Early Adopter Case Studies – From Understanding to Action

In 2005, the Early Adopters participated in five two-day workshops and completed assignments to:

• Learn what sustainability is and why it is needed;
• Evaluate their own organization’s sustainability performance;
• Develop a sustainability vision for their organizations;
• Create an action plan that would move them toward that vision; and
• Work together to share their knowledge with the rest of the community. 

The following case studies are based on the work done by the Early Adopters during the course of the training.  Although all of the case studies follow a similar format, they are by no means similar in content and emphasis, reflecting the different organizations and personalities involved in the training.

Town of Canmore

The Town of Canmore is a rapidly growing mountain community located just to the east of Banff National Park.  Surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and a limited land base, the Town is faced with many sustainability challenges.  The Town has chosen to adopt the holistic principals of the Natural Step as a way to deal with the inherently complex issues facing the community. 

Prior to adopting the Natural Step, the Town was already well developed in their sustainability thinking, with an Environmental Care Program, wildlife corridors and managment, and a new LEED Certified Civic Centre.  Through the Natural Step, the Town has expanded its thinking with regards to sustainability and is working on integrating these principles throughout all facets of its operations, including capital purchases, construction guidelines, development planning, and developing a community sustainability plan.  Download Case Study

Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company

The Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company merges four interconnected businesses: wholesale, restaruant, mobile catering, and a community society.  The company was founded on principles of sustainability, natural ingredients, and community.  As part of their action plan the Rocky Mountain Flatbread Company decreased fossil fuel and energy use, changed to more environmentally friendly cleaning products, and developed a series of detailed ideas and plans for their soon to be opened location in Vancouver. Download Case Study

Canmore Public Library

The Canmore Public Library is an important hub of community education and activity.  The library undertook a baseline analysis of their operations, and then developed a sustainability plan in alignment with the principles of the Natural Step. 

As part of their action plan the library has replaced their old paper book transport bags with a new reusable bag system, and has streamlined their individual computer systems to a network with multiple stations running off of a single server to reduce electricity consumption and hardware purchasing requirements.  As a source for learning and information dissemination in the community, the library is a key contact point for sustainability resources for residents.  Download Case Study 

Polar Pin

Polar Pin is a promotional products company with a product line of custom designed lapel pins, badges, souvenir spoons, embroidered crests, and various other products.  Polar Pin has begun to implement sustainability initiatives in the procurement, operations, and sales segments of the business.  Initiatives include reducing paper and energy use in the office, developing "green" procurement policies with suppliers, striving for a "carbon-neutral" operation, and embedding sustainability messaging in their sales and promotions.  Download Case Study 

Bow Valley Waste Management Commission (BVWMC)

The Bow Valley Waste Management Commission (BVWMC) is a cross-jurisdictional body that provides comprehensive solid waste management services to the Bow Valley Region. In addition to managing the solid waste for the region the BVWMC is involved in a number of initiatives including recycling education, e-waste collection, school recycling programs, a yard waste recycling program, and a demonstration composting program. Download Case Study  

Canmore Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre

The Canmore Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre is owned and managed by CHIP Real Estate Investment Trust.  The facility has a rating of 3 Green Keys under the Green Key ECOmmodation Rating Program.  Under the Green Key program the Canmore Radisson had initiated a number of energy and water saving programs.  Under the Natural Step program the Radission is planning to expand their sustainability efforts and to place more emphasis on the social aspects of sustainability as well.  Planned initiatives include customer and employee training in the areas of recycling, waste reduction, and sustainable transportation; a new recycling centre for the facility; and a water audit to decrease water consumption. Download Case Study

Canmore Seniors Association

The Canmore Seniors Association is a community group with close to 500 members.  The association helps seniors meet their social and recreational needs and advocates for them in the community.  The Canmore Seniors Centre is owned and operated by the association.  As part of the operations plan for the centre, the Seniors Association is introducing and action plan to increase recycling, decrease energy use, and promote the use of "green" cleaning products. Download Case Study

Three Sisters Mountain Village is a major resort development in Canmore.  A major component of the resort is the Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club which opened in the year 2000.  Stewart Creek had already been working on environmental planning with the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, and decided to apply the principles of the Natural Step to the Turf and Environmental Care Program.  During the training program the participants began to see how the TNS Framework could be applied to other aspects of the operation, and the resort as a whole.  Download Case Study