GREEN
TOWERS


WATERLOO
WELLINGTON
SCENARIOS


Green
Towers

By
2020
there
is
greater
interest
in
the
environment,
and
a
culture
of
environmental
stewardship

throughout
the
region.
Traditional
businesses
and
industries
have
adopted
sustainable
practices,
new

industries
are
evolving
to
meet
the
demand
for
cleaner,
greener
products
and
services,
protected
areas
of

green
space
around
the
cities
restrict
urban
development,
and
a
commitment
to
and
knowledge
of
the

environment
is
encouraged
in
local
schools.
As
a
result,
the
local
food
economy
is
thriving
and
supports
a

strong
connection
between
cities
and
rural
towns.
Within
the
cities,
there
are
a
growing
number
of
well‐
used,
multi‐purpose
green
spaces
that
are
well
connected
to
each
other
by
public
transit.
The
twin

challenges
of
environmental
resource
depletion
and
the
need
to
attract
new
and
diverse
people
to
the

region
have
galvanised
the
community,
and
increased
participation
in
public
life.


 Green
Towers
Characteristics

Characterised
by
low
population
growth
combined
with
economic

vibrancy



• There
are
resource
limits,
especially
water.

• Green
industries
build
on
the
existing
strengths
of

communities
in
region
(high‐tech/software,
new
industrial

technologies
like
water
treatment
and
forms
of
agri‐business).

• The
local
food
economy
is
very
strong.



• Local
industries
pursue
low
carbon‐footprint


“We
need
to
notice
all
the
ecologies
 policies/technology.

we’re
living
and
working
in.
That
 • Economic
diversity
is
increasing
(including
alternative

includes
the
ecology
of
houses,
and

economies
like
Community
Supported
Agriculture),
utilising

cities.”

Scenario
Participant
 arts/culture
for
growth.

• There
is
access
by
foot/cycle
to
green
spaces
and
local
services.

• There
is
good
local
transit
with
incentives
to
live
in

walking/transit
distance
to
work.

• “Minimalism”
(lower
consumption)
is
more
common
–
carried

on
from
experiences
during
young
adulthood.


• There
are
a
number
of
common
green
spaces
that
are
multi‐
purpose
and
productive
(pick‐your
own,
conversation
etc).

• Planners
exercise
green
planning
practices
(green
industrial

parks,
lower
impact
suburban
design,
regulation
based
on

inclusion
of
long
term
environmental
costs).


• The
arts
and
design
play
a
role
in
decision‐making
bodies

(governmental,
industry).

• There
is
urban
intensification.

• There
is
visionary
leadership
and
action
(rather
than
the

danger
of
leaders
maintaining
the
status
quo).

• Urban
gardening
is
common.

• Viable
local
food
systems,
which
include
carbon
costs
in
food

costs,
provide
affordable
food
and
support
local
agriculture.


2
 • There
is
environmental
education
in
schools
with
hands
on

“The
guy
out
there
on
the
land,
the
 learning.


farmer
–
he
has
to
understand

environmental
goods
and
services,
 • There
is
a
strong
sense
of
connectivity;
people
&
place,

and
know
what
they
mean
to
him.
 place
to
place,
people
to
knowledge/services.

We
can’t
force
him
to
do
anything,

• Seniors
are
not
ghettoized
(socially
or
residentially)

we
need
the
buy‐in
and
we
need
to

recognise
that
what
he’s
doing
is
for
 o Distributed
health
care
provision
for
seniors

the
good
of
the
whole
community.”
 o Health
benefits
of
bring
together
generations

Scenario
Partipcant



 • Public
spaces
provide
opportunites
for
public
and

community
based
arts,
and
encourage
an
expanded
role
for

the
arts,
particularly
design
and
environmentally
focused

arts
/
artists.


• The
environment
is
the
central
dialogue
within
the
arts.


