WINNIPEG - May 19, 2003 - Winnipeg citizens will have their first opportunity this evening to help shape the environmental future of their city.

The first of a series of environmental Town Hall meetings will take place at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Muriel Richardson Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.

The subject will be: Sustainable Transportation and Land Use Planning - A Traffic "Jam" with Winnipeggers.

The Town Hall meetings on the Environment are structured to give members of the public a mechanism to put forward their views on the key environmental issues facing the City and thereby have a direct influence in the shaping of a long-term environmental strategy.

Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray and City Councillor Gord Steeves, Chair of the Civic Environmental Committee, urge interested Winnipeggers to add their voices to theses discussions.

"A long-term environmental strategy for Winnipeg has been a long time coming. Once firmly in place, we'll know how we'll be handling the environmental issues facing us. This is an excellent opportunity to hear from our diverse community as we formulate a plan that will make Winnipeg a place we're proud to leave to our grandchildren," says Mayor Glen Murray.

"Winnipeg is setting out to become the most environmentally progressive community in Canada. The involvement of the public in this planning process is critical to formulating a plan that covers all the environmental issues," says Councillor Steeves.

Tonight's meeting, the first of four to be held over the next three weeks, will feature a presentation by Todd Litman, the founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute.

Litman's research is used worldwide in transportation systems and land use planning.

He will present his ideas on sustainable transportation and discuss solutions used in other cities to overcome traffic and congestion problems.

Following the conclusion of the series of Environmental Town Hall meetings, a Comprehensive Environmental Strategy will be drafted and presented to Winnipeg City Council for approval, likely by this fall.

Other upcoming Town Halls will provide discussion on the following topics:

• Weighing The Risks- Pesticide Use and Human Health - May 22nd, 6:30 p.m. Winnipeg Convention Centre, 2nd Floor Presentation Theatre.
• Youth, the Environment and Sustainable Communities - June 3rd, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. University of Winnipeg Eckhardt-Grammatte Hall, 515 Portage Avenue.
• Smart Growth and Cities hosted by the Manitoba Professional Planners Institute on Wednesday, June 4th, 6:30 p.m. University of Winnipeg, Eckhardt-Grammatte Hall, 515 Portage Avenue.

Copies of the draft Discussion Document on a Comprehensive Environmental Strategy can be obtained from the Civic Environmental Committee's Web site at: www.mbeconetwork.org/civic/main/index.html or by visiting the "Highlights" section on the City of Winnipeg Web site at: winnipeg.ca.

Copies will also be distributed at the Town Hall meetings.

Note to Editors: Mr. Litman will visiting with Mayor Glen Murray and Councillor Gord Steeves, the Chair of the Civic Environment Committee in the Mayor's Office at 10:15 a.m. and will be available for interviews at about 10:30 a.m. in the foyer outside the Mayor's Office. He and other panel members for tonight's meeting will also be available for media interviews prior to and after the meeting.

For more information please contact:

Andrew Cowan
Environmental Coordinator for the City of Winnipeg.
Telephone 311

Email: litman@vtpi.org
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7
Canada

Todd Litman
Todd Litman is founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. His work helps expand the range of impacts and options considered in transportation decision-making, improve evaluation techniques, and make this information accessible to a larger audience. His research is used worldwide in transport planning and policy analysis.

Mr. Litman is author of the Online TDM Encyclopedia, a comprehensive Internet resource for identifying and evaluating mobility management strategies. He has worked on numerous studies that evaluate the costs and benefits of various transportation services and activities. He authored Transportation Cost and Benefit Analysis: Techniques, Estimates and Implications, one of the most comprehensive studies of transport impacts. It is the only study of its kind that provides cost and benefit information in an easy-to-apply format, and that is regularly updated.

Todd has written or co-written several guides and technical manuals dealing with transport and land use planning issues. He is a frequent speaker at conferences and workshops. His presentations range from technical and practical, to humorous and inspirational.

Todd is active in several professional organizations, including the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the Transportation Research Board (a section of U.S. National Academy of Sciences) and the Centre for Sustainable Transportation.

