Our History
The origins of BC Land Summit Society
The concept of the BC Land Summit emerged from discussions between several land use professions, which were facilitated through a professional roundtable. The mutual benefits of collaborating on a joint conference were soon apparent, and a decision to proceed was taken by a number of the participating professions.
During 2002 a partnership was formed, and planning began for the first innovative and unique joint land related conference – the BC Land Summit – began. It was held in 2004. Following on its success, the participating organizations renewed their partnership to hold a second Summit in 2009.
With the continued success of the BC Land Summit, following the 2009 conference the original partner organizations agreed to form a new permanent non-profit Society — the BC Land Summit Society — to organize and host future Summits.
2004 BC Land Summit
May 12th to 14th, 2004
University of British Columbia, in Vancouver.
Theme
“Working Together For Better Results”; governance, the value of land, changing land use patterns, and information & understanding.
Speakers
Dr. Thomas Homer-Dixon, author, futurist, and academic; Dr. Marc Imhoff, Earth observation expert with NASA; Andro Linklater, author and journalist in politics and the arts, science, and technology; and Roberta Jamieson, Chief of the Six Nations Band in Ontario, conflict resolution and diversity expert.
2009 BC Land Summit
May 20th to 22nd, 2009
The Whistler Conference Centre, in Whistler.
Theme
“A Better Future: Adapting to Change”; changing environments – natural & cultural diversity; a world of change – growth & globalization; change in motion – movement, transportation & travel; and changing place & space – communities in transition.
Speakers
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leading environmental activist and lawyer, Sherry Kafka-Wagner, urban design and public place development consultant; Dr. Richard Hebda curator of botany and earth history; and Thomas Berger QC, OBC, leader, lawyer and former Justice of the Supreme Court of BC.
2014 BC Land Summit
May 14th to 16th, 2014
The Sheraton Wall Centre, in Vancouver.
Theme
“Collaborations & Connections”; food & agriculture; law & the land; the natural & built environment; and water & the land.
Speakers
Chris Hadfield, astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station; Catherine Murray, co-host and anchor for BNN and former VP at Deutsche Bank; Wade Davis, anthropologist, author & explorer; and Louise Mandell, Queen’s Counsel and Doctor of Laws (Hon.).
2019 BC Land Summit
May 8th to 10th, 2019
The Westin Bayshore, in Vancouver
Theme
“Collaborations & Connections”; food & agriculture; law & the land; the natural & built environment; and water & the land.
Speakers
Nobel Peace Prize nominee Sheila Watt-Cloutier and Harvard University Professor of Economics Edward Glaeser. Comedian/impersonator Mark Critch as a featured evening presenter