As the initiator, advocate and principal consultant, Susan lead the Credit Valley Trail Strategy initiative that spent 60-years on the books.
In partnership with the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, Credit Valley Conservation Foundation and Credit Valley Conservation, Susan:
- designed and launched the Call to Action in February 2015
- brought over 55 partners to the table;
- lead First Nations, Metis and Indigenous community involvement;
- leveraged funding resources for the project team;
- conducted over 5 council delegations and 15 community engagement sessions;
- formed and facilitated Steering Committee meetings;
- designed community outreach surveys, blogs and media articles;
- designed and coordinated a Municipal Leaders Forum as well as one-on-one interviews with every local, regional and provincial elected official along the CVT 100-km alignment;
- identified the preferred trail alignment in partnership with local and regional planning staff;
- authored the first two versions of the final CVT Strategy;
- and informed the development of the CVT Governance Council.
People Plan Community developed the Credit Valley Trail Strategy, through community engagement, facilitation and strategic planning support coordinating multiple regional partners, municipalities, and First Nations across the watershed. The project focused on ensuring that trail planning aligned with environmental sustainability, Indigenous collaboration, and shared governance principles. The strategy now serves as a model for integrated, partnership-based regional planning through Credit Valley Conservation and has led to millions in fundraising and the creation of the first Indigenous staff position at the Authority.
Focus: Supporting sustainable, partnership-driven regional trail planning.