Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes receives award from Premier Campbell.
Town of Oliver - Winner
Oliver is dealing effectively with the challenges of water management, including reclaiming 100 per cent of wastewater and using it for agricultural purposes.
Oliver is dealing with water pressures in the desert by reclaiming all of the wastewater for irrigation purposes, they are dealing with growth through such things as participating in a Smart Growth on the Ground program and hosting of affordable housing workshops, and Oliver is demanding that sustainability be incorporated into the their tourism industry by integrating triple bottom line principles into the Request For Proposal for the upcoming Wine Village agri-tourism endeavour.
Town of Gibsons
Gibsons, gold medal winner at the recent Berkely Springs International Water Tasting Contest, is finding simple solutions to protecting this valuable resource through use of native, drought resistant plants in their gardens, to employment of students in their "Green Team" to educate residents on water and environmental issues. Gibsons also has implemented a sustainability checklist to ensure development occurs in line with the triple bottom line principles contained in their new Smart Plan Official Community Plan.
District of Houston
Houston, a remote and northern community, is showing provincial leadership in energy conservation through utilization of geothermal heating in the pool, arena, and curling facilities, through use of solar powered park lighting and through partnering on the exciting Energy Centre of the North project which they are helping to develop. Houston also has an innovative purchasing policy which favours local suppliers.