Development of an Integrated Sustainability Action Plan for Cowansville

Cowansville is the largest municipality in the Brome-Missisquoi RCM and wants to be aligned with all sustainability objectives. The municipality has developed a 2013-2018 strategic plan in which it adopted a number of environmental, social and economic objectives. In 2015, the town decided to develop a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan for its urban area (more commonly known as an integrated sustainable development plan). The goal is to develop an integrated plan that encompasses municipal, regional, national and international sustainable development objectives. To complete this project, Cowansville wants to work closely with all stakeholders and citizens. The town has set up two committees (coordination and strategic) to do this work and extensively change the municipality’s governance model. Cowansville is also planning to use innovative techniques such as The Natural Step, Future Fit, and adopt the international Global Reporting Initiative standards to produce its reports. Various issues were identified in the four areas of sustainability: quality of life, environment, economic development and governance. The main project phases are: 1) project planning based on the municipality’s strategic plan objectives and regional, national and international sustainability objectives; 2) development of a strategic vision for the municipality; 3) assessment of the status quo with the BNQ 21000 checklists; 4) identification of priorities; 5) development of the action plan and measures, with a budget, funding possibilities and a schedule; 6) development of an automatic tracking system for targets and performance indicators; and 7) organization of workshops and other activities to obtain approval from all stakeholders, enhance awareness, and circulate information to all stakeholders. Cowansville will create a coordination office to facilitate plan implementation and bridge the gap between the various parties and elected representatives. It will track the priority actions and be responsible for reporting. Considered pivotal for the action plan, this coordination office will make the initiatives more dynamic, promote best practices and oversee jobsites. (Project description from original funding application)