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Saanich develops agriculture and food security plan to ensure a sustainable future for the community

District of Saanich
For the District of Saanich, food security starts in the community’s backyard.

The District’s new Agriculture and Food Security Plan (the Plan) sets a long-term vision to support a thriving, accessible, and environmentally responsible food system. The Plan outlines strategies and sets a policy framework to help Saanich protect and support farmland and to provide a vibrant agricultural legacy to future generations.

Success Story Snapshot
Energy Savings / GHG Reductions: Food related emissions amount to 19%   of the District of Saanich’s total carbon footprint. The Agriculture and Food Security Plan outlines household waste reduction, sustainable water management, integration with natural ecosystems, and increased local production as strategies to reduce food related emissions in the community and support the new commitment by the District to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% below 2007 levels by 2050.
Business Case: The Plan highlights priority actions that will collectively increase production on agricultural lands and in urban areas, improve management of waste products, and improve local food economy resources. Saanich Council has identified funding to support implementation of priority actions identified in the Plan, providing a strong foundation to initiate action.
Co-benefits: Actions identified in the Plan will enhance the community’s ability to adapt and respond to potential external influences or events that impact access to food. Many actions in the Plan also look at providing a stronger integration between farming and ecosystem management, and supporting a more sustainable and restorative approach to resource management. The Plan also supports an increased awareness of the important contributions farming has on the local economy.
Total project cost: The Agriculture and Food Security Plan had a budget of $45,000, which included engagement with the community and stakeholder groups and hiring a consultant to develop Plan actions.

Project Summary

In late 2017, Saanich Council committed to reducing GHG emissions 80 % by 2050 from 2007 levels. Saanich’s Agriculture and Food Security Plan (the Plan) will play a vital role in supporting the District in achieving this target and supporting policies set in the Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Climate Action Plan (currently being updated).

Saanich continues to have an important agricultural role in BC. Since the 1960s, the District has protected its agricultural and rural lands from urban encroachment with the Urban Containment Boundary (UCB). Although about 52% of Saanich is still protected by the UCB with policies set out in the OCP to ensure urban/rural connections are thriving, much of Saanich is not actively farmed and access to healthy, local food can be difficult for some households to attain. The District of Saanich recognized the importance of maintaining a balanced relationship between its urban residential and rural agricultural roles and saw an opportunity to seek new solutions to support local food systems and address food insecurity for the community at large.

In January 2016, the District of Saanich initiated a planning process to develop an Agriculture & Food Security Plan. The Plan outlines strategies, and provides a policy framework, to support agricultural practices and advance food security in the region. The Plan builds on the Agricultural Strategy for the Saanich Peninsula developed in 1997 by the municipalities of North Saanich, Central Saanich, Saanich and Sidney and will help enhance the viability and long-term sustainability of agriculture and food security in the District. This supports one of the priorities identified in their OCP.

The Plan focuses on specific actions that will enhance food security in the region as well as principles to guide future decision making. It sets a 15-year vision for Saanich to support a thriving, accessible, and environmentally responsible food system renowned for its vibrancy and resiliency that nourishes people, livelihoods, and relationships, works towards achieving self-sufficiency, and provides dignified access to affordable healthy food for all people. The goal is to ensure that land use practices in both urban and rural areas support ecosystems and provide a legacy for future generations.

The Plan builds upon existing planning and regulatory tools and aligns with regional and provincial policies (e.g. the Capital Regional District Food & Agriculture Strategy, and Provincial standards) to ensure that the framework established in the Plan is current, accurate, and defendable. Guided by expert knowledge and input from the task force, community members and stakeholders, the Plan identifies seven key themes to strengthen a sustainable food system and increase food security as well as implementation and monitoring / evaluation strategies.

The Plan was adopted by the District of Saanich Council in September 2018. Resources were dedicated to address the Plan’s Priority Actions.

