Media Advisory - FCM's 2010 Sustainable Communities Conference And Trade Show
to offer practical solutions for municipalities, February 10-12, 2010, in
Ottawa

OTTAWA , Jan. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - The Federation of Canadian Municipalities' (FCM) Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show, Canada's pre-eminent event for municipal leaders to exchange ideas and solutions on sustainable development, is scheduled to take place in Ottawa , February 10-12, 2010.

This year's conference, entitled "Growing the Green Economy: Practical Solutions for Sustainable Communities", will provide delegates with the tools they need to champion municipal sustainability issues when they return home after the conference. Workshops, presentations, study tours and and networking sessions will demonstrate how local governments can make their municipal operations more energy- and cost-efficient, and also support the growth of green sector jobs.

The 2010 conference also marks a significant milestone for FCM: the 10th anniversary of FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF). GMF is a unique program providing grants and below-market loans to support municipal initiatives across Canada that benefit the environment, local economies and quality of life. To date, FCM has committed more than $400 million to support over 730 sustainable studies and projects. These GMF-supported initiatives have the potential to leverage almost $2.2 billion of economic activity in nearly 350 communities across Canada .

    
    What:  FCM's 2010 Sustainable Communities Conference and Trade Show

    When: February 10-12, 2010

    Where:  Westin Hotel, Ottawa, Ont.

    Program highlights:

    Tuesday, February 9
        6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. - FCM's Green Municipal Fund (GMF)
        10th anniversary reception - Governor General Ballroom, Westin Hotel
        RSVP: [email protected] by Tuesday, February 2

    Wednesday, February 10
        1:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. - Keynote address - Confederation
        Ballroom II/III
        Avi Friedman, green architect, professor and columnist

    Thursday, February 11
        9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. - Keynote address - Confederation Ballroom
        II/III
        Steven Guibeault, deputy executive director of Équiterre

        1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. -  Keynote address - Confederation Ballroom
        II/III
        Bob Willard, leading expert in corporate sustainability. His
        presentation at FCM's 2008 sustainability conference was
        standing-room only attendance.

    Friday, February 12
        11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch/Keynote Address - Confederation
        Ballroom II/III
        Lester R. Brown, founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute

    For additional information concerning:
        -  Conference information including full program, schedule and
           biographies of speakers and presenters: www.fcm.ca/scc
        -  Trade show and sponsorship opportunities: Caroline Vanasse,
           613-907-6348 or [email protected].
    

Media access:

All media are asked to report to the media room (Manitoba Room, 2nd Floor, The Westin Hotel) to collect a conference pass. For security reasons, identification or proof of assignment will be requested. For advance registration, contact Janiece Walsh , 613-907-6269 or [email protected]. To confirm your attendance at the pre-conference GMF 10th anniversary reception, please RSVP to Magali Leblanc at [email protected] by Tuesday, February 2 .

For further information: Interviews: For more information or to arrange an interview: Maurice Gingues, [phone] or [email protected]