Sustainable Sackville

Sustainable Sackville Vision for 2040

Sackville embraces sustainability as the foundation for our environmental, social and economic well-being.

Our quality of life is rooted in Sackville’s healthy natural environment and resilient local economy and is enhanced by significant cultural opportunities. As a vibrant University town, Sackville celebrates diversity, compassion, and a sense of local pride in our safe, walkable streets, our well-used parks and green spaces, and our wide range of social, educational, and recreational opportunities for individuals and families.

As citizens, we work actively to achieve community improvements that are measured against sustainability principles. We are recognized, young and old, for our commitment to charitable, volunteer and stewardship efforts.

Our legacy to future generations is a community that is cleaner, greener, healthier, and more prosperous than ever before. To that end, we work tirelessly to reduce waste, diminish pollution, conserve energy and encourage healthy, active living.

Adopted by Sackville Town Council, May 14, 2010

Implementation: The Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee

The Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee (SSSC) was created in winter 2012 to support Town Council's commitment to transition into a more sustainable community. After the establishment of a new Council in spring 2012, the SSSC has used the summer to organize and begin planning ways to enhance the town's economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee Resources:

Meeting Minutes July 2012 - Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee (42.6 KB PDF) Meeting Minutes August 2012 - Sustainable Sackville Steering Committee (68.5 KB PDF)

Town Hall

Sustainable Sackville: Our Town's Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP)

Sustainable Sackville is an initiative undertaken by the Town of Sackville in partnership with the Tantramar Planning District Commission, known formally as an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP). A sustainability plan includes environmental, social, and economic goals for the community.

This initiative involved extensive public consultation to develop a number of recommendations on how Sackville can become sustainable over the course of a 30 year period, beginning in 2010. After two months of public consultation through a series of open systems discussions, six weeks of review and analysis of discussion notes, a Council/staff workshop, and a public open house, the final Sustainable Sackville report was presented to the public on October 12, 2010.

Our thanks are extended to all who participated in focus groups and open discussions for the Sustainable Sackville initiative. Groups included:

Many non-profit representatives

Municipal staff

Tantramar High Students

Salem School students

Marshview Middle School students

Parents from the Parent-tot group

Parents at Family Literacy Day

Informal social groups

Mount Allison geography classes

Mount Allison staff

Rotary

Business community members

Community members at our community breakfast

The final document covers the entire process, as well as a compilation of findings under twelve themes. These themes were identified repeatedly by community participants during the Sustainable Sackville process. The document also identifies key players in the municipal process, indicators of succes, and suggestions for individual residents for moving forward with sustainability in their own lives.

Principles for Sustainable Sackville Endorsed by Council

1) Balanced Approach - Provide a balanced long-term vision for Sackville based on the three pillars of sustainability - economic, social and environmental - and their interrelationships.

2) Build on Strengths - Recognize and build on the distinctive characteristics of Sackville, including human and cultural values, history, and natural ecosystems.

3) Quality of Life – Focus on enhancing quality of life based on social, economic and environmental indicators.

4) Respect for Nature – In decision making and actions, the Town will strive to minimize its negative impact on the environment.

5) Community-Based – Strive to engage as many community members as possible establishing the vision and goals to meet collective needs.

6) Focus on Relationships and Communications - Foster communication and build relationships among community groups, organizations, institutions and other municipalities to emphasize sustainability and resiliency as a common goal.

Sustainable Sackville Resources:

Sustainable Sackville Report (6.9 MB PDF)
Appendix A - Sackville Profile (371 KB PDF)
Appendix B: Community Engagement (205 KB PDF)
Appendix C: Community System Discussions (202 KB PDF)
Appendix D: Sackville Strategic Plan 2009 (99 KB PDF)
Appendix E: Framework for Assessing Actions and Projects (166 KB PDF)

**Additional Sustainable Sackville Background Information:**

Sustainable Sackville Report

Celebrating Success:

After more than a year of work on various activities several key outcomes have been realized as a result of Sustainable Sackville.

TEAM - Habitat Project is an exciting community project that will see a Habitat for Humanity House built by Tantramar Regional High School Construction students in 2012. Various fundraisers are being planned, and the community will be invited to participate in many ways. Watch the Tribune for details. For more information, contact Tracey Wade, TEAM-Habitat Committee Chair at tracey.wade@tantramarplanning.ca
Green Development Standards in Sackville
The Town of Sackville received an Environmental Trust Fund grant to research options for "green" development within the town. This research focused on three key ideas: water conservation and retention; alternative energy; and green building standards. FACT sheets, the executive summary and a full report are available for the public to consider.
Green Development Standards for Sackville - Full Report (750 KB PDF)
Executive Summary - Green Development Standards Report (280 KB PDF)
Green Building Standards (121 KB PDF)
Water Conservation FAQ (143 KB PDF)
Low Impact Development FAQ (119 KB PDF)
Rain Garden FAQ (174 KB PDF)
Pervious Pavement FAQ (131 KB PDF)
Micro Wind FAQ (116 KB PDF)
Solar Siting FAQ (143 KB PDF)

TEAM logo

Tantramar 2040

The Town of Sackville, along with the Villages of Memramcook, Port Elgin and Dorchester, Fort Folly First Nation and rural communities in between took part in a regional sustainability initiative. Facilitated by Tantramar Planning District Commission and EOS Eco-Energy, the goal of the initiative was to identify common issues of sustainability that can be best addressed from a regional perspective. This work built on municipal sustainability and green plans. For more information, go to www.Tantramar2040.ca.

Tantramar 2040 Plan

YOUR Seven Wonders of Sackville

The community has selected the top 7 "wonders of Sackville". 215 votes were received with all 14 nominations receiving support. Many thanks to those who contributed nominations or voted.

And the Winners are (in no particular order):

Waterfowl Park

Mount Allison University

Tantramar Marshes

Mel's Tea Room

Covered Bridge

Silver Lake

Swan Pond

These 7 Wonders all contribute to our community's quality of life and have impacts socially, economically, and to our local environment. If you haven't yet experienced one of our 7 Wonders, we encourage you to check them out!

Swan Pond