Energy Savings/GHG reductions

Actions identified in Saanich’s Agriculture and Food Security Plan will support the District in achieving the recently set GHG reduction target of 80% below 2007 levels by 2050. Food production, processing, distribution, and sales account for a fifth of Saanich’s Carbon footprint. By reducing household waste, the community will reduce emissions while saving on transportation and waste collection costs. A strong focus on local and sustainable food systems is expected to result in emission reductions associated with food production, processing, and distribution. 

Business Case

The District of Saanich has consistently supported farming as an integral part of the community and has been progressive in planning and practice. Centrally located in the Capital Region and with half its land base as rural/agricultural, Saanich is uniquely positioned to support both traditional agricultural approaches and innovative urban food system initiatives. The Agriculture and Food Security Plan provides a unique opportunity to engage the community and pinpoint specific initiatives that can help address pressing issues and advance the local food economy.

The Plan highlights priority actions that will collectively increase production on agricultural lands and in urban areas, improve management of waste products and improve local food economy resources. Saanich Council has identified funding to support implementation of priority actions identified in the Plan, providing a strong foundation to initiate action.

Co-Benefits

In addition to making progress towards meeting the District’s GHG emissions reduction targets and actions, the Plan will:  

  • enhance the community’s ability to adapt and respond to potential external influences or events that impact access to food;
  • provide a stronger integration between farming and ecosystem management;
  • support a more sustainable and restorative approach to resource management; and
  • improve the contributions of farming to the local economy.

Lessons learned

Many lessons were learned during the development of the Plan. A key concern identified was the vulnerability of the agricultural sector. Factors contributing to this included: pressure on agricultural lands due to high land values, the creep of non-agricultural uses, and the increasing age of farmers. A key lesson learned was the strength of community capacity in Saanich. Residents who support the agricultural sector are engaged, informed, and capable of making positive change happen. Implementation of the objectives and the advancement of Plan priorities will rely on the community.

Challenges

As cities grow, the competition for land, and all its uses, increases. Housing, industrial and employment activities, ecological protection, and transportation routes are all needs that may conflict with agricultural objectives. Reducing this tension by identifying clear bylaws and policies, and increasing awareness of the value of local agriculture is key.

Tools and Resources

Provincial Policies

 

Other Examples: 

Local Government Contact

Cameron Scott, Manager of Community Planning

T: 250-475-7115

E: cameron.scott@saanich.ca

Images courtesy of District of Saanich

 

The District of Saanich has consistently supported farming as an integral part of the community and has been progressive in planning and practice. 

Community type: 
District/Region
Sector: 
Land Use
Focus: 
Community-wide
Strategy

Plan for Sustainable Salmo helps the Village’s Work toward achieving its GHG reduction targets

Village of Salmo
In 2016, The Village of Salmo, BC, initiated Sustainable Salmo, a planning process to update the Village’s Official Community Plan (OCP).

The Village of Salmo’s approach to this planning process was distinct in that they merged their OCP with an Integrated Community Sustainability Planning (ICSP) process. Sustainable Salmo also incorporates the results of the Strategic Community Energy and Emissions Plan (SCEEP) which clearly identifies actions the community is committed to engaging in to reduce their GHG emissions and energy consumption. The Plan is expected to go before the Council for adoption in summer 2019.

Success Story Snapshot
Energy Savings / GHG Reductions: Based on the SCEEP, the plan anticipates a 12% reduction of GHGs over the 2007 levels by 2020.
Business Case: The Village estimates that implementation of the SCEEP will result in community financial savings of 9% ($80,000) in 2020 over the business as usual scenario.
Co-benefits: Fostered community engagement and enhanced community health.
Total project cost: Total project cost was $109,000 - (SCEEP - $14,000 and OCP/ICSP - $95,000). Funding was provided through a $75,000 federal Gas Tax Fund contribution plus $30,000 contributed by the Village.

Project Summary

In 2016, the Village of Salmo chose to advance sustainability planning in their community through a project coined Sustainable Salmo.  Salmo embarked on a community driven OCP/ICSP hybrid process to produce a sustainable community planning document, complete with community GHG reduction targets from the SCEEP.  The community at large was engaged in the planning process through a number of activities including: community workshops, a lifestyle photo contest, a Sustainable Salmo video production, and a community survey.