3
WATERLOO REGION GUELPH
RECORD MERCURY
HEADLINES FROM 2009 - 2020
Feds provide Toyota with incentive Increased Traffic Exhaust and
money for green technologies common agricultural herbicide
- DECEMBER 2009 linked to cancer spike in K-W -
JULY 2010
Storm devastates Guelph
Province announces tax breaks for
area. Flooding river causes backyard food growers
sewers to overflow. Water - OCTOBER 2011
declared UNSAFE
- August 2011 GM opens electric car plant at
Guelph site; 1600 new jobs
Organic farmers - JULY 2014
Province of Ontario
applaud tax introduces carbon
Guelph backyard food sharing
incentives tax on Big Business
program expands throughout
- MARCH 2012 - MAY 2013 Waterloo Region - SEPTEMBER 2015

High hydro rates are Region approves

Five-year Region-wide commuter forcing RIM to agricultural
bike network officially launched at leave the region - green belt
RIM Park - AUGUST2016 MAY2017 around KW
Region -
JANUARY 2018
Report indicates 3,000 fewer
Guelph Organic Restaurant
commuter cars on Region’s Association (GORA) celebrates five
roads - NOVEMBER 2018 years of ground-breaking food
tourism program - MARCH 2020

4

 2009
–
2012
 2013
–
2016
 2017
–
2020

Social
 Education/awareness
 Reciprocity
of
citizen
 Policies
shift
‐
recognition

building
about
cultural
 experience/participation
–
 of
international
education,

inclusion
and
critical
 local
and
global
 immigration,
employment

engagement

 –
inclusive
and
relevant





 Increase
in
number,
 Increased
opportunity
for
 Permeable
Identity


dependability,
level
of
 youth
leadership,

communication
and
 expanded
skill
 Appreciation
and

adaptability
of
social
 development,
cultural
 recognition
of
necessity
of

services
 understand
and
shared
 CD
to
build
vibrant
and

spaces
 resilient
community

Different
and
equal

Economic
 Significant
disruption
in
 More
sustainability
 Increased
connectivity

the
economy,
 practices
and
businesses
 (social
networking,
mass

particularly
for
the
large
 that
capitalize
on
demand
 transit,
urban/rural
etc)

businesses
located
 for
green
technology

locally,
frees
a
large

number
of
creative

employees





 Emergence
of
 Increase
in
the
number
of
 The
economy
is
growing

community‐based
and
 local
economies
 with
less
environmental

spin‐off
industries,
re‐ (Community
Supported
 impact
 A
channeling
of
 Agriculture
etc)

entrepreneurial
activity



Environmental
 Education
changing

 Goals
and
targets
set
to
 Creation
of
incentives
to

sattitudes
about
 increase
green
space
 attract
green
industry
and

resource
use
 convert
mature
industry
to

green
technology/practices




 Starting
to
plant
trees
to
 Support
for
local
food
 Increases
in
the
amount
of

increase
tree
cover
 initiatives
 food
grown
and
consumed

locally


5
Green
Towers


 “HOW
are
we
to
grow?
Guelph

Guelph,
June
2020
 does
not
have
the
water
supply


 or
waste
and
sewage
capacity
to


 Vishal
helped
Grandfather
into
the
passenger
seat
of
 sustain
such
huge
growth.
Our

his
GM
Elex
Compact.
Sunlight
danced
on
the
lush
green
of
the
 community's
"natural

park
opposite
the
station
and
a
gentle
breeze
ruffled
Vishal's
 constraints"
like
the
rivers
and

hair.
 ground
water
will
restrict
such


 expansion.”


The
old
man's
face
was
set
in
a
deep
frown
of
 ‐
Growing
Questions
About

disapproval.
"You
expect
me
to
fold
myself
in
half
to
get
into
 Growth,
Guelph
Mecury,

this
thing?
Why
don't
you
have
a
proper
car,
Vishal?
People
 November
2007

will
think
you
are
too
poor.
Don't
you
make
enough
money
as
 

a…what
do
you
call
it
‐‐‐
endiro
engineer?"



