Community Sustainability

Stepping Forward to Pursue a Sustainable Future

The United Counties is working to develop a Regional Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP). The four cornerstones of our ICSP are environment, economy, society and culture.

The United Counties is working with its 10 member municipalities - Athens, Augusta, Edwardsburgh/Cardinal, Elizabethtown-Kitley, Front of Yonge, Leeds and The Thousand Islands, Merrickville-Wolford, North Grenville, Rideau Lakes, and Westport - as well as partners Gananoque and Prescott to develop this plan.

What do you mean by Sustainability?

Our decisions "meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own." - The Brundtland Commission, 1987

What is an ICSP?

ICSP stands for Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. The four cornerstones of an ICSP are environment, economy, society and culture. An ICSP must:

  • embrace a long-term view in its planning and be strategic in its implementation;
  • be broad in scope planning for, and moving towards sustainability in all four cornerstones - economic, social, cultural and environmental;
  • integrate various plans aligning actions governments, communities and organizations;
  • achieve results through collaboration beginning with planning and sustained through implementation; and,
  • implement and monitor a realistic program to ensure plans become useful and remain relevant over time.

What are the benefits of an ICSP to Leeds Grenville?

Ultimately, sustainability is about balance. The needs of a community are no longer considered as disconnected segments. A balanced or sustainable approach to decision making enhances our four community cornerstones - economic, social, cultural and environmental - by recognizing the full impacts of decisions in a way that supports the overall well-being of the community in a responsible fashion.

An ICSP enhances our sense of place. An ICSP can be an important tool for promoting a sustainable approach at both the municipal and community level.

Why do this plan now?

The United Counties receives federal funding from gas taxes for infrastructure that achieves cleaner air, cleaner water and lower greenhouse gases. To sustain and support future funds, , the Counties are developing an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) that will create a vision and strategies that will assist with future decision making. We were successful in obtaining funding support for development of the ICSP through the Green Municipal Fund of the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.
We are working with our member municipalities as well as the Towns of Gananoque and Prescott to develop a Regional Integrated Community Sustainability Plan.

Our Project Launch

The ICSP planning process was launched with a presentation at the Leeds Grenville Economic Development Summit held November 15, 2011 in Kemptville. Click here to view the presentation.

Our Status

We are currently in Phase 2

Phase 1 - Baseline, Case & Vision (November 2011 to March 2012*)

  • Conduct best practices review, consider what's been done to date, and conduct a gap analysis to determine what still needs to be done
  • Develop sustainability principles and identify themes for each pillar of sustainability and adopt a vision for the ICSP
  • Hold Sustainable Community Workshops and other consultation activities

    View the Phase 1 Report in pdf format (10 MB).

Phase 2 - Action Plan (December 2011 to June 2012*)

  • Develop goals and strategic priorities
  • Consult the public and stakeholders on goals and priorities
  • Develop an action plan listing actions and champions associated with specific priorities

Phase 3 - Implementation Plan (June to July 2012*)

  • Develop an ICSP governance structure
  • Prepare a strategy to bring policies into alignment with the ICSP
  • Compile a toolkit identifying best practices and resources to assist with implementation

Phase 4 - Monitoring Plan (July to August 2012*)

  • Develop indicators and a monitoring program, including a monitoring web site to measure progress and performance towards the vision and goals

Phase 5 - Reporting (July to November 2012*)

  • Prepare the ICSP document and host a community event to celebrate our sustainable future.

*dates subject to change

We want to hear from you!

Email: icsp at uclg.on.ca
Leave us a message on the Project Hotline:
613-342-3840 extension 5367
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/LeedsGrenvilleICSP

 

Leeds Grenville ICSP logo

Youth Online Event

Submit your ideas for a sustainable future for your chance to win great prizes!

View poster for more details.

 

Visit our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/LeedsGrenvilleICSP

Competition closes May 25, 2012

 

 

Were you unable to attend our Action Plan Workshops?

 

Phase 2 - Priorities and Action Planning

Take the ICSP Survey now...

You can still provide input on sustainable actions through our on-line survey. The survey will be open through Sunday, May 27, 2012.

 

ICSP Action Plan Workshops

Sessions were completed on April 28, May 5, and
May 12 across Leeds Grenville.

 

Call 613-342-3840 ext 5367 or e-mail ICSP Workshops 

 

 

View Phase 1 Report in pdf format (10 MB)

Having trouble viewing the report?  Please contact us and we can get a copy to you.

 

 

We're on Facebook! Visit www.facebook.com/LeedsGrenvilleICSP and 'Like' us to stay up to date.

 

 

Press Releases

May 3, 2012 - Youth Online Event

March 27, 2012

January 15, 2012

December 28, 2011