FCM's Green Municipal Fund Supports the City of Parksville's Official Community Plan Review (19/12/2011)

Berry Vrbanovic, president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and councillor for the City of Kitchener, Ontario, and James Lunney, Member of Parliament for Nanaimo-Alberni, today announced a Green Municipal Fund^TM (GMF) grant contribution to the City of Parksville, British Columbia. Parksville will put the $81,400 in funding toward updating its Official Community Plan.

"FCM's Green Municipal Fund offers a range of resources and services that specifically address the sustainable community development needs of municipal governments," said Vrbanovic. "The financing and knowledge provided by the Fund supports the development of communities that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable."

"The Government of Canada is assisting municipalities across the country in achieving their goal of a cleaner and healthier environment for Canadians through the Green Municipal Fund," said Mr. Lunney. "Today's announcement is another example of how our government, in partnership with FCM, is helping Parksville build a greener future for our citizens."

With a permanent population of 12,000, a peak-season day population of 20,000 and changing conditions, Parksville must update its Official Community Plan (OCP). The new OCP will address key sustainability issues such as greenhouse gas emission reductions, capacity building, downtown revitalization, local economic development, sustainable tourism and shoreline protection. Parksville has identified increasing the density of the downtown core along transportation corridors in combination with pedestrian-oriented design and alternative modes of transportation as priorities.

The City will continue to engage a strong cross-section of local social, economic and environmental perspectives as part of the consultation process. The City of Parksville is part of the Regional District of Nanaimo and a partner in the Regional Growth Strategy that provides the umbrella planning document for the region.

"The City of Parksville is fortunate to have the funding support of the Green Municipal Fund," said Parksville Mayor Chris Burger. "With this partnership, the City will be in a position to complete the review and update of our Official Community Plan, ensuring that our future planning is sustainable for our residents for many years to come."

The Government of Canada endowed the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) with $550 million to establish the Green Municipal Fund™. The Fund supports partnerships and leveraging of both public and private-sector funding to reach higher standards of air, water and soil quality, and climate protection.

Parksville is located in the heart of the Oceanside region on Vancouver Island's sheltered east coast. Parksville is an active community of retirees and families with young children who have chosen to live in Parksville for the quality of life and the natural environment. 

For information:

Green Municipal Fund Maurice Gingues Media Relations Officer Green Municipal Fund Federation of Canadian Municipalities Tel.:  613-907-6399 Fax:  613-244-1515	City of Parksville Gayle Jackson Director of Community Planning City of Parksville Tel.:  250 954-4660	Natural Resources Canada Patricia Best Director of Communications Office of the Minister Natural Resources Canada Tel.:  613-996-2007 Media Relations Natural Resources Canada Tel.:  613-992-4447