WINTER CITIES INSTITUTE UPDATE
February, 2010
News and happenings from the Winter Cities Institute
Greetings to members and friends of Winter Cities. As the hours of daylight grow longer here in Anchorage, it has been encouraging to see the interest in the Winter Cites Institute grow as well.
This update will provide an overview of the activities of the Winter Cities Institute, as well as information from members and friends. We welcome submissions of information about what is happening in your community, questions, comments and ideas to make the Institute better. Read More... |
Anchorage skaters enjoy a
superb mid-winter day |
WINTER CITIES INSTITUTE UPDATE
November, 2009
News and happenings from the Winter Cities Institute
www.wintercities.com
Greetings to friends of Winter Cities
The winter season has arrived in Anchorage, Alaska. A positive for the below zero (F) temperatures experienced this early in the winter is that +10 F now feels warm!
This update will provide an overview of the activities of the Winter Cities Institute, as well as information from members and friends. We welcome submissions of information about what is happening in your community, questions, comments and ideas to make the Institute better. Email me at pcoleman@wintercities.com.
Welcome New Members
We are pleased to welcome the following new members:
Rebecca Goodenough, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Elisabeth Poggioli, Dundee, Scotland, UK
Peter Briggs, ASLA, Corvus Design, Anchorage, Alaska, USA
Jon Kerr, Windit Corporation, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Pamela Anthony, Winterlights, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Chris Parker Design, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nancy Veitch, Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks & Recreation, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
Sandra Garley, City Planner, Palmer, Alaska, USA
What is happening in your city?
Future WCI Updates will include a short profile of what winter cities around the world are doing to improve winter livability. Let us know about your community.
Winter City Anchorage
Anchorage is a great and very livable winter city! The city government has been engaged in winter cities for many years and hosted conferences for mayors of winter cities in 1994 and 2004.
The city does a number of special things to mitigate winter’s impacts, such as maintaining walkways for pedestrians and the growing number of winter bicyclists, special traffic calming measures designed to function well in snowy conditions, and snow management techniques that minimize the dumping of snow in driveways. A city of lights program has created special winter lighting treatments on public and private property, brightening up the city during the dark days of winter.
The Fur Rendezvous Festival and Iditarod Ceremonial Start create excitement and activities of all kinds for residents and visitors.
Winter recreation opportunities abound here, with downhill and world class Nordic ski facilities right in the city, and numerous outdoor hockey rinks, skating rinks and ice skating pathways on lakes. By grooming the snow on the city’s extensive greenbelt and coastal trails, people can ski, walk, run, ride a bike and walk the dog on these multi-use trails all over the city without crossing streets.
The city is also incorporating winter city design regulations into their zoning ordinance updates.
WCI Website is growing
WCI is now scanning and uploading a vast collection of articles, papers and conference proceedings going back to 1986. As I review this collection, most of it is still very relevant. The collection of online information will be available to members in the next week or two.
We recently purchased and uploaded software to create the Forum discussion board for members. Questions, information, links and ideas may be posted and responded to. This is an excellent way to network with others across the northern world for information and solutions to common problems and opportunities.
The Built Environment Summit
A conference was recently held in Terrace BC, Canada that focused on winter cities. The Built Environment Summit was sponsored by the BC Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) and featured presentations on winter cities planning and design, snow management, and developing winter festivals. Cara Fisher and staff of BCRPA did an excellent job with organizing this summit. A book of resource information was prepared for conference participants and we hope to upload this to the site in the coming weeks.
Michigan Municipal League Looks at Winter Cities
An upcoming issue of the Michigan Municipal League (MML) magazine will focus on winter cities and the unique and positive ways a number of Michigan cities and village respond to winter. Kudos to the MML for celebrating the winter season and how municipal government can help make winter a positive part of a four season community!
Not a member yet?
Consider joining the Institute. Members of the WCI have access to the growing collection of resource materials and the discussion board found on the website. News, opportunities for networking and learning what other cities are doing to improve winter livability are just some of the benefits. Credit cards are accepted via PayPal, or you can request an invoice.
Patrick Coleman
CEO
Winter Cities Institute
1622 W. 14th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
8/18/09
Jan Gehl will be in Saskatoon on August 31 and September 1 delivering a two part presentation on the topic of healthy, liveable sustainable city.
This is one in a life time opportunity for our city, help us to spread the words about this event! Tickets are now for sale at: http://www.picatic.com/ticket/event498.
>> Click here for the event poster
8/18/09
Announcing the 3rd Built Environment Summit
Planning for Winter Communities
Sponsored by the BC Recreation and Parks Association
BC Recreation and Parks Association in partnership with the Winter Cities Institute is pleased to announce the third Built Environment Summit will take place on Thursday October 29th in Terrace BC. The theme “Planning for Winter Communities” will bring people together to learn about:
- Planning for winter – how we build and design communities need specific consideration of climatic realities
- Snow management – policies and practices for snow removal and ice control
- Winter celebrations – utilizing cultural events and celebrations for economic development and tourism
This Summit will be an opportunity for BC communities to connect with the Winter Cities Institute (formerly the Livable Winter Cities Association) and learn about their resources. Patrick Coleman, CEO of the Winter Cities Institute, will offer the keynote address. www.wintercities.com
This event is geared towards elected councilors, community organizations, aboriginal communities and local government staff (parks/recreation, planning, engineering, public works).
To find out more or to register please contact, Cara Fisher BEAT Coordinator at cfisher@bcrpa.bc.ca or 604-629-0965 ext. 255. Please note, we offer travel subsidies to ensure participation. These will be awarded on a first come first serve basis. Please get in touch with Cara to secure a subsidy so you can book your travel early.
The Built Environment and Active Transportation (BEAT) Initiative is eager to bring together diverse sectors to make the links between how we prepare and plan for pedestrians, cyclist, and any non-motorized mode during the winter months. Ensuring non-motorized modes are considered within snow management is somewhat new, and with the growing interest in active living and health promotion, communities need to plan for ALL seasons!
Patrick Coleman, Winter Cities Institute:
The Winter Cities Institute was organized in 2008 to identify, promote and share the positive attributes of winter living, new concepts in architecture and urban design, and success stories from those places that are thriving in the northern regions. The Institute was founded by Patrick Coleman, AICP, recognized for his work with the Livable Winter Cities Association (WCA). From 1982-2005, the WCA organized conferences, published books and the quarterly magazine “Winter Cities”Coleman has incorporated winter enhancement strategies in his planning practice with multi-disciplinary design firms in Alaska and northern Michigan.
5/7/09
14th in the snowy city of Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, would be discontinued. Its 20th, to be held in 2010, will be the last one. The kamakura, an igloo-like snowhouse, is a traditional part of the scenery in this area of eavy snows in Japan. Lack of sufficient snowfall, however, most likely due to global warming, is the reason for canceling the festival... 
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