For someone who has remained dedicated to improving our built environment for more than two decades, it may come as a bit of a surprise to learn that I’ve been living off-grid on Galiano Island for almost five years. No power! No running water!
This journey all began in Calgary, Alberta, where I was born and raised. That city has become a thriving metropolis, known for its urban sprawl. In my mid-20s, I moved to the small rural community of Rocky Mountain House and then to Red Deer prior to finding my way out west to Victoria, British Columbia. I’ve lived and worked in cities for most of my 65 years on this earth.
While I don’t profess to have undergone any type of dramatic biological change, I have experienced a profound shift in my way of thinking about our built environment. It’s like I’ve developed a 6th sense or become perspicacious as a result of living where I do in a remote area of the forest bordering Dionisio Point Provincial Park. Most of my friends and family didn’t realize just how far off the beaten path I was until they came for a visit.
I’ve come to learn that by making this commitment (and it is a commitment) to living where I do, there has been a multitude of new teachings. For anyone who has resided in urban centres most of their life, you would be hard-pressed not to recognize these gifts.
In the epic Star Wars films, Darth Vader, once part of the Jedi Order, fell from grace and went to the dark side. While I’m not implying I was ever part of this order or have fallen from grace, I will say that darkness has a whole new meaning where I live. There are no bright lights here in the forest on Galiano. When the sun sets here, it’s dark. Pitch dark!
Silence is another gift I have come to embrace. No traffic, horn honking, sirens or noisy neighbours here. There’s no ongoing construction either. The cacophony symphony doesn’t perform here, where I reside in the peace and tranquillity of nature itself. I often refer to this place as my sanctuary.
So, what’s my point?
It’s simple, you can’t help but see and hear things you’ve never really noticed before, thus the development of my 6th sense.
How might this impact a built environment practitioner?
There is more and more research and evidence indicating that the built world around us can have a dramatic impact on our health and well-being, both physically and mentally. Cities around the world continue to grow rapidly, and building densely is the primary goal of most developers today. According to the UN, about 55% of the global population now resides in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to 68% by 2050.
It’s been my experience to date that many Canadian municipalities are approving projects that have limited green space and more density. Case in point! In many cases, this means more condos and tall structures that can house hundreds of occupants. Natural light sources will be dramatically reduced, and enjoying a little silence will be based on the quality of construction and bylaws that address noise levels. I’ve lived in condos, and this can be further complicated by a complaint process that’s required, and there’s no guarantee that a successful outcome and a peaceful resolution will be reached.
The Current on CBC recently featured a canopy biologist by the name of Nalina Nadkarni. This is where I began to realize just how important tree canopies are in our urban environments. They provide those who reside in cities with the shade that keeps things cool, and with concrete everywhere and certain infrastructure that’s sensitive to high temperatures, this is no small task. Healthy and abundant tree canopies also help reduce the risk to a city’s population during a heat dome, which has been known to cause severe health emergencies and even death.
So, while I remain a dedicated built environment advisor and practitioner, I recognize how much I have evolved during my time here on Galiano Island. For me, creating safe and healthy communities is taking on a whole new perspective. It seems fitting then that I close with a quote from Nalina Nadkarni’s interview with CBC’s Matt Galloway.
“I think it’s the bell that causes us to act. I think lots of people hear it, and I also think it’s the work of people who hear the bell to sound it for other people.”
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