It's official. The Town of Gibsons is one of the most liveable communities in the world.
The Town took the win for communities under 20,000 at the United Nations-recognized International Awards for Liveable Communities (LivCom) in Pilsen, Czech Republic, Monday, Oct. 12.
"On the scale of things, we're pretty small, but we rocked it. We really did. We made a lot of people sit back and say, 'Little communities can do these things too,'" Mayor Barry Janyk said.
Janyk, along with director of planning Chris Marshall and parks and culture director Wendy Gilbertson, was on hand in Pilsen for a 40-minute presentation and the awards ceremony. The awards recognize communities for progressive steps in planning, healthy living, heritage, sustainability and environmental best practice.
Key to LivCom judges selecting Gibsons were the Town's Upper Gibsons neighbourhood plan and the geo-exchange system planned for the area. The exchange will be used to heat local homes and businesses with minimal carbon emissions and provide a source of revenue for the Town - a first in North America. Judges praised the neighbourhood plan for promoting energy conservation and social interaction and encouraging alternate forms of transportation.
Janyk said the LivCom awards have given the Town a chance to look at itself from a new international perspective.
"When you're focused so much on the local scene it's hard to look up and say, 'I wonder what's going on internationally,'" he said. "It really opened our eyes as to how far ahead we are. We are really setting the pace here."
Janyk said he knew Gibsons stood a good chance of winning when he looked out into the audience and saw the reaction to the video portion of the Town's presentation.
"They were just stunned. From that point on, I felt relatively confident that we were going to be recognized," he said.
Janyk said a big hand for the award is owed to staff, especially Gilbertson, whose idea it was to apply for the award.
The Town also took top prize overall in the world in the planning for the future award, a nod to Marshall and his department.
"It was amazing - very rewarding. I think it's a validation of everything that we've done and we're on the right track in terms of the work that we're doing," Marshall said.
As for how the awards will impact the Town, Janyk said he hopes it will attract the type of attention and investment that is in line with what the Town has been recognized for.
"What I hope is that people who wish to develop and invest in the community will say, 'We like what they are doing and we're going to buy into that philosophy,'" he said.
Janyk said he also brought home a renewed desire for improved communication with the public, to make sure the Town's policies are really up to the standard to which the world is now holding them.
"We need to check with the public that they are satisfied on the multitude of levels that we work. If they're not, then we need to drill in and find out what more we can do to assist, if at all," he said.
Gibsons beat out the towns of Carlyle, Sask., Southwell, England, Bolatice, Czech Republic, Tulln An Der Donau, Austria, Ricany, Czech Republic, and Jaromer, Czech Republic.
