News from Vancouver's Green Scene

Jason Mogus, CEO of Communicopia (communicopia.net), is fresh from a NYC trip where he was bestowed with a Webby Award for his company’s development of the UN Foundation website “Nothing But Nets.”

Just because Vancouver doesn’t get its own Live Earth event doesn’t mean we can’t be part of the fun. Watch live coverage of the worldwide concert—which includes The Police, KT Tunstall, Roger Waters, and Alicia Keys—at Robson Square on July 7, 12 noon to 9 p.m. You can also participate in an outdoor music festival and eco-village. Info: globalhabitatfestival.com.

A motley group of high-impact social change leaders recently had a think fest on how to work together for a more just and sustainable world. This is the second year for the Social Change Institute at Hollyhock Centre on Cortes Island (hollyhockleadership.org), bringing together 100+ mostly BC-based non-profits and companies to generate solutions.

Salt Spring Island Grade 12 student Fiona Munro has won a $1,000 CBC Leadership Challenge Award for creating a student-led Sustainability Board and a climate change program at her school. Fiona credits The Minerva Foundation for BC Women’s Learning to Lead program for inspiration.

Tzeporah Berman, founder of Forest Ethics, appears in Leonardo DiCaprio’s new documentary The 11th Hour (11thhourfilm.com). She’s interviewed along with over 50 scientists, thinkers, and leaders who discuss the state of the environment. The film will be in theatres this fall.

It all started with two moms who wanted to do something for the planet. Wheels for Change (wheelsforchange.ca) is a group of cyclists who are journeying from Nelson to Victoria, collectively aiming to cycle 40,000 km. They’ll pass through Vancouver on July 21.

Meet people and eat gourmet vegan cuisine at some of Vancouver’s finest restaurants with Earthsave’s Dine-Outs. A recent outing included a meal at South Granville’s Star Anise. Non-vegetarians welcome. Information: earthsave.ca/dineouts.

Check out Michael Moore’s film Sicko, about the U.S.’s health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, now playing at a theatre near you.

Smart Growth BC recently presented its “Smarty Awards” for excellence in leadership, planning, policy, development, and engineering in B.C. Congratulations to Hotson Bakker Boniface Haden architects + urbanistes / S.R. McEwen Associated Architects, the District of Maple Ridge, Parklane Homes, and Gordon Price.