Consider my birthplace, St. Catharines, Ontario Canada, within the region of Niagara. We grew and prospered from the advent of the first industrial revolution. I firmly beleive that the next industrial revolution^¶ can be the source of our rebirth and newly generated wealth. The market forces for developing sustainabilty^{¶ Δ} are building. They open up exciting new worlds of possibilities for community regeneration and restoration for those who rise early to the challenge. The example strategies below, reach for the highest quality of life we can achieve in becoming an inclusive, community-driven, innovative centre of excellence in emerging, sustainabilty marketplaces.

New Society Strategist Vision:

Make developing sustainability the means whereby St. Catharines/Niagara becomes one of Canada's most exciting and rewarding city/region in which to live, learn, work and play.

Goal Statement:

Regenerate our regional economies by redirecting our existing resources, experienced workforces and educational systems toward research, and development of sustainability products other regions will purchase, and implimentation of sustainability processes others may emulate.

Strategies: (Partial listing)

1. Revitalize urban environments
2. Call for municipal and regional policies endorsing and supporting Sustainability.
3. Regenerate agricultural and manufacturing bases by using Restorative Economics.
4. Encourage, empower and involve community in new partnerships and collaborative initiatives.

Strategy: ~ Revitalize urban environments

Actions:

1. Promote and encourage sustainable communities^{¶ Δ §}
2. Stem urban sprawl^{¶ Δ §}, encouraging and supporting longer-term urban planning

Rationale:

1. Internal and external costs of planning, and maintaining sprawling urban environments are out of control
2. An end of cheap fuel will have severe consequences to sprawling communities, and all residents
3. The passing Industrial Age has left behind unsightly, unhealthy environments
4. We have lost sight of the importance of nature

Objectives

• To develop full-costs accounting^{¶ Δ} practices
• To lessen ecological footprints^{¶ Δ §}
• To encourage, promote and stimulate Green Design^{¶ Δ  §} and Green Building^{¶ Δ §}
• To promote and plan healthy urban environments based on Smart Growth principles ~ See Ahwahnee Principles^¶

Strategy: ~ Call for municipal and regional policies endorsing and supporting Sustainability.

Actions:

1. Establish Sustainable Niagara, Inc as a guiding force
2. Display sustainability's potential for strengthening municipal/regional economies - See below
3. Introduce sustainability^{¶ Δ §} into municipal/regional policy frameworks

Rationale:

1. Our Niagaran communities & region are not socio-economically sustainable.
   • Regional economy has become too service-industry dependant
   • Dismal projections for economic growth
   • Loss of youth to more progressive destinations

Objectives

• To impact and influence decision makers and general public by providing information, resources and fostering initiatives with greater spin-off potential.
• To generate opportunities for socio-economic growth
• To create 'green' product and service industries for sustainability marketplaces

Strategy: ~ Regenerate agricultural and manufacturing bases by using Restorative Economics.^{¶ Δ §}

Actions: Renew and strengthen regional economies

Rationale:

1. Niagaran agricultural and manufacturing are in dire need of regeneration
2. Sustainability imperatives cannot be alleviated by importing materials and products
3. Vast amounts of regional wealth are transfered to outside businesses
4. An end of cheap fuel will regenerate demands for regionally grown, processed and manufactured produce/products

Objectives

• To increase regional wealth
• To retain higher percentage of regional wealth within the region
• To encourage, promote regional fruit and produce
• To grow, produce and manufacture 'renewable' (green) resource materials for sustainability markets

Strategy: ~ Encourage, empower and involve community in new partnerships and collaborative initiatives.

Actions:

1. Create intentional learning communities^{¶ Δ}
2. Engage citizens in local govenment

Rationale:

1. Community projects & initiatives are fragmented
2. Lack connection to the bigger picture
3. Fewer available resources
4. Dedicated individuals and talent excluded
5. Citizens frustrated/disillustioned with political systems

Objectives

• To educate and raise public awareness
• To provide outlets for creativity & innovation
• To offer youth a reason to learn, work, live and play in Niagara
• To set direction for city/region base on emerging trends in sustainable communities^{¶ Δ §}

Strategy: ~

Actions:

1. ...
2. ...

Rationale:

Objectives