Salmo’s 2015 SCEEP contains strategies to engage in multiple community improvement projects. As a result of this plan the Village has:

  • Relocated their farmers’ market to a central location that is within walking distance for most community members. Info-booths are regularly set up at this market and other community events to further discuss the SCEEP and its implementation;
  • Completed Phase 1 and Phase 2 of a plan to convert the community’s street lights to LEDs;
  • Supported Green initiatives through grant-in-aids;
  • Circulated Fortis BC rebate energy saving information throughout the community;
  • Assigned water ambassador and completed major SCADA upgrades to measure night time flow, water leakage, conserve water, energy, etc;
  • Adopted a policy to reserve CARIP funds for energy conservation;
  • Integrated actions outlined in the SCEEP into the Village’s Strategic Directions document;
  • Received grants to install a pedestrian bridge promoting Active Transportation;
  • Installed two TESLA EV stations in addition to the community purchased universal station.

The Village of Salmo also supports Fueling Changes in the Kootenays, a regional approach to transforming the rural landscape with greener transportation. The Sustainable Salmo plan is expected to go before the Council for adoption in summer 2019.

The Village’s Sustainable Salmo process was made possible with support from project partners including the Central Kootenay Regional District, Columbia Basin Trust, and Interior Health, working with the consultants.

 

Energy Savings/GHG reductions

The Village of Salmo’s SCEEP uses a community derived GHG target to reduce emissions levels.  Using data from the Province of BC’s 2010 CEEI reports, and assumptions developed by the project delivery agent, they have calculated that implementation of the Salmo SCEEP should result in a reduction of 794 tonnes of GHG emissions. This corresponds to a 12% reduction of GHGs over 2007 levels by 2020.

Business Case

The Village projects that implementation of the SCEEP will result in community financial savings of 9% ($80,000) in 2020 over the business as usual scenario.

The Village received $75,000 from a federal gas tax grant for this project. The Village also really appreciates the support that the Columbia Basin Trust and Fortis BC offered through the Strategic Community Energy and Emissions Planning project.

Co-Benefits

Enhanced Community Health

An Age Friendly Action Plan was adopted within the overall strategic plan, incorporating many active transportation and community enhancement projects. This includes plans to enhance the recently installed pedestrian bridge for usability, safety and accessibility for all especially seniors and youth (through measures including bridge cover, lighting, and signage). From a health perspective, the Village anticipates that the Strategic Plan will contribute to a societal shift towards more active travel by increasing the availability of physical activity options for all community members.

Fostered Community Engagement

The community planning process provided the opportunity for residents and community groups to come together, to work on common goals and contribute towards development of a new OCP that is truly community driven.  This approach has fostered a positive spirit of community and engagement.

Recognition

 

Lessons learned

As a result of this project, the local government identified what the residents of Salmo enjoy about their community. The local government also learned the value of asking residents to identify which community features they value as assets. These lessons are highlighted in the “Where all Roads Lead” video which showcases the community priorities, assets, values and vision of the people of Salmo.

Related Tools

Other Examples: 

Local Government Contact

Anne Williams

Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Salmo

T: 250 357 9433

E: cao@salmo.ca

Images courtesy of Village of Salmo 

 

Sustainable Salmo is a planning process to update the Village’s Official Community Plan while incorporating Integrated Community Sustainability Planning principles in a way that is sustainable and inclusive. The new plan will shape our future.

Focus: 
Community-wide
Related tools: 
Asset Management for Sustainable Service Delivery
Integrated Community Sustainability Planning ICSP
Official Community Plan (OCP)
Sector: 
Land Use
Community type: 
Small community

Solar Colwood – engaging community in energy conservation and renewable energy

Colwood, BC
In 2015, the community of Colwood BC completed its four year community wide mission to engage local citizens in energy saving and GHG reducing initiatives within their homes and municipality.

As a result of this project, Colwood has now earned a place as one of Canada’s leading communities in energy conservation and renewable energy.