"Enviro‐engineer,
Grandfather,"
Vishal
held
the
old

man's
arm
as
he
maneuvered
himself
into
the
seat.

Grandfather
seemed
to
have
shrunk;
he
fit
quite
comfortably.

Vishal
got
behind
the
wheel
and
started
the
motor,
which

barely
made
a
sound.
"This
is
a
proper
car,
Grandfather.
It's

electric,
energy‐efficient,
non‐polluting.
See
how
quiet
it
is?"



"It's
too
quiet,"
grumbled
grandfather,
"doesn't
feel
like

a
car
at
all."
He
peered
out
the
window.
"In
fact
this
whole

town
is
too
quiet.
I
don't
know
why
you
want
to
live
in
a
place

where
the
water
isn't
safe.
You
should
come
live
in
Toronto.

That's
a
lively
city,
no
health
problems,
lots
of
action
for
a

young
man.
And
plenty
of
Indian
girls
too."



Vishal
sighed.
Like
many
others,
Grandfather
would

always
associate
Guelph
with
water
problems.
In
2011
a

ferocious
storm
had
struck
the
area,
pouring
down
so
much

rain
that
the
storm
sewers
overflowed
and
contaminated
the

water.
A
dozen
people
died.
A
year
later
a
report
came
out

linking
the
use
of
herbicides
with
high
levels
of
cancer
in
the

area.
It
was
hard
for
the
region
but
these
events
had
 “It’s
like
the
river’s
being

galvanized
community
leaders,
who
decided
to
carefully
 ignored,
and
by
ignoring
the

manage
the
city's
growth
until
the
consequences
could
be
 river
you’re
also
ignoring
any

dealt
with
and
long
term
planning
put
in
place.
Almost
ten
 problems,
which
there
definitely

years
later,
although
the
city
had
not
been
transformed,
it
was
 are.”

well
on
the
way
to
becoming
a
truly
green
community.
 Scenario
Participant



In
the
course
of
the
day,
Vishal
hoped
to
persuade
his


6
grandfather
to
move
to
Guelph.
He'd
found
 dangling
down
from
each
level
of
the

a
place
for
him
at
the
newly
opened
Willow
 building.

Community
Centre,
an
experimental
care
 "Phah!"
spat
Grandfather.
"It's
not

facility
northwest
of
the
city
where
 a
bit
the
same.
Look
at
all
these

residents
worked
in
the
gardens,
market
 skyscrapers,
all
this
concrete.
This
is
a
city,

and
restaurant.
As
part
of
the
broader
 but
a
dead
one."
He
glared
at
the
south

community's
effort
to
attract
a
more
 side
of
the
street,
where
a
variety
of

culturally
diverse
population
to
the
area,
 buildings
rose,
including
the
new
office

the
Centre
had
hired
a
couple
of
Indians.
 tower
of
Green
Arc,
the
company
that
had

They'd
launched
a
program
to
grow
 designed
Vishal's
workplace.


produce
to
sell
to
the
province's
Indian
 

restaurants.
Not
that
Grandfather
needed
 "It's
not
dead,"
said
Vishal.
"It
is

work,
but
he
needed
community
and
a
 coming
to
life,
blooming.
Look
there."
He

sense
of
purpose.
He'd
been
crotchety
and
 pointed
at
the
gardens
on
the
terraced

grim
since
Vishal's
mother
died
two
years
 roofs
of
Green
Arc.
Above
them
loomed

ago.
 the
solar
panels
that
produced
most
of
the


 building's
energy.


