Schedule of the day
Breakfast & Check-In (8:45-9:15 am)
Welcome from the Sustainability Council (9:15-9:30 am)
Opening talk (9:30-9:45 am)
Halfway but not half-hearted - accelerating action for 2030
Leah Ettarh (she/her), Executive Director, Alberta Council for Global Cooperation (ACGC)
About the speaker: Leah is a community builder, educator and mother who is passionate about making meaningful connections and supporting initiatives that drive systems change towards greater social justice and equity.
Talk Description: May 4, 2023 marked the halfway point in the implementation of the UN SDGs. In passing this critical milestone, Leah will reflect on the role Albertans have played in accelerating Canada’s SDGs progress and what we can do locally, and globally, to ensure we do our part as global citizens in achieving the goals.
Session 1 (9:45-10:45am)
Crowdsensing-based Monitoring of Built and Natural Environments
Dr. Mustafa Gül (he/him), Ph.D., PEng, Professor, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta
About the speaker: Dr. Gül’s current research focuses mainly on developing novel technologies for smart, sustainable, and resilient cities and societies by developing technologies for Crowdsensing-based Monitoring of Built and Natural Environments (CoMBiNE). In addition, Dr. Gül investigates various topics, such as efficient integration solar PV Systems into energy-efficient buildings and community-wide and city-wide solar PV applications. Dr. Gül has led more than 25+ large-scale research projects in the infrastructure and energy areas funded by various federal and provincial organizations and industry partners, and he has published 90+ journal papers and 100+ conference papers in the areas of infrastructure and energy.
Talk Description: This presentation will discuss Dr. Gül’s recent research efforts to develop smart, sustainable and resilient cities and infrastructure systems. Dr. Gül will present a Crowdsensing-based Monitoring of Built and Natural Environments (CoMBiNE) framework for studying populations of infrastructure systems. This framework capitalizes on the large amount of data collected using the existing sensors and cameras within connected vehicles and other systems. The talk will focus on using smartphones in vehicles for drive-by monitoring of populations of bridges, using rear-mounted cameras for pavement assessments, and using in-vehicle cameras for assessment of wildland-urban-interface fire risk.
Transport planning and policy considerations for future socially and environmentally sustainable cities
Dr. Emily Grisé (she/her), Assistant Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning | Lab Director: Moving Transport Forward Lab, University of Alberta
About the speaker: Dr. Grisé is a forward-thinking transport researcher with specializations in the areas of transport & land use planning, and public transit planning & operations. Her work has been in collaboration with several local and regional transport agencies including TransLink and ETS to directly address issues of concern to key stakeholders, while she has also provided transport expertise in the private sector. The underlying goal of her research is to develop effective policies that contribute to a more livable and sustainable society.
Talk Description: Electrification of our auto fleet is valuable for achieving net-zero targets, but overemphasis on the car as the dominant means of transport has both environmental and social consequences. As Edmonton’s population is expected to increase to two million people, it will be impossible to sustain the current rate of car use without further environmental and social degradation of the city. Public transit is essential to ensure the economic competitiveness of Edmonton and to move the needle towards health and sustainability goals. This talk will identify and discuss key guiding principles for future public transit systems and provide insight on key levers that need to be considered to achieve equitable, sustainable, and resilient public transit systems.
Women in Fleet Transformation: Supporting women-led enterprises transition to zero-emission fleets
Trinity Song (she/her), Analyst, Equitable Transition, Pembina Institute
About the speaker: Trinity Song is an analyst for the Pembina Institute's Equitable Transition team, living on the traditional territory of Treaty 7. She holds a BA, Intercultural Studies, and MA Psychology, Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Adler University. She is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association. Trinity has spent her career developing programs, curricula and resources to address the systemic and socioeconomic vulnerabilities of women. Her current role focuses on equitable policy change for women and gender-diverse folks in Canada's net-zero transition.
Talk Description: Women are concerned about climate and want to make a difference. It’s vital that climate solutions include groups that are historically underrepresented- especially women. This session will cover inequities in the transportation industry, and opportunities for ZEV awareness and outreach among underrepresented groups. It will also introduce Pembina Institute's initiative, Transforming Transportation in Edmonton: Women in Fleets. This capacity-building project will bring together a group of women and gender-diverse leaders to share experiences and propose policies and investments that will support low-emission transportation in Edmonton—and showcase that women are leaders in the transportation sector.
Session 2 (11am-noon)
The Future of Transportation in Alberta
Heather Stephens, Chief Operating Officer, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA)
Derek Hanson, Director, Transit Fleet Maintenance, Edmonton Transit Service (ETS)
About the speakers:
Heather has worked with ERA since inception and has played a key role in operating and growing the organization over the past 12 years. In her current role, Heather leads teams responsible for finance, project portfolio management, information technology, contract management, governance, and Human Resources. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, Heather brings her extensive background in audit and financial accounting with not-for-profit organizations, Government of Alberta agencies, as well as various private and public Canadian and International companies. Prior to joining ERA directly, Heather spent 20 years with the multi-national accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers in both the Edmonton and London, UK offices, the last nine of which were primarily dedicated to helping establish and operate ERA (formerly Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation). Heather graduated from the University of Alberta with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Commerce degrees.
