Pondering resilient communities

Prince Street, Halifax. (Novascotia.com)

Experts agree: resilient communities are healthy communities. The decisions we make today about their character and form shape choices for future generations.

How do we ensure that our towns and cities are able to withstand the challenges of the next century? Will our descendants thank us for our choices? These questions will be the focus of the Killam Lecture Series for 2007-08, hosted by Dalhousie's Faculty of Architecture and Planning.

This year's Killam Lectures are entitled "Resilient Communities: Envisioning and Acting for Sustainable Futures." Each of the speakers will address this theme from three perspectives: learning from the past, evaluating the present and envisioning the future.

Ken Greenberg

The first lecture of the series will be presented by award-winning architect and urban designer Ken Greenberg on Wednesday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the McInnes Room at the Dalhousie Student Union Building.

"Ken Greenberg's lecture will address the relationship between urban design and the public," says Terrance Galvin, director of the School of Architecture. "Mr. Greenberg directs an international practice in urban design and master planning for cities and towns that have undergone significant transformation to their industrial lands, waterfronts and civic spaces. His approach involves crossing traditional boundaries and working in team settings collaborating with professionals from a variety of disciplines."

"Over the next century our communities will face many challenges: natural, social, political and technological. The ones that are most resilient throughout these challenges will be the ones that remain healthy and sustainable," says Jill Grant, director of the School of Planning. "Everyone has an interest in healthy and resilient communities, and all of us will play a role in making decisions that will help keep our city viable in the future. We can learn a great deal from these speakers."

Ottawa city councillor and author Clive Doucet will speak on Jan. 30, 2008 while landscape architect, professor and urban designer Randolph Hester will lecture on Feb. 12, 2008. More information on the speakers and the series is available at: Killam Lecture Series 07/08.