Malaspina-Ucluelet research alliance called “world’s best practice”

A community-university research alliance between Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo and the District of Ucluelet was singled out as an “example of the world’s best practice” at an international competition in Hangzhou, China.

Ucluelet won three prestigious awards for its “grassroots approach” to community planning at the United Nations Livable Communites (LivCom), Environmentally Sustainable Community Awards competition Nov. 14.

The District received a gold award for its Official Community Plan (OCP), silver in the Most Livable Community category (population under 20,000), and top prize for Most Sustainable Community, beating out contending countries from around the world.

Felice Mazzoni, Director of Planning Services for Ucluelet, says Malaspina’s Tourism Management students played a key role in helping the District write, develop and implement its OCP over the past four years. Mazzoni invited two Tourism students, Heather Richards and Richard Crowley, and professor Dr. Dave Robinson, to accompany him to the competition and awards ceremony.

“It was like being at the academy awards,” said Crowley. “We had a police escort from our hotel to the People’s Hall of China, a facility only used for official functions. International media were everywhere, and we walked down a red carpet with other world delegates. The black-tie awards ceremony was hosted by the Mayor of Hangzhou and included a traditional Chinese meal and a performance by the Hangzhou Orchestra. It was an unbelievable week.”

Ucluelet was selected as the only finalist in North America to be invited to the final stage for the Sustainable Awards competition. 

In China, Mazzoni, Robinson and Richards made a presentation before an international audience, explaining the Malaspina-Ucluelet research alliance, and how students helped create Ucluelet’s Official Community Plan with grassroots community involvement. Mazzoni, and Robinson formed the research alliance in 2004. Each summer, Mazzoni hires two Tourism students under Malaspina’s cooperative education program to work for the District as planning assistants. 

“The quality and professionalism of the students’ work has been nothing less than outstanding since we started this partnership,” said Mazzoni. “Their work has resulted in positive changes to local government policies.”

Mazzoni said the international judges “were thoroughly impressed.” Ucluelet received praise for developing its Official Community Plan with a limited budget and modest staff resources, “but with huge commitment from the community and through an inspiring partnership with the university-college.” The judges called the community-university research alliance “an example of the world’s best practice.”

For Richards, it was her first time overseas and presenting at an international event. “I didn’t feel nervous at all,” she said. “We do so many presentations in class at Malaspina, so I felt confident.”

Richards and Crowley networked with United Nations officials and other world delegates during their week-long visit to China.

“When I started my undergraduate degree at Malaspina four years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have this kind of experience,” said Richards.  “Malaspina’s cooperative education program has opened some amazing doors, and allowed me to put into practise the theory and skills I've learned in the classroom. Co-op education has allowed me to explore different job avenues in recreation, tourism and now community development. It’s given me a better idea of career possibilities after I graduate next June.”

In addition to these latest awards, Ucluelet received other planning awards from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Planning Institute of BC, and Union of BC Municipalities.

The provincial, national and now international recognition is “the ultimate validation” for the work done so far under the Malaspina-Ucluelet community-university research alliance, said Robinson. He’s optimistic the alliance will “serve as a model for other communities facing economic transition.”