“Promoting Community Sustainability:Linking Research and Action” Presented by: Alison Collins Project Manager, York Centre for Applied Sustainability, York University

a Community University Research Alliance (CURA) Supported by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca

Project 9: A Toolkit for Governance Background: past 2 decades - increased in corporation of sustainability principles into policy instruments and decision-making frameworks of public and private sector institutions SD as a concept figures prominently in many political vision statements and corporate mission statements Need to move from pronouncement to practice HOW? increase sustainability literacy and understanding engage decision-makers and the broadest public in a dialogue identify tools so as to provide a “toolkit” for sustainability a Community-University Research Alliance Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca

Mission Statement The focus of the Toolkit for Governance is to identify and report on alternative governance structures and/or mechanisms that incorporate sustainability principles so as to develop a toolkit to inform decision-makers within the municipal government of the City of Toronto a Community-University Research Alliance Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca

Project Goal: The ultimate goal of the toolkit for governance is to undertake on-going research and foster dialogue among key stakeholders through regular workshops ad conferences so as to act as a reference group and a catalyst for the development of a Framework Agreement a Community-University Research Alliance Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca

Research Objectives: Identify and research the role of key stakeholders attend, partner or host conferences/workshops concerning alternative governance tools local, national and international focus Research sustainability and alternative governance mechanisms in other jurisdictions identify barriers and safety nets Identify current framework for decision-making within the city of Toronto and the potential role for/of SD research, write and present work on governing structures and/or mechanisms at the city of Toronto what does sustainability mean to the City of Toronto from a governance perspective Create a Toolkit for Governance compilation and analysis of past, current and future sustainability governance tools act as a reference to inform policy and decision-makers within municipal government and beyond a Community-University Research Alliance Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca

Project Deliverables: 1. A compendium of: key sustainability stakeholders conference proceedings conferences/workshops 2. A report on the role of sustainability in the governance structures and mechanisms - City of Toronto 3. A comprehensive report on best practices of alternative governance mechanisms incorporating sustainability 4. A Toolkit for governance - a broad yet comprehensive reference document for key stakeholders and decision-makers a Community-University Research Alliance Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca

Expected Outcomes: Facilitate and foster discourse on and the development of alternative governance structures and/or frameworks employing a sustainability lens produce a body of research and publications on sustainability governance (including best practices, barriers, safety nets) produce a body of work on the current reality re governance, sustainability and the City of Toronto Develop a set of tools by which governments and decision-making bodies can affect better, more sustainable governance a Community-University Research Alliance Promoting Community Sustainability: Linking Research and Action www.sustainabletoronto.ca