In addition to technical writing, Todd has co-authored two travel books (Washington; Off the Beaten Path and Best Bike Rides in the Pacific Northwest) with his wife, Suzanne Kort. They reside with their two children in Victoria, British Columbia.

Please visit the Victoria Transport Policy Institute's Web site at http://www.vtpi.org.
Sustainable Transportation and Land Use Planning - A Traffic "Jam" Session with Winnipeggers
Sustainable Transportation and Land Use Planning - A Traffic "Jam" Session with Winnipeggers

Panel Members

Toby Maloney:
As a member of Winnipeg's Civic Environmental Committee, Toby has more than 20 years of community environmental advocacy and a diverse background including waste minimization, transportation demand management, environmental outreach and public education.

Ken MacKinnon:
As a professional architect with a keen interest in sustainable communities and green building, Ken brings his own perspective to the Civic Environmental Committee. Ken's scope of experience in architectural theory, construction, and the business of architecture have provided him with insight into the problems and solutions associated with environmental concerns.

Andrew Cowan:
Andrew Cowan is the City of Winnipeg's first Environmental Coordinator. He is responsible for the development of civic environmental policies and the coordination of the City's environmental affairs. Andrew has worked with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the Province of Manitoba's Sustainable Development Coordination Unit and later with the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs where he provided planning and policy advice on regional and urban planning and infrastructure issues. Andrew is active in a number professional organizations and national committees and is vice chair of the FCM Sustainable Infrastructure Guide Environmental Protocols Technical Committee.

Toby Maloney:
As a member of Winnipeg's Civic Environmental Committee, Toby has more than 20 years of community environmental advocacy and a diverse background including waste minimization, transportation demand management, environmental outreach and public education.

Ken MacKinnon:
As a professional architect with a keen interest in sustainable communities and green building, Ken brings his own perspective to the Civic Environmental Committee. Ken's scope of experience in architectural theory, construction, and the business of architecture have provided him with insight into the problems and solutions associated with environmental concerns.

Andrew Cowan:
Andrew Cowan is the City of Winnipeg's first Environmental Coordinator. He is responsible for the development of civic environmental policies and the coordination of the City's environmental affairs. Andrew has worked with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, the Province of Manitoba's Sustainable Development Coordination Unit and later with the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs where he provided planning and policy advice on regional and urban planning and infrastructure issues. Andrew is active in a number professional organizations and national committees and is vice chair of the FCM Sustainable Infrastructure Guide Environmental Protocols Technical Committee.

Town Hall Discussions on Developing A Comprehensive Environmental Strategy for the City of Winnipeg
Schedule of Public Consultation Events

The City of Winnipeg's Civic Environmental Committee will be encouraging the public and the media to attend the following Town Hall meetings on environmental issues in Winnipeg. The Committee wants to hear from the public on some of Winnipeg's key environmental issues as it continues to develop a long-term environmental strategy to submit to Council. These Town Halls will be held between May 20th and June 4th and will include preeminent speakers from across Canada.

Each session will include opportunities to discuss important issues and provide advice on where Council should focus and prioritize efforts on environmental issues. Open discussions where the public can ask questions, debate and propose solutions will be included. Participants will also hear from experts from across Canada on examples elsewhere on how other Cities are managing their environmental priorities. The following is a list of Town Hall events, speakers and themes. For more information please contact Andrew Cowan @311.

Sustainable Transportation and Land Use Planning - A Traffic "Jam" Session with Winnipeggers
Tuesday May 20th - 6:30 p.m.
Winnipeg Art Gallery Muriel Richardson Auditorium, 300 Memorial Boulevard
Speakers: Todd Litman (Victoria Transport Policy Institute

Todd Litman is founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. His research is used worldwide in transportation planning and policy analysis. Todd will present his ideas on sustainable transportation and discuss solutions used in other cities to overcome traffic and congestion problems. The underlying theme will be the importance of ensuring that a wide variety of sustainable transportation options are available to citizens.

