Message from the Mayor of Montréal
It gives me great pleasure to welcome participants to the Ecocity World Summit 2011 in Montréal.
We are proud to host this outstanding event. There are many reasons why Montréal is an ideal venue for this gathering. As host city of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat and other international environmental organizations, Montréal has over the past few years fast-tracked adoption of initiatives aimed at making our metropolis a true capital of sustainable development.
Montréal is also a centre of knowledge and acclaimed for its vibrant cultural life and fine dining. I invite you to discover Montréal’s many wonders!
I wish you an excellent stay.
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| Gérald Tremblay Mayor of Montréal |
Message from the organizers
We are thrilled to welcome you to the
Ecocity World Summit 2011 in our
spectacular city of Montréal!
You are one of over 1,000 participants
representing more than 70 countries
who has chosen to join this pathbreaking
event where learning and networking
opportunities abound.
During these next 4½ days you will rub
shoulders with those at the forefront
of Ecocity thought, practice, policy and
implementation. We are proud to offer a rich
program packed with an Opening Ceremony
and reception, training workshops, 100+
concurrent sessions, keynote presentations
and panels, mobile workshops, design
charrettes, artistic installations, poster
presentations, film screenings, a Local
Food Fest, the Ecocity Expo, and a surprise
announcement at the end!
And don’t forget to take time to discover
the joie de vivre in the aspiring Ecocity of
Montréal!
We look forward to meeting you and to ongoing collaboration in the worthy pursuit to create ecologically-healthy people-centered Ecocities.
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| Jayne Engle-Warnick and
Luc Rabouin Conference Co-Convenors |
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| David Brown and
Louis Drouin Program Committee Co-Chairs |
Message from the founder of the International Ecocity Conference series
Welcome to the Ninth International Ecocity Conference. You are here to change the world. We all change the world in small ways but here in this conference we are talking about changing the
largest creations of our species, cities. More correctly, cities, towns and villages, our built environments in the natural environment we call our homes. One home against another at this point in history,
unfortunately. That can change, and our cities can be building soil and biodiversity, if we decide, building a profoundly healthy and creative future. Let’s take this opportunity, decide and follow through after. May we accept this sacred trust and accept this task in all hard work and pleasure. By what we build, Peace on Earth, Peace with Earth.
Have a fabulous conference!
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| Richard Register President of Ecocity Builders |
message from the honorary presidents
As Honorary Presidents of the Ecocity World Summit 2011, we are delighted to welcome all of you. The diverse countries, cultures and communities represented at this meeting will be a great asset as
we draw upon our collective experience, creativity and commitment to creating livable, just and sustainable cities. This is perhaps the greatest challenge of our era—an urban era in which most of the
world population already lives in cities and the projected population growth will be almost entirely urban growth in cities of the global south.
It is our hope that we will leave here with a better understanding of the dynamics of urban ustainability and a set of transformative action plans for achieving that – through both our combined and
individual efforts.
Thank you for joining us in this!
Prof. Jan Gehl
Founding Partner
Gehl ArchitectsDr. Janice Perlman
Founder and President
The Mega-Cities ProjectA Message from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO Secretary-General
On behalf of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, I am pleased to welcome you to the Ecocity World Summit.
In 2002, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period 2005- 2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD), and designated the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as its lead agency. The Decade addresses interrelated social, economic, environmental and cultural issues informed by current and future perspectives. It fosters critical and creative thinking in order to generate sustainable development solutions at all levels.
By providing a platform for exchange between governments, civil society, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, the Ecocity World Summit is a step forward in the realization of the
Decade’s objectives.
We wish everyone a very successful conference.
David A. Walden
Secretary-General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO
