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Cochrane Sustainability Plan never meant to be perfect

Dear editor: Thank you for your ongoing interest in the Cochrane Sustainability Plan (CSP).

Dear editor:

Thank you for your ongoing interest in the Cochrane Sustainability Plan (CSP).

From profiling our first five years, to suggesting sustainability is a buzzword, to recent analysis of the 2012 Progress Report, it’s refreshing to see local media actively engaging in this important conversation about growth, development and the future of Cochrane.

We folks at Sustainability Partners Uniting Resources (SPUR) want to point out what should be obvious: the Cochrane Sustainability Plan is not perfect. Neither are the targets, nor the indicators chosen. Perfection simply doesn’t exist for documents of this scope and importance. Some people say the plan goes too far in areas; others say it doesn’t go far enough.

Some point out that for a “plan,” it’s missing a lot of action steps (which, by the way, was intentional). It’s probably even missing important targets, like waste diversion, wetland preservation and perhaps sidewalk construction.

The reality is that, although imperfect, the CSP is very good. Good enough that Cochrane won the “Visionary Community” award from Alberta Urban Municipalities Association in 2009. Good enough to inspire ongoing interest from urban planners and community builders across the country.

Good enough to prompt an invitation from Sustainable Cities to present at their national conference.

The CSP wasn’t designed to be perfect. In fact, at a high level, the plan is little more than an articulation of the community’s stated values, reflected in the following vision statement:

“Innovative, bold and dynamic, Cochrane is a community that creates its destiny by building on our proud heritage. We are people of vision in environmental stewardship and economic vitality that was passed down to us through our strong and rich western Canadian foundation. At the heart of Cochrane we value our small-town atmosphere, distinctive big hills, escarpments, waterways and unique opportunities. We are a community forged by relationships supportive of our common desire to live long, fulfilling lives. As pioneers of sustainability, we build on the legacy of our pioneering past. We honour our heritage. We celebrate our strong relationships. We respect the land.”

Achieving the vision outlined in the CSP does not depend on its perfection or lack thereof.

It rests on everyone, from business and government to citizens and non-profits, from educational institutions to the local papers, to do their part toward achieving it.

The CSP lays out 13 pathways we can take to get there. How we get there and what we measure along the way is open for discussion.

It doesn’t have to be perfect, just good enough.

Jeff Couillard, SPUR co-chair

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