3i Summit 2012: Innovate, Interact, and Initiate
This was the official website for the 2012 3i Summit held in Ottawa Canada.
Content is from the site's 2012 archived pages.
Sustainable Eastern Ontario which presented the 3i Summit is a network organization that fosters partnerships and collaborations on sustainability activities throughout Eastern Ontario. You can visit them at: http://sustainableeasternontario.ca/
If you are someone who wants to innovate, interact, and initiate the kind of change that will advance environmental sustainability in Ottawa, then the 3i Summit 2012 is for you.
The 3i Summit is a unique process that taps into the dynamism and creativity of community leaders, great minds and change agents from multiple sectors to catalyze relationships and collaborate on tangible initiatives for positive community change. The summit is grassroots-driven, co-created and facilitated with partner organizations to address shared areas of community concern where collaborative action can make a difference and serve as a springboard for tangible community action toward desired outcomes.
3i is a continuous, interactive 5-stage process that builds momentum through a series of activities: co- creation through partners and Idea Salons, identifying initiatives building up to the Summit, collaborating for action at the Summit and post-Summit follow through on initiatives. Here is an outline of how this worked for the 2012 3i Summit on Sustainability in Ottawa.
A Brief Outline of the Process
1) Co-Creation: Defining the framework
- Community leaders were brought together for a World Café discussion to identify what could be possible for community change through partnership collaboration. The group was asked to identify an issue/sector and citizens/groups were invited to step forward with a desire for change and a willingness to be a partner.
- A leader stepped forward from the environment sector and over a dozen local environmental NGO’s were were involved in two workshops to decide if there was an opportunity to collaborate for change and what some of the outcomes might look like.
- Partner organizations were asked to commit to Partnership Criteria.
- Core Funding and in kind donations were obtained to ensure core staff and expertise.
- 3i meetings were held with partners to define what the summit would accomplish and the best way to proceed. A core group defined Purpose, Principles, Process to underpin Program Development.
- Sub teams defined salons, program planning, communications and event logistics.
2) Consultation: Community input
- Lists of organizations and emails that could be interested in taking part across a wide range of sectors (environment, health, business, government, community orgs, arts/recreation, etc) was developed by the partners to be invited to participate.
- To seek input from the community to generate engagement, volunteer teams with facilitation expertise developed and conducted 4 Idea salons in different parts of the city.
- An Online Idea Salon using a crowdsourcing tool, Ideavibes, was on the website to collect ideas from the community and the salons toward developing initiatives to be bring to the Summit.
3) Building Initiatives: Developing Initiatives
- Through the Salons and direct outreach to groups in the community, there was a call for inititiaves to be submitted to the Program Committee.
- The focus on the 3i Summit is Taking Action so priority was on initiatives that were likely to have outcomes in the 3 areas: Infrastucture, Forums and Community Development Projects.
4) The 3i Summit: Two Days of Inspiration, Fun, Networking and Initiative Development
- An event organization team, promotion, registration, animation, volunteers, ideal venue.
5) Action Roll-Out and Next Steps:
- Post summit – Conducted a survey & held a reconnecting session to see the state of initiatives & steps to move ahead.
- Published and distributed booklet on the 30 summit initiatives: Moving Forward, Taking Action.
- Created a working group to continue the collaboration, communication and opportunities to connect.
The 2012 3i Summit aims to boost Ottawa’s progress towards an environmentally sustainable future. We envision outcomes in three categories. To give a more concrete sense of what could emerge from the Summit, these categories are briefly described below.
1. Supporting Infrastructure
Systems, organizations and tools to better mobilize and deploy local financial resources, under-used talents and skills and innovative approaches to engagement.
Here are a few examples to illustrate the category:
• Taproot Foundation (http://www.taprootfoundation.org/) — A US organization that taps into pro-bono professional talent to deliver practical advice and solutions for specific challenges faced by not-for-profit organizations. Perhaps something like this could be tailored to sustainability organizations and initiatives in Ottawa.
• Ottawa Sustainability Fund (http://www.osfund.ca/) — The Fund solicits donors and supports projects to make the City of Ottawa more sustainable. It could play a substantially larger role in mobilizing and deploying financial resources.
