A Central Alberta environmentalist and former federal politician is encouraging Central Alberta municipal, industrial and non-profit leaders to get creative over how to be sustainable over the long term.
Bob Mills, a former Red Deer MP who once served as the Conservative Party’s environment critic in the shadow cabinet, said it’s important that people research and develop innovative ideas otherwise they could lose out to others around the world.
“Oil and gas should be turned into higher value than what we use it for,” said Mills after speaking at the Pathways 2 Sustainability conference at Red Deer College on Thursday.
He referred to Boeing’s new Dreamliner plane which is using mostly carbon fibre in its structure.
“You turn oil into carbon fibres and you build buildings with it, whatever,” Mills said. “Nobody is really doing the research on this, so we’re going to have places like China, Germany doing this. We lose the jobs.”
Mills said he’s glad that the 150-some delegates attending the conference are among those who like to “think outside the box.”
“And they’ll carry these messages back to their community,” he said.
The three-day conference ends today.
Cody Becker of the Olds Advisory Group for Sustainable Living said he’s learned from attending similar conferences in the past two years that community awareness about sustainability issues are growing.
“There’s a change in language and there’s increased awareness in the audience in these technologies and what’s going on,” Becker said. “There’s a number of new initiatives that have started since two years ago.”
Permaculture, or the design of human habitat modelled after nature, is increasing in popularity, he said.
Holly Johnson, consultation co-ordinator for Samson Cree Nation at Hobbema, said she’s been meeting different people, which is great because part of her role is talking with industry and government officials related to projects that have an environmental impact.
“It’s a networking opportunity,” she said.
Alberta Real Estate Foundation community investment co-ordinator Dora Bundgaard said a number of people have dropped by the foundation’s exhibit and wonder why Realtors would be interested in sustainability. But land and water issues, for instance, are important to the real estate industry, she said.
“What’s going to happen to people who can’t afford the water and power to their house?” Bundgaard said. “What if they can’t afford to operate their house? What’s going to happen to the real estate industry then? So it’s in the real estate industry’s best interests to have a sustainable community.”
Carolynn Grey, an employee with the Town of Sundre who will soon assume the economic development and sustainability co-ordinator position, said she’s been impressed with the local food that’s been offered during meals.
“That’s a really interesting idea and I think it’s nice they are doing this,” Grey said. “Having forums like this are really important because we can share ideas and build contacts.”
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com