Resources
Links
Energy
BC Hydro low income offer (energy saving kit)
A link to a very useful kit of energy saving tools and techniques.
Sopris CO2 calculator card
A form to help you calculate your carbon footprint.
Green energy BC
British Columbia needs clean, renewable energy.But vested interests stand in the way. We can continue to serve the status quo at the expense of our environment and our future supply of electricity. Or we can follow the example of other countries. We can supply future generations with clean energy while protecting our environment.
An article on the provincial governments utilities department rejection of clean energy providers
Lighting – Compact Fluorescent fact sheet
A letter from Jim Prentice’s Office, re: clean energy technology
I wrote Jim Prentice about the lack of dedication that our federal government is showing with regards to keeping up with new clean technologies. I got a response back that, even though I do not agree with large parts of, is at least not a form letter but in fact an actual attempt to communicate a plan. It is an example of how we can be heard if we try!
Food
Local Movie: Island on the Edge
Produced and directed by Nick Versteeg of DV Cuisine, this documentary features food producers and farmers of Vancouver Island and how they struggle to provide a continuous, healthy food supply for Island residents in the face of corporate agricultural conglomerates and a population that seems to prefer cheaper, imported food.
Slow Food Movement (Vancouver Island)
The Slow Food Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands Convivium works to supports farmers, breeders and artisan food producers to link with the consumer. We work towards safeguarding our right to food sovereignty.
Nanaimo’s 100-Mile-Diet Online Discussion Group
Forum for residents of central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, who are interested in the 100-Mile Diet (http://100milediet.org/) and want to move towards making the idea a reality in their own life and in our community.
Community Kitchens
Where groups of people can get together to cook food, share the cost and take the finished product home.
Nanaimo Foodshare Centre
Provides information and referrals to food programs such as: Good Food Box program, fruit tree gleaning, Summer Lunch Munch, community cooking classes and nutritional information sessions.
Food Link Nanaimo
Working towards ensuring reliable access to healthy food for all residents of Nanaimo and area. This site includes a directory of local food, food news, food events and food politics.
Spud
Provides a delivery service of local, organic, minimally packaged groceries one day a week.
Island Grains
Island Grains is a new form of community-supported agriculture. It is a club, an educational course, an experiment, and a movement. It is a way for eaters to be growers, to face the same challenges as our farmers, to learn to fear the weather, and to understand the value of food.
Nanaimo Community Gardens
An organization which utilizes downtown property as a growing space for members. They also hold plant sales , learn to grow workshops, and organize gleaning teams as well as much more!
Providence Farm
A farm which is used for many purposes including learning, therapy and arts events.
Real Raw Food
A link to a BC raw food resource.
City Farmer
A site dedicated to urban gardening.
BC Seeds
A site dedicated to seed saving and distribution in BC.
Seeds of diversity
A site for seeds.
Sea Choice
The movement towards sustainable seafood is about solutions for our oceans. Choosing sustainable seafood is a simple and effective action that you can take every time you eat at a restaurant or buy seafood. Whether you are an individual shopping for your family, a chef buying for your restaurant, or a supplier sourcing from fishing communities, your choices count. Voting with your wallet sends a strong signal to government and industry leaders, telling them that you support responsible stewardship of our natural marine resources.
Cowichan Green community
CGC is one of 5 food “Hubs” on Vancouver Island and is central to a number of innovative local food solutions.
Vancouver Island Diet
The purpose of this site is to hook up local consumers with local food producers and value added producers.
Cowichan Community Kitchens
An organization established to operate a number of community kitchens in a self sustaining way in the Cowichan area.
Market in the Square
Duncan’s own downtown market which runs until december 20th.
Media
Promotions and Advertising Contacts
A list of contacts to spread the word of what you are doing – keep the positive action flowing!
VIU Accessible Event Planning Guide
A check list. This document was prepared to assist University personnel when organizing events. Planning with access in mind is not just a good thing to do but our responsibility under the law. Contact the Human Rights Office should you have any questions or concerns.
Sustainability
The Transition Movement
Transition Initiatives, community by community, are actively and cooperatively creating happier, fairer and stronger communities, places that work for the people living in them and are far better suited to dealing with the shocks that’ll accompany our economic and energy challenges and a climate in chaos.
Eco Action Canada
The Canadian government site dedicated to eco-action “using less living better”.
OUR Ecovillage
A site dedicated to a local eco-village in the Shawnigan Lake area.
Global Village Nanaimo
The site of a non profit organization which provides an outlet for fair trade products from around the world from a new year round downtown Nanaimo location.
SeaChoice
Policy with Overwaitee for sustainable seafood.
LiveSmart BC Climate Action Inventory
Sustainability building center
A site dedicated to sustainable building techniques and materials.
Rhizome cafe
A Vancouver restaurant which specializes in organic fair trade products and global justice issues.
Green Heart Environmental Education
A site dedicated to progressive practical environmental education.
Climate change emergency medical response
A site outlining the critical situation of the global climate and the responses necessary.
Terrachoice (Environmental Marketing)
A site focused on the growing field of environmental marketing.
Ecosanity
A site to aid in keeping our sanity in these changing times.
Sustainability – A Choice to Consider
A site for sustainable education and thought.
Sierra Youth Coalition
The youth division of the Sierra club.
The People Speak
A site for new ideas on sustainbility.
David Suzuki.org
David Suzuki’s site looking at solving protecting conserving promoting and building on sustainability.
Live Smart BC
A site dedicated to sustainable projects in every region of BC.
Transportation
Eco Drive
A company which specializes in electric bikes.
Healthy By Design: Transportation and Healthy Built Environments
Waste
Water Bottle impact
A short slide show on the impacts of water bottles.
Sustainable food packaging
A new company which makes functional food packaging out of recycled materials.
Water
Oasis Design grey water systems
New standards are adopted in California regarding grey water systems (read below).
OurRivers.ca
A great side documenting almost all goings on with BC water sources and fish habitats, as well as existing and proposed hydroelectric projects.
Tapped! Movie on bottled water
Here’s a link to this eye-opening movie’s trailer and further info. 20% of bottles end up in solid waste dumps. The purity of bottled water is basically unregulated and poorer than tapwater. Most of it comes from publicly subsidized tapwater and then is sold at inflated prices making huge profits for corporations.