Vishal
chose
not
to
acknowledge
 

Grandfather's
point
about
the
lack
of
 Grandfather
made
a
humphing

Indian
girls
in
Guelph.
It
was
true
enough,
 noise.

though
things
were
changing
and
more
 

immigrants
were
starting
to
gravitate
to
 Glancing
to
his
side,
Vishal
thought

the
city.
In
fact,
Vishal
didn't
particularly
 his
expression
had
softened
a
little.
"You

want
to
marry
an
Indian
girl.
He
had
a
 saw
the
parkland
by
the
river
and
the

Canadian
girlfriend
who
lived
in
nearby
 gardens?

They
are
carefully
irrigated.
We

Waterloo,
but
Grandfather
might
not
like
 try
not
to
waste
any
water
here.
In
fact

that.

Instead
Vishal
responded
to
the
 there
is
a
ban
on
extravagant
water
use."

second
part
of
Grandfather's
complaint.
"I
 

like
the
quiet.
I
thought
it
might
remind
you
 "I
hear
it
will
soon
be
the
same
in

of
India,
your
village."

 Toronto.
Half
the
time
our
water
is
brown,


 "
muttered
Grandfather.

He
drove
south
on
Gordon
Street
 

across
the
river.
To
the
west
he
could
see
 They
reached
Techno‐Farm.
He

the
GM
plant
where
his
little
car,
and
many
 drove
around
to
the
back
to
show

others
on
the
road
today,
had
been
built.
 Grandfather
the
view.
The
south
side
of

Turning
east
on
Stone
Street,
he
drove
 the
towering
building
looked
out
onto
a

along
the
southern
edge
of
the
university.
 refurbished
barn,
a
garden
and
a
large

The
campus,
like
the
city
core,
had
recently
 crafts
market.
People
meandered
among

been
designated
a
pedestrian‐only
area,
so
 the
stalls
and
children
shrieked
as
they

he
couldn't
drive
through
it.
Far
ahead
he
 chased
each
other
around
the
garden
and

caught
a
glimpse
of
his
workplace.
Techno‐ into
the
barn.


Farm
was
a
tall
circular
building
that
 

resembled
a
huge
potted
plant,
with
green
 "What's
that?
A
farm
in
the
middle


7
of
the
city?"
Grandfather
asked.


 “There’s
a
lot
of
evidence
that

"It's
owned
by
the
University.
They
use
it
as
a
green
 kids
who
aren’t
exposed
to

classroom
for
area
students,"
said
Vishal.
"Soon
after
the
 nature
are
experiencing

flood,
enrolment
at
the
neighborhood
school
dropped
so
low
 psychological
and
medical

the

School
Board
closed
it
and
moved
the
children
to
another
 problems
–
it’s
called
Nature

school.
But
people
around
here
missed
the
children.
Then
the
 Deficit
Disorder.”

Agriculture
College
produced
a
study
emphasizing
the
benefits
 Scenario
Participant

of
early
agricultural
education
for
young
people
and
for
our
 

future,
and
the
University
decided
to
fund
this
project,
as
an

experiment.
A
group
of
community
volunteers
fixed
up
that

old
barn
and
students
from
the
University
prepared
the

gardens.
Now
most
of
the
schools
in
Guelph
bring
their

students
here
for
half
a
day
every
couple
of
weeks.
The
kids

tend
the
gardens
and
learn
about
agriculture
and
sustainable

practices.
It
seems
pretty
popular."



"Hmmm.
It's
a
nice
place
for
kids."
Grandfather's
voice

sounded
a
bit
shaky.



"Come
on,"
said
Vishal,
"Let
me
take
you
inside.
This
is

where
I
work."



They
entered
the
tall
building
and
for
the
next
two

hours,
Vishal
first
led
and
then,
after
some
heated
argument

when
he
noticed
Grandfather
looking
pale,
pushed
him
around

in
a
wheelchair.



"This
is
all
a
big
fake,"
Grandfather
sputtered
at
the

beginning.
"You
can't
have
an
indoor
farm,
a
farm
in
a
building.

It's
unnatural."



