Discovering British Columbia

Tony Jackson of the school of town and regional planning is discovering that links between Scotland and Canada are not merely historical but that the similarities of our countries are reaching beyond the pioneers.

While conducting a study into comparative sustainability in British Columbia Tony came across the world's newest self-governing parliament, not in Holyrood, but in the Nisga'a - a nation of 5,500 people.

Tony has been carrying out research at the University of Northern British Columbia into sustainability. The tradition in British Columbia has been to exploit the land - in 1997 the province provided 49 per cent of the total US lumber imports. Tony is comparing approaches to the formulation of a sustainability policy in British Columbia and in the Highlands and Islands in Scotland.

This research is to coincide with a European directive that all programmes for development will have to consider and address broader issues of sustainability. Tony plans to publish a "how to" guide for planners to meet these requirements. His papers will prescribe the techniques, methodology and comparative ideas that are involved in formulating an environmentally sustainable development project.

The school of town and regional planning initiated a student exchange programme with the University of Northern British Columbia the first year it opened in 1994. There is now also an academic exchange in place between Dundee and UNBC.

Next Page
Return to October 2001 Contact