The members of the Cranbrook Connected committee are excited to announce the recent hiring of Dana Osiowy (pictured) as Sustainability Coordinator to help implement goals in “Connecting to our Future,” a long term community sustainability plan for Cranbrook.

According to Cranbrook Connected chair Chris Ayling, the hiring of a sustainability coordinator was written into the final Plan document and is a key action for moving ahead.

“We undertook over four months of public consultations. We came up with a sustainability plan built around eight “big ideas.” Those big ideas contained fifty specific action items that would help Cranbrook move towards a more sustainable community,” explained Ayling. “However, we knew that the actions might sit on the shelf if we didn’t have someone working with us to get things moving. Dana is going to help make that happen.”

Ayling advised that since Osiowy came on board her main focus has been to facilitate connections between what community and service groups are already doing in town, as well as helping those who want to partner in tackling other sustainability goals in the plan.

Osiowy brings an extensive background in community development and communications, including Youth Liaison for the Columbia Basin Trust, Chair of the Social Planning Council of Cranbrook, and most recently as Executive Director for Big Brother Big Sisters of Cranbrook.  She was especially interested in the unique nature of the coordinator position, working with the citizen volunteers on Cranbrook Connected.

“I was impressed by Cranbrook Connected’s creative approach,” said Osiowy. “Cities across B.C. are being challenged to do more with less, and this is an innovative way to try to harness the great work that is already being done in many areas of our community.”

Osiowy pointed out that over the past year a significant portion of the plan’s goals have been achieved. “Since the launch of the Plan one year ago, almost half of the 50 sustainability goals have either been achieved or are in process. The city, community groups and individuals have really embraced the concept of sustainability and that we should be building a stronger community for those who come after us.”

The cranbrookconnected.ca web site was recently updated to reflect the latest achievements and to provide regular updates as our community continues to tackle the remaining sustainability goals.

The current members of Cranbrook Connected are:

Chris Ayling – Economic Development Committee

Dave Butler – Advisory Planning Commission

Patricia Whalen – Cranbrook in Motion Committee

Jeanette Sissons – Environment and Utilities Committee

Gord Johnston – Family and Community Services Committee

Garry Anderson – Wellness and Heritage Committee

Iain MacLeod – Downtown Business Association

Denise Pallesen – City Council Representative

“Connecting to our Future” can be viewed at cranbrookconnected.ca

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