Vishal
smiled.
"You're
right
and
not
so
right.
They're
all

natural
processes,
although
we
haven't
yet
perfected
them.

We
raise
pigs
here
and
their
manure
drops
down
to
the
next
 “People
only
see
2
types
of

level
and
fertilizes
mushrooms
there.
It's
also
used
in
the
 farming
–
organic
farms
run
by

greenhouses.
The
grain
grown
feeds
the
chickens
over
there,
 “Mom
and
Dad”,
and
factory

some
for
eating,
some
for
laying
eggs.
There's
very
little
waste
 farms.
There
are
lots
in
between

and
the
entire
building
is
powered
by
wind
‐‐"
 but
if
consumers
shout
about


 one
more
than
the
other,
famers

"That
thing
there?
It
looks
like
something
from
a
space
 will
listen.”

film.
The
blades
are
so
thin,
how
can
it
generate
power?"
But
 Scenario
Partcipant

Grandfather
peered
down
at
the
clucking
chickens
and
 


8
muttered,
"Make
good
chicken
tikka,
eh?"
 


 "No,
but
the
region
has
faced

"Yes,
and
that's
another
thing."
 challenges.
After
the
flood,
there
was
a
lot

Vishal
warmed
to
this
topic.
"Because
 of
illness,
especially
among
children,
and

we're
encouraging
different
ethnic
groups
 people
became
very
concerned
about

to
come
to
the
city
and
we
concentrate
on
 Guelph's
future.
University
and
local
agro‐
sustainable
agriculture
and
biodiversity,
 business
leaders
spent
a
long
time
thinking

some
of
your
favourite
vegetables
are
 about
the
problems
facing
us,
things
like

grown
here
and
in
the
gardens
down
there
 dwindling
water
and
power
supplies
and

by
the
market."
He
pointed
out
through
 the
potential
for
contamination.
They
came

the
window.
"And
the
produce
is
sold
to
 up
with
a
plan
that
would
respect
the
earth

restaurants,
here
and
in
Toronto.
People
 and
our
resources,
and
encourage
ethnic

now
come
to
Guelph
for
exotic
organic
 diversity
while
controlling
population

dining."
 growth.
It
has
been
hard
work
making
these


 changes
and
there
is
still
much
to
be
done."

"You
are
not
in
your
right
mind,
 He
waved
proudly.
"But
we
are
making

Vishal."
Grandfather
shook
his
head.
 progress."

"People
would
not
come
from
Toronto
to
 

this
strange
quiet
place
to
go
to
a
 They
parked
outside
the
Willow

restaurant.
Perhaps
you
spent
too
long
 Community
Center
and
meandered
through

studying,
you
don't
know
anything
now."
 the
gardens
to
the
main
building,
passing


 people
on
their
way.

Vishal
laughed.
"You're
right,
not
 

too
many
come,
but
we
eat
very
well
here,
 Grandfather
glanced
around
and
his

better
and
healthier
than
in
Toronto.
 gaze
fixed
on
a
young
woman
with
a
black

Come,
are
you
hungry?
I
want
to
take
you
 eye
staring
off
into
space.
He
spoke
in
a
low

to
one
more
place,
where
people
work
and
 voice.
"These
people,
Vishal,
they
do
not

farm
and
cook
fine
Indian
cuisine."
 look
right.
What
is
the
matter
here?
Is
it
a


 place
for
crazies?"

"Yes,
let
us
go.
I'm
tired
from
all
this
 

nonsense
and
I
would
be
happy
to
have
a
 Vishal
kept
his
voice
low
too.
"Many

good
dhal
and
a
cup
of
chai.
If
that
is
really
 different
kinds
of
people
work
here
and

possible
here."
 some
are
troubled
or
disabled
or
old.
There


 are
others
who
care
for
them
and
help

"It
is.
You'll
see."
Vishal
grinned.
 them
learn
skills,
like
farming
and
cooking


 and
crafts.

