Several related to the centre.

"It is exactly what is needed in virtually every community across Canada," MPP Donna Cansfield, the honourary patron for the World Green Building Council and a parliamentary assistant in the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, told the . "It's where you're going to assimilate and distribute information, gather best practices, allow people to look at their ecological footprint, do carbon deduction, and pulling in the community to give them the tools to have a better life. Not a bad idea, when you think about it."

The project also received on and by the .

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

The post South Simcoe Green Economy Transition Centre officially launches; 91亚色 among partners appeared first on Research & Innovation.

"The time has come that we all need to do things differently. Green is the only way to go," Tom Walsh, mayor of Adjala-Tosorontio, told the in their .

By Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

The post Buzz building for 91亚色's green economy partnership in South Simcoe appeared first on Research & Innovation.

Over the next three years, the centre will open and expand its programs to provide workshops, seminars and online webinars, education services, and databases containing 'green' best practice information and resources.

"It'll be a place where a business owner or homeowner can enter, and get information," said David Phipps, director of 91亚色's Office of Research Services. "We'll understand the information needs the business owner has, and then try to find that. We'll find the best information to help meet that need. The centre is a meeting place, where people can come and have multiple voices."

More details about the project are expected in March 2010.

Published with files courtesy of the .

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91亚色 students who are enrolled in courses affiliated with the University鈥檚 Experiential Education initiative get valuable opportunities to apply their skills to real world problems and situations.

Experiential Education (EE) is a form of engaged learning that blends theory and coursework with practical, hands-on experience. As part of their academic studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies students apply key course concepts to a wide variety of case studies and research projects involving both profit and non-profit organizations. The students work with faculty members who serve as guides in the background and scope of the projects.

Above: From left,聽Course director聽Frank Miele,聽91亚色 students Daniel Hernandez, Byung Mark Yoo, Tri Ngo, Xiaomin Liang and聽Waris Ali, Township of Adjala-Tosorontio municipal councillor Mary Brett, 91亚色 student Christina Kroner, and Margo Cooney and聽Valerie Ryan, representing the South Simcoe Economic Alliance

Most recently, six students in a fourth-year Regional Economic Development course聽taught by Frank Miele got a chance to present their research findings to representatives from their Experiential Education community partner, the (SSEA). The alliance is a partnership of three municipalities and聽the community economic development organization . The municipal partners in the聽SSEA are the , the and the . The region is home to two multinational industries, (automotive) and (pharmaceuticals),聽yet the lives of it citizens are also shaped through agriculture and many small and medium-sized businesses.

To realize the South Simcoe brand as 鈥淭he Best of All Worlds,鈥� the SSEA was seeking assistance from the team of 91亚色 students on a number of initiatives, including:

• guidance on attracting and retaining investment monies that will drive business growth and enhance the quality of life for the community;

• an analysis on the recommendations of strategic/core activities arising from two background reports 鈥撀爐he Economic Competitive Analysis Project聽and Competitive Analysis 2004;

• a review and analysis of the SSEA Web site, including benchmarking it against other Canadian regional economic alliances.

After spending much of the聽fall term researching and working on their project, assisted by Miele,聽the students were finally ready to make their presentation and deliver their written report and executive summary to the SSEA.聽On Dec. 9,聽91亚色 students Daniel Hernandez, Byung Mark Yoo, Tri Ngo, Xiaomin Liang,聽Waris Ali聽and Christina Kroner delivered their recommendations to SSEA representatives Valerie Ryan and Margo Cooney of Nottawasaga Futures and聽Township of Adjala-Tosorontio councillor Mary Brett.

"This project is the capstone endeavour for students enrolled in a regional economic development course," explained Geoff Webb (right), manager of Experiential Education at 91亚色. "We found a great team and hit the ground running." Webb commended the students, who started the project on Oct. 18. "You had a lot of work to do and you've done a great job. This form of learning is a great way for students to apply what they've learned and give back to the University's community partners."

In their presentation, the students recommended that the communities in the SSEA聽view economic development as an investment and expand budget allocation to support economic growth activities. They聽said聽that South Simcoe should take a stronger leadership role in promoting the region to the Greater Toronto Area and that聽local economic developers should establish a partnership fund to leverage joint marketing initiatives. Included in their presentation were specific recommendations on transforming the SSEA Web site into a more user-friendly,聽marketing tool.聽The students said the SSEA should聽also integrate programs and services to retain and attract business investment and accelerate job creation by developing employment parks that聽have municpal services, are聽readily available and prominent to possible developers.

Kroner, speaking on behalf of the students,聽said the EE experience 鈥渨as a fantastic educational experience that brought our learning to life. The discussion that followed the presentation was very stimulating.鈥�

Ryan thanked the students for their dedication and said she appreciated the depth and clarity of recommendations from students. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate our partnership with 91亚色," said Ryan, who is the CEO of Nottawasaga Futures. 鈥淭he students displayed a high level of integrity,鈥� she said.

Cooney is聽a community economic development officer with Nottawasaga Futures and served as the team's contact. "The team was wonderful to work with and I really enjoyed the experience," she said.

There is the potential to carry the SSEA project and some of the conclusions reached by the students into future semesters, said Webb.

In addition to the SSEA project, 91亚色 students are working with a number of community partners on projects, including the YMCA, UNICEF, the Ontario Non-Profit Network, the Canadian Red Cross, CBC, the University Health Network and numerous other organizations.

驰辞谤办鈥檚 Knowledge Mobilization Unit is also working to expand 91亚色's relationship with SSEA and has , both 91亚色 graduate students funded through the , to assist in developing the Nottawasaga Futures Green Transformation Program.

For more information, visit the Experiential Education Web site or contact Geoff Webb, manager of Experiential Education.

Complied with聽files from , 91亚色's Knowledge Mobilization blog. Republished courtesy of YFile 鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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