Success Story Snapshot
Energy Savings / GHG Reductions: On average, households that participated in the project saw a reduction in energy consumption of 37% and of GHG by 43% over a 2 year period. Energy upgrades promoted and provided through Solar Colwood combined incentives resulted in energy savings of 4.96 million kWh/year and GHG reductions of 651 tonnes of C02e/year.
Business Case: The total energy savings from all participants is estimated around $525,552 every year at 2015 energy prices.
Co-benefits: Solar Colwood provided jobs, training, and scholarships to community members, supported local artists through participation in and sponsorship of prizes for art shows, encouraged a culture of conservation in the region, and supported the development of green technology.
Total project cost: The total cost of this project was $11.9 million: Natural Resources Canada provided $3.9 million. Additional grants were provided by BC Hydro, the province of BC’s LiveSmart program, and Fortis BC. The project also benefitted from about $2.7M in-kind contributions from a number of other partners. Participants in the program also contributed by investing in energy saving home retrofits at reduced rates.

Project Summary

Solar Colwood was a community-wide project that engaged residents of Colwood BC in renewable energy and energy saving projects in their homes and local community. This project was developed in response to findings published by Colwood’s Task Force on Energy and Emissions which showed that, in order for the community to reach its Climate Action Charter commitments, existing buildings in the community would need to be retrofitted with renewable energy and energy saving upgrades.

The four-year project was completed in 2015 and resulted in over 500 residents (3.11% of the population) achieving over 1000 improvements in their community. These improvements included installing solar hot water systems, ductless split heat pumps, electric vehicle charging stations, solar photovoltaics, and smart home monitoring systems. The City also provided free energy and water savings kits and discounted EnerGuide home evaluations to enable home and business owners to access incentives for upgrades from various incentive programs. Colwood became a Canadian leader in per capita solar retrofits and the City of Colwood redefined itself as a regional and provincial leader in energy conservation and renewable energy.

Solar Colwood was supported through the Federal Government’s Clean Energy Fund.  Additional funding and technical support was contributed by Solar Colwood’s other partners including: The T’Sou-ke First Nation, Royal Roads University, Horizon Technologies, SolarBC, League Assets, the Province of British Columbia, Camosun College Pipe Trades Department, Horizon Technologies, B.C. Hydro, Fortis BC, Ministries of the Province of British Columbia, SolarBC, The Canadian Solar Cities Project, The WestShore Chamber of Commerce, Vancity’s Bright Ideas, The New Car Dealers Association of BC, The Capital Regional District.

Energy Savings/GHG reductions

The original energy and emissions target of over 33% GHG reduction for existing buildings when compared to the 2007 baseline was exceeded. On average, household upgrades implemented through the Solar Colwood project resulted in a community wide energy savings of 4.96 million kWh/year (enough to power 182 average homes in BC) and greenhouse gas reductions of 651 tonnes of C02e/year (the equivalent of taking 119 cars off the road each year).

The reductions in energy use measured per household participating in Solar Colwood were higher than those experienced with other programs. The Royal Roads University’s Monitoring Study identified that Solar Colwood participating households reduced energy consumption on average by 37% two years after the installation while GHG emissions were reduced by 43% on average over the same study period.

Single family homes participating in both ecoENERGY and LiveSmart BC incentive programs achieved an average energy savings of only 15-28% annually. The higher average annual energy savings experienced by Solar Colwood program participants is attributed to residents completing multiple upgrades in addition to installing solar hot water. Reductions can also be attributed to participants changing behavior as a result of them committing to take on an energy leadership role in the community.

Business Case

Providing a clear business case to residents was key to Solar Colwood’s success. Solar Colwood provided customized analysis for each potential participant on the costs and energy savings that would be achieved through the upgrades the City was providing incentives for. Residents were also provided discounted home energy evaluations so that they could make informed choices priorities for energy upgrades.