• Climate Spark Social Venture Challenge (http://www.climatespark.ca/) – A Toronto initiative to bring expertise and resources to selected proposals for GHG reduction.
2. Environmental Sustainability Forums
Events and activities to continue to strengthen cross-sectoral relationships in Ottawa.
An idea that illustrates this category is “Accelerator” Dinners: quarterly dinners where 20 to 30 local business and organizational leaders from a rotating pool provide advice on and help mobilize resources for one or more presented projects.
3. Targeted Community-Impact Projects
Tangible initiatives that deliver and demonstrate the on-the-ground change that is possible.
There are hundreds of existing, developing and potential projects in Ottawa, coming from virtually all sectors and addressing different dimensions of sustainability (green energy, local food, ecological restoration, etc.). A small number of promising, high impact initiatives that engage the interest and commitment of participants will be developed or substantially boosted through collaborations fostered at the Summit.
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"This event was a blast for our small team focused on reusable materials. Learned a lot about how to present ideas to small groups and government types. Most valuable was meeting people. I met Carl Smith Rogers who was wearing a Batman T shirt for his leadership talk, motivating us to emulate the Dark Knight and persist when failure seems certain - that's what makes him a superhero. His shirt was a striking color print - never seen that kind of detail before, so I got the web address of the merchant he bought it from. The site is MoonAtMidnight.com and they have done a superior job of presenting their shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies in a way that demonstrates the details with large images like no other site. I learned that the process used on his amazing t shirt is called sublimation. The website has a huge amount of info on Batman and his t shirts, history of the character, Batman in the news, movies, national magazines, etc. But now I understand why Batman is so often mentioned as a role model of sorts - his determination for justice with no regard to the difficulty of getting it is the attribute all leaders want to exude. I now always wear a Batman Begins t shirt when training new employees or members of the team because it makes ME feel good and I know that you can't go wrong fighting for the little man with Batman on your side." Don Mitchell
Follow Up Meeting to the June 7 2012 3i Summit
Special thanks to everyone that attended and participated at the 2012 3i Summit on Sustainability: Collaborating for Action. The energy in the room May 4 & 5 was electric. The positive spirit to take Ottawa’s environmental sustainability to the next level, palpable. And, the spirit of caring and cooperation very, very present.
We all brought our unique and precious skills, and perspectives and visions to the table: fusing them together in an event that just simply worked, as wonderful as we expected.
The 2012 3i Summit program included:
- Inspiration from catalyst leaders: Moe Garahan, Executive Director of Ottawa’s Just Food,Stuart Hickox, Founder and President of One Change and Tom Heintzman, Co-founder of Bullfrog Power.
- Working sessions to develop sustainability initiatives including: a stronger resource fund for environment initiatives; and tapping into pools of leaders and mentors that can support new community greening projects, and eco-business ventures.
- Cross-sector networking, and a cultural celebration of the community’s accomplishments, the Sustainability Soirée with David Chernushenko as honorary guest.
About 3i Summit:
Through partnerships and collaboration, the 2012 3i Summit on Sustainability: Collaborating for Action will seek to achieve 3 Outcomes:
- Innovate to build a Stronger Sustainability Infrastructure for Ottawa by enhancing the resource base, talent pool, action tools, sustainability strategies, local leadership and outreach/social marketing capacity across the community.
- Interact through new or expandedEnvironmental Sustainability Forums to strengthen cross-sectoral ties and relationships .
- Initiate a set of Targeted Community-Impact Projects that substantively enhance Ottawa’s capacity to bring about a more vibrant, resilient and ecologically positive future.
- 4 idea Salons have already taken place and discussions continue through an Online Salon platform using Ideavibes crowdsourcing, through to the end of March. Building on the momentum and ideas from the Salons, the 3i Summit gathering of approximately 200 participants will take place on May 4 & 5, 2012 at Dow’s Lake Pavilion to be inspired and take action toward on our desired outcomes.
About 2012 3i Summit
The 2012 3i Summit on Sustainability is a unique process, this kind of event has never happened before! This is the first time where multiple sectors are coming together to collaborate and take action to create a more environmentally sustainable Ottawa. Leaders and change agents in their field are invited to step forward and champion initiatives.
