At the 2018 Land Awards Gala, the Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) presented three Land Awards (for projects) as well as the Land Champion Award and Emerging Leader Award (which recognize individuals). These awards help to shine a spotlight on impactful projects and unsung heroes making a difference in BC communities.

The Foundation welcomed over 200 guests to a Gala event held on October 11 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood.

Erica Sigurdson, a Vancouver comedian known for her appearances on CBC’s The Debaters, emceed the event. A hit with guests, Erica’s sharp comedy poked fun at Vancouver’s housing prices, dating realities, and upcoming election. Renu Bakshi, a communications professional and business journalist, hosted the awards ceremony and shared stories from her childhood growing up on a blueberry farm.

The Land Awards Gala also featured live performances by local jazz band Van Django, a thought-provoking series of BC maps, and a plants-first dinner menu.

2018 Finalists and Winners

This year’s award winners are helping to drive systemic change in how we value land, design buildings, and govern freshwater resources.

Land Use and Conservation

WINNER: Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (Smart Prosperity Institute, Brooke and Associates, David Suzuki Foundation, and the Town of Gibsons)

Natural features and ecosystems (like marshes, forests, and shorelines) can deliver services (like stormwater absorption, water filtration, erosion control) to communities.The Municipal Natural Assets Initiative helps communities to “count” these natural assets and assign a value that’s equivalent to the service a human-built asset would provide. By counting nature as an asset, municipalities can make a strong financial case for protection and conservation, while relying less on engineered assets.

Finalists:

• BC First Nations Land Use Planning Handbook (Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council)
• Embracing Our Potential (Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association)

Built Environment

WINNER: BC Energy Step Code (Energy Step Code Council)

The Province of British Columbia has committed to ensuring that all new buildings will be net-zero energy-ready by 2032. To help the province reach this target, a group of industry and local government experts worked to develop the BC Energy Step Code. The BC Energy Step Code is all about energy performance. The Code sets energy efficiency targets, and challenges designers and builders to determine the best ways to meet them. To date, 15 local governments have adopted the BC Energy Step Code, and 16 more are considering doing so.

Finalists:

• Olivia Skye (Atira Development Society)
• BC’s Affordable Housing Plan (BC Non-Profit Housing Association)
• Nuutsumuut Lelum (Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre)

Fresh Water and Food Systems

WINNER: POLIS Water Sustainability Project (POLIS Project on Ecological Governance at the University of Victoria)

BC’s fresh water is our most precious natural resource. Laws and policies can be powerful tools for protecting our rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands. The POLIS Water Sustainability Project, based out of the University of Victoria, works to drive innovation in water law, policy, and governance. The POLIS team has led research influencing BC’s Water Sustainability Act. Today, they work with researchers, local governments, First Nations, and funders to make policy recommendations, support watershed governance, and build capacity for community water protection.

Finalists:

• Young Agrarians Land Matching Program (FarmFolk CityFolk)
• Southwest BC Food System Design Project (Institute for Sustainable Food Systems at Kwantlen Polytechnic University)

Emerging Leader Award

Veronika Bylicki and Tesicca Truong

Tesicca and Veronika are the co-founders of CityHive, an organization that works to engage youth in civic affairs and sustainability. Together, they’ve launched pop-up “think-and-do” tanks, formed youth hubs on city building, and advocated for youth inclusion in planning.

Land Champion Award

Lana Lowe

A Dene from Fort Nelson First Nation, Lana has worked to manage and protect water, land, and habitat in northeast British Columbia. As the Nation’s Director of Lands, Lana has worked with community members and industry to manage the impacts of oil and gas development in the Nation’s territory.

Lana established community-led research and water monitoring programs, collaborated with governments, industry, NGOs, and academia, and created a community databank that is used in impacts assessment, regulatory and policy review, land use planning, and legal actions that have resulted in the prevention of over-extraction of water for fracking and the protection of threatened caribou in the territory.

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Links:

• Finalist Videos
• Photo Gallery