AJW Staff Report
Mayor Ken Melamed, of Whistler, B.C., North America’s first eco-municipality and host of the green 2010 Winter Olympics, will address community leaders, elected officials and city staff at the Alliance for Sustainability’s fourth Sustainable Community Conference 12 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center, 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul. The event will also celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Alliance with a free organic dinner reception.Â
“Although we face severe economic and environmental challenges, Mayor Melamed and other presenters will show the possibilities for innovative partnerships that save money and energy, generate great green jobs, address climate change and create healthy, vibrant communities,” said Terry Gips, Alliance for Sustainability co-founder and president.
The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games have been dubbed “The Sustainability Games” because of Whistler’s practices, which include sustainable planning and purchasing, green public transit, zero waste, carbon neutrality, social inclusivity, First Nations hosting, LEED buildings, eco-forestry, pesticide restrictions, brownfield remediation and the capturing of methane from landfill. Although it has only 9,500 permanent residents, Whistler has more than 60,000 beds and hosts 2.2 million visitors a year as part of its $1 billion economy.
The public is invited, but pre-registration is requested through the Alliance for Sustainability; visit: www.afors.org or call 612-331-1099. The full conference program is available at: www.afors.org.
