Lessons from a Community-Based Process in Regional Sustainability Indicator Selection: The Case of the Regional Vancouver Urban Observatory

Abstract

From October 2005 to April 2006, the Regional Vancouver Urban Observatory (RVu) conducted the most comprehensive public engagement process that the Vancouver region has had to date for the purpose of deriving key indicators of sustainable development. The RVu study group process was an original design to draw out new and unique ideas about best measures of sustainability from Vancouver residents. A diversity of residents from all walks of life participated in the process. This chapter describes the process undertaken and offers a critical assessment of the experience of participants in the process. The RVu case offers proof that citizen volunteers are willing and able to take on a complex and lengthy engagement process that requires integrated thinking, leadership, commitment, dedication, and lacks a very clear political channel or immediate means for policy uptake. This kind of process could be further refined and supported in order to improve and make more predictable and rewarding the policy outcomes and reinforce the characteristics and citizenship values of participants.