The business case for the overall Solar Colwood program is solid. The Solar Colwood project cost approximately $11.9 M and was partially funded with $3.9 million worth of grants from Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Energy Fund. The total energy savings resulting from this project represented a collected reduced energy cost in the community of an estimated $525,552 every year at current energy prices. This equals more money for residents to purchase goods and services in the community. In addition, the project generated almost $2.7M of in-kind support.

Co-Benefits

In addition to reducing GHG emissions and reducing energy consumption in the area, Solar Colwood generated several co-benefits.

  • Colwood is now a Canadian leader in per-capita solar thermal retrofits, second only to the T’Sou-ke First Nation with a total of 82 private solar hot water systems installed across the entire Capital Region.
  • One of the outcomes of the program was a strong demand for the ductless heat pumps technology with 100% of available incentive funds fully allocated for the installation of 120 heat pumps well before the project’s end.
  • Eleven T’Sou-ke Nation members became CanSIA certified solar installers. The training and work experience provided through Solar Colwood not only provided skills and jobs in solar installation, but also provided encouragement and confidence for trainees. Additionally, four solar installers received Solar Colwood scholarships for the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Entry Level Solar.
  • Solar Colwood directly supported the development of new energy conservation and heating system technologie such as “Smart Home For Us”, which is a unique monitoring and management system that improves energy literacy to encourage reduced energy waste.
  • By driving local demand for solar thermal technology, Solar Colwood indirectly supported the development of the CamoSun solar hot water system designed by a local company, Pacific Solar Smart, with assistance from Camosun College.
  • Solar Colwood helped reduce annual water consumption by 11.4 million litres by providing free Tap by Tap energy and water saving kits.
  • Colwood residents are able to power their vehicles with solar electricity they’ve harvested on their own rooftops.
  • Program participants are enjoying financial benefits too. Collective reduced energy costs from upgrades incentivized and/or promoted by Solar Colwood are estimated to be over half a million dollars ($525,552) every year at current energy prices.
  • Colwood’s Fire Station was equipped with solar thermal and solar PV systems that are now providing renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and shrinking the City’s energy bills.

Lessons learned


The Value of Human Capital in Community-wide Projects



The process of organizing and implementing the Solar Colwood project showed that these kinds of projects depend on the leadership, co-operation and shared ambition of many individuals. Installers, suppliers and energy advisors are a valuable resource for marketing these types of programs. Likewise, having support and champions on council and among staff is essential. All departments, especially Finance, Building, Planning and Engineering must be involved.

The Benefits of Low Cost, Low Barrier, Climate Actions 

Solar Colwood’s success demonstrates that incorporating low‐cost, low‐barrier measures to achieve GHG reductions in a large number of buildings can be a very effective way to work toward achieving GHG reduction targets

Community-wide Change Takes Time

Public understanding of the benefits of solar technology can take years to develop. For local governments aiming to encourage the development of emerging industries, long-term support is highly recommended.

Flexibility is Key to Success

Every community is different so taking an adaptive approach to learning is very important. . Maintaining a flexible approach to renewable energy, energy efficiency and smart home initiatives is especially important as these technologies are rapidly evolving. Staying up to date and keeping programs flexible allows communities to respond to and take advantage of these changes.

Challenges

Large Upfront Costs and Long Payback Periods

While there is a solid business case for solar hot water systems and other energy retrofits for suitable buildings in Colwood, home and business owners are still reluctant to invest their money upfront to benefit from savings in the long term. Future programs must continue to experiment with measures to overcome this barrier.

More details on this project are outlined in the Solar Colwood Outreach Report.

Related Tools

Other Examples: 

Two other BC communities that have successfully undertaken solar energy projects include:

Local Government Contact

Sandra Russell 

Communications Manager, City of Colwood

T: 250-478-5999

E: srussell@colwood.ca

Images courtesy of City of Colwood

 

“We’ve reduced our energy consumption and GHG emissions, improved our community’s resilience, supported local clean energy jobs, and gained local and international recognition.” - Colwood Mayor Carol Hamilton

Community type: 
Mid-sized city
Sector: 
Energy
Focus: 
Community-wide

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