Agenda-setting workshop to launch Resilient Calgary

Today’s Resilience Agenda Setting Workshop aims to develop Calgary’s Resilience Strategy. It includes more than 150 participants from city leadership, civic and community organizations, businesses and foundations, academic institutions and government agencies, along with The City of Calgary and 100 Resilient Cities – Pioneered By The Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) staff.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi, The City of Calgary and 100RC launched the city’s resilience program this morning to address the social, economic and environmental challenges that are part of a modern growing city.

Calgary was named part of the 100RC network in 2016, joining cities such as London, New York, Bangkok and Buenos Aires – and was selected from more than 1,000 applicants from around the world. Canadian member cities include Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal.

“Calgary has seen its share of stresses and shocks in recent years,” said Mayor Naheed Nenshi. “Despite the challenges we face, we remain optimistic and resilient. As a 100RC member, we can become even more resilient as we learn from some of the best minds here at home and around the world.”

The Resilience Agenda Setting Workshop held today is Calgary’s first engagement in its partnership with 100RC. The workshop brings a diverse set of stakeholders from across The City and the private sector, non-profits, business, academia, community and civic groups into the planning process. It seeks to explore the shocks and stresses the city is facing, including those previously unknown, while unveiling resilience building tools and plans to address them.

“Calgary is part of the global momentum around building urban resilience, and leads by example,” said Otis Rolley, 100RC Regional Director for North America. “This workshop will clarify the city’s needs, surface innovative thinking, and give us a blueprint for engaging partners from across sectors to bring Calgary the tools and resources needed to become more resilient.”

During the workshop, it was announced that Deputy City Manager Brad Stevens has been appointed Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) – an innovative new role in our city’s administration. The CRO will lead the city’s resilience efforts and continue to engage those stakeholders, resilience experts, and 100RC staff in drafting a comprehensive Resilience Strategy. The position will be funded by 100RC for at least two years.

“We have to be collaborative and interconnected, in order to prepare for and recover from the shocks and stresses that Calgary faces and will face,” said Calgary Chief Resilience Officer, Brad Stevens. “Our membership in the 100 Resilient Cities network will significantly strengthen the current work being done by The City of Calgary and the Calgary community.”

Calgary will receive technical support and resources to develop and implement a Resilience Strategy. Each city in the 100RC network receives four concrete types of support:

• Financial and logistical guidance for establishing an innovative new role in city government, a Chief Resilience Officer, who will lead the city’s resilience efforts;
• Technical support for development of a robust Resilience Strategy;
• Access to solutions, service providers, and partners from the private, public and NGO sectors who can help them develop and implement their resilience strategies; and
• Membership in a global network of member cities who can learn from and help each other.

Calgary’s Resilience Strategy will be a holistic, action-oriented plan to build and strengthen partnerships and alliances, financing mechanisms, and will pay particular attention to meeting the needs of poor and vulnerable populations. The workshop began the process of identifying priorities, actions, and metrics. Further consultations and drafting of the plan will take place over the next 6-12 months.