City Of Pickering: Social Sustainability In Canada

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Through past generations we have seen exemplifications of considerable innovation among city and municipal authorities in Canada regarding sustainable development. Due to Canada’s population density and the number of cities apart of it- I chose to study the sustainability of the city closest to my heart, my home, the City of Pickering. Sustainable development “is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”(Brundtland, 1987) The city of pickering is in the midst of a transformation from a suburban community to a sustainable city. “By 2031, the Region of Durham is expected to grow by 430,00 people and 160,000 jobs.” (Bodgan, 2007) It is estimated that Pickering …show more content…

“Social sustainability is the degree to which social (between individuals) relationships in a community contribute to the long term health of that community.”(Thorn, 2017) Social sustainability does not rely on conventional planning, it capitalizes on existing factors and assets of the present and for future generations. Social sustainability is composed of two key aspects, social equity and participation. When it comes to social equity, the focus is on fairness in accessibility in resources. For example, disability doorway and durham region transit services. Participation is associated with who has a say in decision-making in the city. In the city of Pickering, although the Mayor and city council maintain the highest authority, collaboration is encouraged at all levels. Partners may include members of local organizations or community groups, those working in community institutions, builders, developers, landowners, and business owners and almost always the demands of residence. Community engagement plays a significant role in the journey to achieving Sustainable Pickering, various activities and events have been held including: Sustainable Pickering Day held at the Pickering Town Centre, at which the mall launched its award winning “Be Seen-Be Green” campaign, launch by Durham Sustain Ability of “We Have The Power”, an energy conservation program for households in Pickering and most recently for businesses in Pickering and Ajax. In addition, their is also a number of ways the city advertises to take action and participate within the community. For instance, the Adopt A Park program encourages families, businesses, or schools to own a park and focus on keeping it clean. Essentially, the City provides citizens many opportunities to be apart of the City’s prosperity and encourages them to get involved. This ultimately results in a sustainable community both environmentally and

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