FYI: This is a presentation and panel that I participated in in late September at the Evergreen Brick Works Forum on Leadership, Innovation and Sustainability. We were confined to a PechaKucha presentation format, meaning you have to go through 20 slides and spend no more than 20 seconds on each one — i.e. total presentation of just six minutes and 40 seconds. Needless to say, we all felt rushed, but it allowed more time for discussion. You can find the other panels here, as well as video of the keynote presentation from Jeremy Rifkin.

This is a guest post from the Evergreen blog:

People know that Evergreen Brick Works celebrates both the natural and cultural heritage of Toronto. But what role does it play in shaping the future of sustainable transportation in this city and beyond?

Evergreen Brick Works is more than a vibrant space for community festivals and appreciating nature in the city. It is also a living lab and a hub for green innovation, where like-minded people and businesses can explore, advance and apply urban sustainability solutions.

So, when the Electric Vehicle Society of Canada approached us to host their upcoming EV Festival, we were fully on board. What surprised us, however, was the depth of enthusiasm toward EVs and just how far the technology has come.

The EV Fest, to be held in The Kilns and Holcim Gallery on Sunday, Oct. 23 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.), will feature dozens of registered electric vehicles on display, as well as many people who have converted their cars and can help you convert yours. And, of course, Autoshare will be on hand with their Nissan Leaf parked close by at our charging stations in the main lot. Plus, be sure to stop by Better Place and their EV demonstration centre for even more electric fun!

You’ll come away from the day recognizing that the innovation and technology for EVs already exists—it simply needs to be scaled up.

The event will also be a great precursor for many more sustainable transportation initiatives planned at Evergreen Brick Works.

We are currently gearing up to host MOVE, a Transportation Expo next summer that will guide visitors through the past, present and future of urban transportation. The Expo, presented in partnership with George Brown College’s Institute without Boundaries, will be the first in a five-year series exploring the major issues affecting cities, and will also include a suite of 10 design “charrettes” held this fall.

Just came back from a terrific and extremely humid evening at Toronto’s wonderful Evergreen Brick Works, a former brickyard made up of deteriorating heritage buildings that have been transformed into a showcase for urban sustainability. This includes several restored buildings (with graffiti left untouched) immersed in nature that together function as a community environmental centre — as well as the home of a local farmer’s market. It’s a wonderful achievement for the city, and a fitting venue for Corporate Knights’ “Summer Gala 2011.” Canada’s corporate sustainability magazine, or what it likes to call ”clean capitalism,” celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada ranking, and bestowed an Award of Distinction to the scrappy Danny Williams, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the driving force behind the $6.2 billion Lower Churchill hydroelectric deal. Comedian and fellow Newfoundlander Rick Mercer introduced Williams with an entertaining tribute, and Williams himself gave a passionate and insightful speech about the challenges he faced trying to make the Lower Churchill project a reality. He also spoke of the need to push forward on the vision of establishing an east-west power grid that will deliver clean electricity across Canada, whether it be hydroelectricity from Labrador or wind from Ontario and Manitoba or geothermal power from B.C. and Alberta. It was a great speech that got me thinking about a book that needs to be written on this subject… some day.

It was also announced that Nick Parker, co-founder and (ex?)chairman of the Cleantech Group, has become chairman of Corporate Knights and together with founder and editor Toby Heaps will help create a new Council for Clean Capitalism. This new initiative will bring together influential voices from different corners of the corporate world as a single voice aimed at influencing policy outcomes that will drive social and environmental leadership in corporate Canada. It’s a recognition that if anything is going to tackle climate and environmental issues in this country — at least in any meaningful way — it will be progressive corporations. Our federal government is simply not filling this role.

Kudos to Toby for pulling it all together…