

• Build relationships• What are their needs and priorities

Give them recognition• smoking bylaws• Municipal waste water systems

Claim the public interest• Powerful stats• Emotional stories

Help them to advocate• OMB policies• Walkable Community Strategy

Look for champions • Mayor only has one vote• City Staff• Community partners

Paint a compelling picture• New urbanism• Showcase other communities

Not a walkable community

A walkable community

Politically profitable Appeal to their minds,

hearts and wallets Link to their needs Build a Council profile Connect to priorities Political Legacy Meaningful trail names

Operationally possible Don’t ignore staff Centre lane versus bike

lane Know their tools- Easy- pedestrian

charter

Mayor Gordon Boardwalk

Economically feasible Leveraged funding Help them to advocate Provincial Walkable

Communities Strategy Partnerships

Socially acceptable Reframe the Issue Build public support Media advocacy Build ownership- CAN’s Healthy communities Success stories

Junction Creek trout release

David Courtemanche-Leading Minds Inc -

... thank you