Derek is an accomplished leader with over 10 years’ experience in the public sector after spending more than a decade in the energy sector. He is the project lead for the Alberta Zero Emission Hydrogen Transit Committee; the Vice Chair of CUTRIC’s Zero Emission Bus Committee; Ontario Public Transit Association Zero Emission Bus Vice Chair - Intergovernmental Advocacy; and a member of the CUTA Maintenance Sub-Committee. Derek is intentional about developing competent leaders and inspiring creative and engaged workforces, and has extensive strategic experience in the areas of energy, lifecycle planning, emission reduction and fleet conversion.
Talk Description: In this session, you’ll hear from two movers and shakers in Alberta’s energy and transportation landscape. Heather will first speak to the origins and aims of Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), focusing on transportation-related projects that they have funded. Derek will then pull back the curtain to share how ERA funding and the City of Edmonton’s willingness to innovate are shaping Edmonton’s transit. In-person attendees will have a chance to check out a City of Edmonton Hydrogen-powered bus!
Session 3 (1-2 pm)
Calgary Transit's RouteAhead
Erin Felker (she/her), Transportation Planner, City of Calgary
About the speaker: Erin has over 20 years of transit and transportation planning experience for different municipalities in Alberta and British Columbia.
Talk Description: Through 2022, The City of Calgary prepared a 10-year update to the 30-year plan for transit, RouteAhead. The update includes policy alignment with the Calgary Climate Strategy - Pathways to 2050. This talk will give a brief overview of the plan's direction to build the transit system into the preferred transportation choice in a rapidly growing city.
Advancing Edmonton's Mobility Goals
Pablo Orozco, Mobility Expert, City of Edmonton
About the speaker: Pablo is a passionate transportation professional and an Edmontonian. He is the general supervisor for mobility within the City of Edmonton’s Planning and Environment Services. His experience includes working on the The City Plan, in which he co-led a holistic analysis of Edmonton's mobility system and land use patterns, as well the Mass Transit Study. He led the development of a mobility network analysis and mass transit planning work, both of which are implementation plans of the City Plan. Pablo holds a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Toronto and is P.Eng and PMP certified.
Talk Description: Edmonton’s City Plan charts a new course for how Edmonton will grow. Its adoption by City Council in 2020 solidified aggressive sustainable mobility targets. This presentation will discuss planning and strategic work completed or underway to help meet these targets.
Session 4: Roundtable Discussions (2-3:30 pm)
Join us for roundtable discussions on what is needed to advance the SDGs in the province in the coming 2-3 years. Designed for discussion, the roundtables offer an opportunity for small group conversations to learn about each other’s work and determine how we can accelerate our SDGs progress and what we might need to do differently to help us get there.
Session 5 (3:45-4:45 pm)
People Power for Climate Cities
Edmonton City Councillor Michael Janz (ward papastew) (he/him)
About the speaker: Michael is a first-term Edmonton city councillor and has been a champion of climate action, active transportation and green buildings. Prior to his time on City Council, he worked in youth and non-profit leadership.
Talk Description: We know what we need to do, and we know the solutions. What does it take to generate the political will to get there? Building political power in our community takes relationships and courage, but it can be a lot of fun too!
A participatory route to urban transformation
Jonathan Lawrence (he/him), Planning Advisor, Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues
About the speaker: Jonathan Lawrence has over a decade of experience as a city builder and advocate in neighbourhoods. Jonathan holds a degree in Urban Planning and has worked in both public and private sectors focusing on engagement, housing, transportation and the environment. Jonathan brings to the EFCL a unique experience and expertise in Asset Based Community Development and is passionate about convening neighbours and empowering neighbourhoods to participate in and lead processes of urban planning and design.
Talk Description: We are in the midst of a climate and ecological crisis. Cities, particularly those who have contributed disproportionately to the crisis, must be part of the solution and leaders in what will be a profound transformation of our urban imagination. This presentation will seek to explore the political barriers to action and the hidden potential of more participatory planning to open up the possibility for change at the scale and speed that is required.
Boiling SDGs down to a walk, roll, or bike ride
Stephen Raitz (he/him), Chair of Paths for People
About the speaker: Stephen Raitz is a Registered Professional Planner who has worked as an urban and regional planner within the Edmonton region focusing on transportation and community engagement projects. He is currently a Law Student at the U of A. He has been a part of the Paths’ For People Board since 2018, always equipped with a lot of enthusiasm for ensuring that everyone can walk, roll, or cycle around our city safely. Stephen is also an improviser with Rapid Fire Theatre in Edmonton.
Talk Description: Stephen will discuss his experiences with working collaboratively with community advocates, stakeholders, and organizations towards pushing for better active transportation options across Edmonton. He will connect the broad intent of the Sustainable Development Goals with the specific tangible actions that neighbours can take together to advocate for a safer, more liveable and climate-resilient transportation system.