 MEDIA RELEASE |
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MEDIA RELEASE |
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A Different Kind of "Green" Boot Camp
Industry, Governments, and NGOs to Gather at The Banff Centre to Learn About Sustainable Development
Energy shortages. Water quality. Genetic engineering. Clearcutting. Global climate change. The issues are many, and tension is mounting, with no easy solutions in sight. This spring, as companies, governments and activists prepare for all-out war on social and environmental battlefronts, the Banff Centre for Management is offering a peaceful and enlightening alternative: a three-day intensive course on sustainable development.
"A new way of thinking is emerging that seeks to strike a fair balance between environmental protection, social responsibility and economic growth," says Marian Johnston-Harvie, The Banff Centre’s director of Environmental Leadership. "Instead of plotting in back rooms how to fight with each other, smart organizations are learning that doing the right things can gain them a competitive advantage. And the Centre is providing leaders in business, NGOs, and government with the tools they need to make the right things happen in the workplace."
Johnston-Harvie says despite current threats to the environment and the health of society, a sustainable approach is possible. "The key is to integrate sustainable business practices into our organizations – in how we plan projects, how we construct them, and how we operate from day to day. By doing this we make an investment in the health of the planet, and at the same time we help ensure the survival of our industries over the long term."
The Banff Centre for Management’s new program, Integrating Sustainable Development Practices, is part of the Environmental Leadership area, and runs April 1st- 3rd at The Banff Centre. The course covers everything from an overview of current thinking on sustainable development to practical ways to implement sustainability principles into any organization. Topics include: measuring your environmental footprint; developing a vision of sustainability; how to effectively communicate with stakeholders; how to enlist employee support for sustainable development initiatives; and how to measure an organization’s progress as it moves toward sustainability.
The Banff Centre is Canada's only post-secondary institution dedicated to the arts, leadership development, and mountain culture. Programs are designed to enrich professional practice beyond the realm of traditional education. The Centre's unique mountain environment and multidisciplinary setting reflect a commitment to personal growth and lifelong learning.
Contacts:
Marian Johnston-Harvie, director of Environmental Leadership programs, The Banff Centre
for Management. Ph. 403.762.7583
Sabrina Grobler, media relations, The Banff Centre. Ph. 403.762.6487 or 403.571.1821