More Information
For more information See the Smart Planning for Communities Business Plan. Download the SPC brochure for local government Download the SPC brochure for First Nations goverments Download the Smart Energy Planning Brochure
Please also feel free to contact: Maureen LeBourdais |
Staff & FacilitatorsSPC offers practical and current information and advice on integrated community sustainability planning from expert Sustainability Facilitators located across British Columbia. Our Sustainability Facilitators are located in Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, Cranbrook and Williams Lake. Visit our Services page to find details on Facilitation services.
Stacy Barter, Sustainability Facilitator
Stacy is a sustainability facilitator working in partnership between BC Healthy Communities and Smart Planning for Communities. She helps to build the capacity of communities and organizations become healthier and more sustainable. Stacy has extensive experience leading and facilitating diverse capacity building initiatives, and specializes in community leadership, multi-sector collaboration, and public engagement. Her recent work focuses on public engagement on climate change, health & sustainability, neighbourhood-based engagement, and community dialogue. Stacy has been involved in sustainable community development for over 15 years, working with a wide range of communities, non-profit, and public sector organizations in Canada and Latin America. Maggie Cahoon, Program AssistantC Maggie manages systems support for Smart Planning for Communities and the Invasive Plant Council of British Columbia. Maggie has worked in business administration for the past 17 years with a particular focus on emerging technologies and database management. Maggie enjoys keeping Smart Planning's extensive network and resource sharing up to date. She lives with her family in the Cariboo. Joan Chess MCIP, Sustainability Facilitator
Joan Chess is the Sustainability Facilitator for central and northern BC. Joan brings a practical approach to applying sustainability principles to community planning and can assist with all steps in a planning process, such as gathering information, analysis, community involvement, and even urban design for small communities. Her career includes working with provincial, local and First Nations governments, which provides an understanding of the inter-jurisdictional nature of planning and sustainability. Joan is currently the President for the Planning Institute of British Columbia. Joan loves the unique places and people of northern BC. When she's not on the road, she's usually playing with her horse or skiing with her family.
Maureen LeBourdais, SPC Senior Manager
Maureen LeBourdais manages the Smart Planning for Communities program and the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional office. She has over 16 years experience in community economic development and capacity-building in British Columbia, managing a range of environmental, economic and social planning initiatives. Before joining Smart Planning, Maureen was Coordinator of the BC Rural Network, a coalition of provincial and regional organizations formed to enhance the capacity of rural British Columbia to develop responses to community issues. Maureen’s passion is rural communities and continues to apply her expertise in rural capacity development in her work with the Fraser Basin Council. Jennifer Nichols, Communications Resource Coordinator
Jennifer develops Smart Planning’s outreach and communication initiatives including e-learning production, webinar support and crafting SPCs Stories in the Field. She also collects news, events and case studies about municipal climate action for the BC Climate Action Toolkit: toolkit.bc.ca. In past roles, Jennifer has worked with the City of Vancouver Sustainability Group, a zero waste project in northern BC and several publishing houses in Canada and the UK. Jennifer has completed degrees in Communication Design and Strategic Leadership towards Sustainability. Peter Ostergaard MCIP, Sustainability Facilitator
Peter Ostergaard is SPC’s province-wide Sustainability Facilitator with expertise in community energy planning. In his previous role as Assistant Deputy Minister in the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, he was responsible for many programs policies, and initiatives in community energy, energy efficiency, transportation, climate change, buildings, natural gas and electricity. He also served for six years as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the BC Utilities Commission. Peter lives in an energy efficient R2000 house he helped build almost 25 years ago, and looks after land use and development matters for his community association in Saanich. Donnella Sellars, SPC Program Coordinator
Donnella Sellars works province-wide for SPC with local and First Nations governments on relationship building processes. She brings an excellent understanding of Comprehensive Community Planning to the Smart Planning for Communities Program. Donnella’s knowledge of negotiations, First Nations culture, administration and coordination adds an invaluable dimension to Fraser Basin Council services. Donnella Sellars is from Xat’sūll (Soda Creek) First Nation and was involved in the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw Treaty Negotiations for ten years. She believes that if communities are given a chance to recognize, reconcile, and develop a common vision they will be able to work together for future generations. Erin Vieira, Facilitator & Assistant Regional Manager for the Fraser Basin Council
T: 250 314-9660 | E: Erin provides sustainability facilitation for the Smart Planning for Communities Program in the Thompson and Okanagan regions. Erin has seven years of experience facilitating complex environmental and natural resource management issues. Her greatest interest lies in inter-jurisdictional collaborative solutions to sustainability issues. Erin has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management. She grew up in the small mountain community of Revelstoke, and now lives in Kamloops with her family and has an extensive knowledge of the Thompson region |
Discuss sustainability issues and network with the Smart Planners on the 
Vancouver Island Office: Victoria
ariboo-Chilcotin Office: Williams Lake
Northern Interior Office: Prince George
Cariboo-Chilcotin Office: Williams Lake
Province-wide support: Victoria
Province-Wide Energy Specialist: Victoria
Cariboo-Chilcotin Office: Williams Lake
Thompson Regional Office: Kamloops