I am not sure if we’re gaining ground. It doesn’t look like it from so many angles. But perhaps the stellar line up of speakers at the Gaining Ground Conference (Oct 20-22) in Vancouver will have a brighter perspective. Speakers include author Paul Hawken; Bill Rees, of ecological footprint fame; Anita Burke, former advisor to Shell International; Chief Bill Williams from the Squamish First Nations; and even our Mayor, Gregor Robertson, the Happy Planet guy. Smart Growth BC is a partner and there are some impressive sponsors too. Plus, the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (how great that there is such an entity!) is holding their conference in conjunction with this one, so you actually get two conferences in one. The theme is Resilient Cities, Urban Strategies for Transition Times. People from all over the world are coming. I will be leading some tours, exploring resilient food systems, streets, cultures and neighbourhoods. So far there are folks from Dublin, Greece, South Africa, and Canada signed up. Â We will cover a lot of ground and perhaps gain a strategy or two, or at minimum some inspiration. Register now.