Unions of Nova Scotia Municipalities

Events

A Training session for elected officials to work with world leaders on bicycle policy & design

February 2 from 2 to 4 p.m

Dalhousie university, the student union building on university avenue, room 303

As part of the 2-day Kickstand Workshop with bike policy and design experts from Denmark and the Netherlands, elected officials are invited to attend an afternoon session on Feb. 2 from 2 – 4 pm to learn how to make their municipalities more sustainable and increase bicycle mobility.  The Kickstand Workshop will culminate in this special afternoon session designed specifically for Nova Scotia’s mayors, wardens and councillors.  Participating elected officials will learn about the issues, ideas and opportunities identified in the earlier part of the Kickstand Workshop and will be provided with insight on how local government in urban and rural Nova Scotia can encourage cycling to become a sustainable, healthy and attractive mobility choice.

About the Kickstand Workshop Consultants: 
Dutch based consultants Mobycon, who have 25 years experience in traffic, transport, and urban and rural planning, are teaming up with Copenhagenize, a Danish consultancy specializing in bicycle planning, marketing, and communications, to launch the Kickstand Workshop.  These sessions will provide an opportunity to work with world leaders in bicycle policy and infrastructure design to develop locally relevant insights, solutions, and actionable steps for building bicycle cultures and increasing sustainable mobility.

Registration Required:
There is no cost to attend the session on Feb. 2 from 2 – 4 pm, but interested participants must contact UNSM’s Municipal Sustainability Coordinator, Debbie Nielsen at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 423-8312 to reserve a spot.

Interested in Participating in the Full 2-Day Workshop?
If you are interested in attending the entire Kickstand Workshop from Feb. 1 - 2 (cost:  $600), please contact Ross Soward at the Cities and Environment Unit:  Ross Soward at 494.-8494 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Upcoming egspa workshop dates

The Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act (EGSPA) is currently under review.  The date for written submission has been extended until Jan 31 (to view the review questions, visit:  http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/dept/egspa.review.asp)

As part of the review process, the Minister's Round Table on the Environment and Sustainable Prosperity will be hosting consultation workshops to solicit feedback from the public on EGSPA on the following dates:
Jan 30    Truro Fire Hall, 165 Victoria Street, Truro
Feb 1     Wolfville and District Lions Club, 36 Elm Avenue, Wolfville
Feb 6     Mariners Centre, Sobey's Lounge, 31 Cottage Street, Yarmouth
Feb 8     NSCC Waterfront Campus, Classroom 3736, 80 Mawiomi Place, Dartmouth
Feb 15   Grand Lake Road Fire Hall, Classroom 15, 866 Grand Lake Road, Sydney

All workshops will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. If you plan to attend one of the workshops, please RSVP by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or leave a message at 1-888-320-0555. In case of a storm, workshops will be held the following night. To find out if a workshop has been cancelled, check online here or call 1-888-320-0555.

stormwater management workshops

february 20 - 21 in halifax & february 22 in digby 

The Ecology Action Centre, in partnership with Halifax Water, HRM, Insurance Bureau of Canada and the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership, is hosting Applied Stormwater Management workshops in Halifax and Digby. Changes in the amounts and intensity of precipitation associated with climate change along with aging infrastructure and an ever expanding area of impervious surfaces (roads, roofs, parking lots) make managing stormwater a critical issue. This workshop will help planners, developers and other interested stakeholders select and implement tools to reduce stormwater runoff and infrastructure damage through a range of innovative Best Management Practices.  Interactive presentations will be given by regional and national stormwater experts.

A 1½ day workshop will be held at Dalhousie University in Halifax on February 20-21st. Click here to register. 
A 1 day workshop will be held at the Isaiah W. Wilson Library in Digby on February 22nd. Click here to register on-line.

For more information, please contact Ashley Sprague at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 442-5046.

Upcoming dollars to $ense workshops

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is once again offering its Dollars to $ense Workshops.  The following workshops are scheduled to take place in Halifax: 

spot the energy saving opportunities, wednesday, february 22, 2012

This workshop will help you identify low-cost ways to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs in your municipality.

energy monitoring, thursday, february 23, 2012

This workshop will show you how to measure and analyze your energy consumption both before and after energy improvements.

Workshop Costs:
One workshop - $340/person
Two workshops - $595/person
Three workshops - $850/person
Four workshops - $1105/person
Register additional people from the same organization and pay only $255/person for a workshop.

For more information, visit NRCan’s website at http://www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/workshops or contact Johanne Renaud at 613-996-6585.

training workshop on how climate change will affect civic infrastructure in canadian municipalities

tuesday, february 7, 2012, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. est

10 rideau street, 8th floor (fcm boardrooms), ottawa

TRAINING WORKSHOP ON HOW CLIMATE CHANGE WILL AFFECT CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE IN CANADIAN MUNICIPALITIES
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2012, 8 AM - 3 PM, EST
10 RIDEAU STREET, 8TH FLOOR (FCM BOARDROOMS), OTTAWA
This one-day workshop will provide Canadian municipal decision-makers and infrastructure practitioners with information about future climate change and its impacts. The workshop will highlight the Public Infrastructure Engineering Vulnerability Committee (PIEVC) Engineering Protocol - a standardized method used to estimate the risks climate change poses to municipal infrastructure.

Engineers Canada, in partnership with Natural Resources Canada, has developed and tested the PIEVC Engineering Protocol. This protocol is a structured procedure using standard risk assessment methods to assess and document infrastructure's vulnerability to future climate change impacts. This workshop will interest municipal engineers, planners, public works administrators and others involved in the pre-design, design, operation, maintenance and management of infrastructure. These professionals need to consider the impacts of climate change for new and existing infrastructure.

A registration fee of $90 is required for all participants. For more information, contact Devin Causley at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Click here to visit the workshop website. 

fcm's sustainable communities conference

february 7 - 10

the westin ottawa, ottawa

With new keynote speakers, new advanced training sessions and new networking opportunities, this year’s Sustainable Communities Conference will deliver fresh content and strategies to help municipalities put their green projects on the fast track to successful design, implementation and cost recovery. Plus, the trade show will feature many new exhibitors with a wealth of sustainability solutions, technologies, innovations and practices.

Also new this year, you will learn how to build the business case for sustainability by demonstrating important social, environmental and economic benefits. To view the conference program, click here.

8th canadian german wind energy conference 2012

february 22 and 23, 2012

delta halifax, halifax, nova scotia

COSTS:  Feb. 22 from 3 pm to 6:30 pm - $50 and Feb. 23 from 8:45 am to 6 pm - $290
For more information, contact Matthieu at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (514) 844-3051.

2012 heritage conferrence:  priceless - profit from your past

june 12 - 15, 2012

the fortress of louisbourg

Learn how heritage advocates and economic developers are working together to revitalize Nova Scotia’s communities at the upcoming 2012 Heritage Conference.  Mark your calendars and plan to join Cape Breton Regional Municipality from June 12 – 15 for Nova Scotia’s Annual Heritage Conference, which will include a special evening of 18th century food and entertainment at the Fortress of Louisbourg!  Detailed program & registration information to follow.

For more information, contact Rick McCready ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 902-563-5072) or Colleen McGuire ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 902-563-5068).

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