Weighing the Risks - Pesticides and Human Health
Thursday May 22nd - 6:30 p.m.
Winnipeg Convention Centre, 2nd floor presentation theatre
Speakers: Dr. Kapil Khatter (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment) and Dr. Keith Solomon (University of Guelph Centre for Toxicology)

This event will include discussions on the effectiveness and safety of using pesticides within Winnipeg's urban environment. Representatives from both sides of the pesticide debate will provide informative presentations based on sound scientific evidence. Speakers for this event include Dr. Keith Solomon and Dr. Kapil Khatter. Following these presentations, an open question and answer session will be held.

Dr. Solomon is the Director for the Centre for Toxicology at the University of Guelph where he directs an active program into of research into the fate and effects of pesticides and other substances in the environment, exposure of humans to pesticides and ecological risk assessment. Dr. Solomon currently serves on several advisory committees on matters related to environmental toxicology and risk assessment in North America, Europe and for the United Nations Environmental Program.

Dr. Kapil Khatter is a family physician in Toronto. Dr. Khatter sits on the Ontario College of Family Physicians Environmental Health Committee, is the Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, and is project manager of the Municipal Pesticide Use and Children's Health project of the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and the Environment (CPCHE). A graduate of McGill University, Dr. Khatter's areas of specialty include risk assessment, the precautionary principle, and children's health and the environment.

Youth, the Environment and Sustainable Communities
Tuesday June 3rd - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
University of Winnipeg Eckhardt- Grammatte Hall, 515 Portage Avenue
Speakers: Severn Cullis-Suzuki (Suzuki's NatureQuest) and Louise Comeau (Federation of Canadian Municipalities)

The morning session from 9 a.m. to 12p.m. will include guest presentations by Severen Cullis-Suzuki and Louise Comeau and a panel discussion on sustainable communities, youth and environment. What makes young urban professionals attracted to "green communities"?

Like her father, Severn Cullis-Suzuki is a respected advocate for environmental sustainability. Severn is an accomplished television host, has written numerous magazine articles on environmental issues, and has authored a book entitled Tell the World. Severn served as a Commissioner to the United Nations Earth Charter, a document that serves as a code of ethics for human conduct towards our planet and global relationships.

Louise Comeau is the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Community Development at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Centre manages the $250 million Green Municipal Funds that provide grants to municipal governments and/or their partners for feasibility studies and low-interest loans for green infrastructure projects. Louise is also responsible for environmental policy at FCM. Current priorities are greenhouse gas reductions, brownfield redevelopment, waste management, water quality, and wastewater effluent.

This event will involve concurrent activities including local high school students who will take part in a role-playing game on environmental sustainability organized by the Global Change Game. In the afternoon, students will take part in an Environmental Ideas Fair, where they will present their ideas on how Winnipeg can create a more sustainable, vibrant and green city.

Smart Growth and Cities (Hosted by the Manitoba Professional Planners Institute)
Wednesday June 4th - 6:30 p.m.
University of Winnipeg, Eckhardt- Gramatte Hall, 515 Portage Avenue
Speakers: Mark McCullough (Canada Lands Company and Dr. David van Vliet (City Planning, University of Manitoba)

The speakers for this event include Dr. David van Vliet of the University of Manitoba Department of City Planning, and Mr. Mark McCullough, general manager of the Canada Lands Company of Calgary.

Dr. van Vliet is a professor in the Department of City Planning at the University of Manitoba. His research interests include the principles and practices of sustainable community design, and documenting innovative projects that demonstrate these principles. David has collected a vast body of research from sustainable communities located throughout Canada and Europe. David will speak on the concepts and theories of Smart Growth, and will frame his presentation within the context of the Winnipeg Capital Region.

Mark McCullough has played a lead role in redeveloping Calgary's former Currie Air Force Barracks into a sustainable community known as "Garrison Woods". Mark will discuss the major principles and objectives of the Garrison Woods development and address the challenges associated with implementing new standards of community design. This event is being hosted by MPPI in partnership with the City of Winnipeg's Civic Environmental Committee and the University of Winnipeg's Institute of Urban Studies.