ABOUT PRAIRIE ECOVILLAGE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

Prairie Ecovillage Development Corporation (PEDCO) is a not-for-profit development corporation that was formed in 2005 and incorporated in 2006. PEDCO aims to educate on sustainable community options through action.

History

Beginning in 2004, a community planning and engagement process in Saskatoon called Roadmap 2020 stimulated interest in the potential to develop a sustainable housing project to provide a demonstration sustainable community within the city. This interest is the result of a lack of sustainable housing options for consumers to choose within the current Saskatoon housing marketplace. PEDCO was formed to create these options as demonstration sites, with an ultimate goal of transforming the housing market in Saskatoon.

Mission

The Prairie Ecovillage Development Corporation creates sustainable living options in Saskatoon through the development of ecovillages, full-featured and human-scaled developments in which human activities are harmlessly integrated into the natural world in a manner that is supportive of healthy human development and economic and social sustainability for the indefinite future.

Goals

The Prairie Ecovillage Development Corporation creates housing projects focused on seven themes. These include:

Community
Variety of price points and targeted pre-sales so as to be “inclusive”.
Intentional “community-building” through amenities and programming.
Scale of development appropriate for “community-building” (through creation of several buildings).
Democratic decision-making related to detailed integrated design (design charrette).

Green Technology
Development considers LEED^TM principles related to air quality, water (hydrology), land/sustainable site, energy, and building materials and will seek registration for Platinum status.
Development is consistent with The Natural Step (4 conditions).
Project acts as a demonstration for new design and construction approaches (unique to the Saskatoon market).

Nature
Naturalization of the site and proximity to natural amenities are important.

Integration of Nature and People
Smallest ecological footprint possible (tempered by feasibility/ affordability as established by the community).

Pedestrian Environment
Proximity to daily-needs amenities and employment opportunities.
Connectivity to amenities and employment.
Human-scaled development to raise confidence about walking.

Beauty
“Homey”, human-scaled, unique, and attractive project architecture.

Growth/Maintenance of Individuality
Opportunity for and respect for privacy within the project.

The over-arching goal of each housing project initiated by PEDCO is to act as a demonstration of alternative development forms, innovative building methods and designs, reduced energy and resource demand, and convenient healthy habitation. Prairie Ecovillage Development Corporation understands demonstrations must be repeatable within the marketplace and will therefore integrate public awareness, the sharing of financial and technical information, and the identification of interested investors into the demonstration aspect of each project.

Board of Directors

PEDCO is administered by a board of directors elected by the members. The board currently includes seven members:

Rick Olmstead - Chair

Rick has over three decades of experience in building better (more advanced) buildings. His base of knowledge, experience, and contacts are a critically-valuable asset to PEDCO.

Construction management experience: Builder, Jacobsen Bay Outfitters, Anglin Lake (1973); Contractor, residential and commercial renovations, Saskatoon; Project Manager, Concept Construction, Saskatoon. Concept Construction built energy-efficient home demonstrations including a passive solar home at 126 Meglund Place.

Financial management experience: Founder, President/CEO, Conservation Energy Systems Inc., a manufacturer of heat recovery ventilators (vanEE) with distribution throughout North America with 70+ employees and sales over $1million annually; President, Interlink Research Inc, a consulting services company for the advanced building industry

Governance experience: Director, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditional Industry Association (mid-1980’s to mid-1990’s); Chair, Home Ventilating Institute; Chair, Home Ventilating Institute Marketing Council; Director, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce

Paul Hanley - Secretary

Paul is a recognized leader in sustainability and was recently awarded the Canadian Environment Award from the Royal Canadian Geographic Society. As a professional writer and communications consultant, Paul brings tremendous value to PEDCO. Paul also has experience in living lightly on the earth in his off-grid, zero net Green-House-Gas emissions home which utilizes solar and wind power, composting toilets, wood heat, organic gardening, composting, and waste reduction activities.

Construction experience: Built own house, including installation of an off-grid electrical system (wind-turbine and solar panels); assisted in construction of super-insulated passive-solar home

Financial management experience: Coordinator/Bookkeeper, Saskatchewan Eco-Network; Manager, Fireside and Green Conserver Products, a wood-burning appliance and garden tool store; Treasurer, New Roots Community Land Trust Society

Governance experience: Director for twelve (12) local and international NGOs and member of several institutional committees

Rob Theoret - Treasurer

Rob has helped local businesses with their business planning strategies, financing, and research. Rob also has an interest in non-conventional energy technologies and companies. His credentials and expertise within the financial sector provide tremendous value to the work of PEDCO.

Financial management experience: Financial Advisor, Raymond James Ltd.; Chartered Business Valuator

Governance experience: Volunteer, Junior Achievement; Past-President, University of Saskatchewan Alumni Association; Director, Investment Dealers Association; Director with two private companies; Volunteer with local non-government organization which helps refugee families settle in Saskatoon

Murray Gross

Murray brings strong professional and technical skills in the area of non-profit governance.

Financial management experience: Finance Committee, Centre Region, Department of Community Resources with a budget of $150million; Manager, Community Partners, an initiative to manage new and expanded funding requests to a budget of $7million

Governance experience: Director (former), Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society; Volunteer, Saskatoon Heritage Society, Volunteer, Saskatoon Road Runners Association; Volunteer, Trans Canada Trail Association (Regina Branch)

Louise Jones

Louise has been involved in environmental education for thirty-five years, twelve of which were with the Saskatoon Public School Division at the Brightwater Centre where students and teachers learned how to live lightly on the earth. Her understanding of sustainability issues makes her a valuable asset to the PEDCO Board.

Construction management experience: Assisted in owner-build; Supervisor, Brightwater Centre footbridge; Feasibility assessment and concept planning, Brightwater EcoCentre (not yet built)

Financial management experience: Manager, Brightwater Centre with annual budget of $50,000

Governance experience: Director, Saskatchewan Environmental Society

Daren McLean

Daren currently lives light on the earth in a downtown loft condominium renovated for live-work with a variety of green building products. Daren’s assets to PEDCO include his knowledge of marketing green buildings, his network within the green building industry, and his experience as a resident of downtown Saskatoon.

Construction management experience: Two substantial residential renovations and one warehouse conversion (responsibility for interior)

Financial management experience: Owner/operator of deezine.ca, a marketing company focused on social and environmental initiatives; Partner in Water Revitaliation Ltd., a water treatment technology with sales of $1.5million; President with Fairbanks Condo Corporation

Governance experience: Director, Water Revitalization Ltd; President, Fairbanks Condo Corporation; Communications Director, Green Building Council of Canada – Saskatchewan Chapter; Director, Build Saskatchewan Green

Derek Thompson

Derek was the principal designer of the Willowgrove Neighbourhood in Saskatoon, a project which won the Premier’s Prize for Excellence in Design in Community Planning. Derek’s knowledge of the sustainability features included in this award-winning design provide great value to PEDCO.

Construction management experience: Land Branch, City of Saskatoon

Financial management experience: Project Management duties with City of Saskatoon; Budget responsibilities with Katimavik Canada

Governance experience: Senate Member, University of Saskatchewan