This
particular
facility
only

They
got
back
into
the
car
and
 opened
a
couple
of
years
ago.
It's
an

drove
northwest.

Grandfather
cast
a
 extension
of
the
Onward
Willow
project.

beady
eye
on
Vishal.
"There
are
not
very
 The
idea
is
to
help
people
recover
or
find

many
people
here,
not
like
I
remember
 meaning
in
their
lives,
while
contributing
to

when
you
came
to
university.
Maybe
all
 the
local
economy.
It's
working
quite
well."

this
fake‐real
food
has
killed
them?"
A
little
 They
passed
a
group
of
men,
one
with
a

snicker
escaped
him.
 shaved
head
and
a
scar,
another
terribly


9
thin.
The
men
laughed
together
as
they
dug
in
the
ground

with
hoes.
 “It’s
just
a
ridiculous
notion
that


 nature
and
cities
exist
separate

"And
these
people
will
make
my
dhal?"
Grandfather's
 from
each
other
–
they’re
totally

brow
lowered.
 entwined,
they
need
each


 other.”

"Here
we
are."
Vishal
led
him
into
a
cozy
little
eaterie
 Scenario
Participant

with
wooden
tables.
A
rich
spicy
smell
permeated
the
air.

Grandfather's
eyes
brightened.



An
Indian
woman
with
a
limp
greeted
them
and

ushered
them
to
a
table
looking
out
over
the
gardens.

Grandfather
slumped
in
his
chair,
a
sheen
of
sweat
on
his

forehead.



"Two
chai,
please,"
said
Vishal,
anxious
that
he'd
tired

out
his
grandfather.



The
tea
seemed
to
revive
the
old
man.
They
ordered

dhal
with
rice
and
chappati.
Grandfather
ate
in
silence,
noisily,

polishing
off
everything
set
before
him.
Finally
he
said,
"Ah,

yes.
Very
good,
Vishal.
Reminds
me
of
home."



Vishal
sighed
with
relief.
"That
is
what
I
hoped,

Grandfather.
I
know
you
like
your
apartment
in
Toronto,
but
I

would
be
so
pleased
if
you
would
consider
moving
here,
to
be

closer
to
me."



"Here!"
Grandfather's
eyebrows
shot
up.
"I
am
not

deranged,"
he
hissed.



"Neither
are
these
people,
Grandfather.
Look
around.

Are
they
shouting
or
gibbering?"



The
old
man
peered
all
around
the
restaurant,
then

outside.
"No,
but
‐‐"



Vishal
reached
out
and
laid
a
hand
on
Grandfather's

arm,
"Is
it
not
peaceful
here?
Like
the
country
almost,
with
the

market
and
the
parks?"



Grandfather
nodded
grumpily.




10
 "Think
about
it.
I
would
feel
so
much
better
if
you
were

“I
really
do
believe
we
have
 nearby
with
friendly
people
around,
rather
than
alone
in
the

potential
to
be
keystone
 big
city."

species
–
not
just
to
not
 

make
things
worse
but
to
 The
time
for
Grandfather's
train
approached,
so
Vishal

make
things
much
better.”
 shepherded
him
back
to
the
car.
Grandfather
gazed
around

Scenario
Particpant
 him,
frowning
a
little
less
than
before.



At
the
station,
which
faced
onto
a
large
pedestrian

walkway,
Grandfather
clambered
out
of
the
car."It
is
not
so

bad
here.
Very
good
food,
like
home.
Quiet,
but
that
is
not
so

bad
either.
Vishal,
you
helped
to
make
this
place,
with
your

endo‐engineering
and
your
university?"



"I
helped,
yes,
but
many,
many
people
helped.
And

there
is
still
much
to
do."



"I'm
proud
of
you,"
the
old
man
said,
his
eyes
a
little

wet.
Then
he
ducked
his
head
and
heaved
himself
up
onto
the

train.




11