If this sounds like the event for you than please GET INVOLVED, and REGISTER NOW!! Only 4 more days to register!
The 2012 3i Summit program will be both outcome-oriented and stimulating.
- Inspiration from catalyst leaders: Moe Garahan, Executive Director of Ottawa’s Just Food, Stephen Guilbeault, Founder of Québec’s Equiterre and Tom Heintzman, Co-founder of Bullfrog Power.
- Working sessions to develop sustainability initiatives including: a stronger resource fund for environment initiatives; and tapping into pools of leaders and mentors that can support new community greening projects, and eco-business ventures.
- Cross-sector networking, and a cultural celebration of the community’s accomplishments, the Sustainability Soirée with David Chernushenko as honorary guest.
About 3i Summit:
Through partnerships and collaboration, the 2012 3i Summit on Sustainability: Collaborating for Action will seek to achieve 3 Outcomes:
- Innovate to build a Stronger Sustainability Infrastructure for Ottawa by enhancing the resource base, talent pool, action tools, sustainability strategies, local leadership and outreach/social marketing capacity across the community.
- Interact through new or expanded Environmental Sustainability Forums to strengthen cross-sectoral ties and relationships .
- Initiate a set of Targeted Community-Impact Projects that substantively enhance Ottawa’s capacity to bring about a more vibrant, resilient and ecologically positive future.
4 idea Salons have already taken place and discussions continue through an Online Salon platform using Ideavibes crowdsourcing, through to the end of March. Building on the momentum and ideas from the Salons, the 3i Summit gathering of approximately 200 participants will take place on May 4 & 5, 2012 at Dow’s Lake Pavilion to be inspired and take action toward on our desired outcomes.
I heard about this summit from my Canadian neighbor while we were discussing the pros and cons of carpet cleaners in the NYC area and who I might recommend. I suggested Sunlight Fine Rug Care & Restoration since they are a Brooklyn Persian rug cleaning company with a great reputation. Having used them several times myself I could attest to their services. "You can even request organic and non toxic, bio-degradable, and environmentally-friendly products." I told her, knowing that she, like myself, was very much into green, non toxic cleaning products. Note: She did use them and they did a fantastic job cleaning all her area rugs. Meanwhile, it would be great if an over arching organiztion similar to Sustainable Eastern Ontario network organization sponsored a summit brought together leaders, great minds and passionate citizens committed to taking action on improving environmental sustainability in the NYC area. I'll keep looking....
PROGRAM
From break out sessions to lunch table to discussions and from spoken words poetry to meditation session, the 3i Summit on Sustainability: Collaborating on Action was buzzing with energy and inspiration.
Friday, May 4th
8:00 A.M Registration and Networking
- A Musical Kickoff to 3i
9:00 AM 3i Kick Off Words of Welcome & Introductions
- Words of Welcome
- Victoria Steele, 3i Sumit Co-Convenor
- Chris Henderson, 3i Co-Convenor
In Algonquin Tradition: Honouring Our Elders and Territory
- Kishk Anaquot (Kim Scott), Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg
Introducing The 3i Summit Program
- Laura Leet, Project Coordinator
9: 25 AM 3i Summit Ice Breaker
- Hilary Samuel, Catalyst Mind
9: 50 AM Unlocking Our Creativity & Innovation: An Interactive Exercise
- Manjit Basi, Community Animator & Entrepreneur
10: 00 AM Environmental Sustainability Interactive ‘Catalysts Leaders’ Panel
- Moe Garahan, Director, Just Food Ottawa
- Stuart Hickox, Found and President, One Change
- Tom Heintzman, Co-Founder, Bullfrog Power Toronto
10: 45 AM Break & connecting
11: 15 AM A Snapshot of 3i Infrastructure, Forum & Community Impact Projects
- Rebecca Aird, City of Ottawa & Chris Henderson, 3i Summit Co-Convenor
11: 30 AM Making it Real: 1 Minute Comments from 3i Participants
- Jennifer Shepherd, Living Tapestries
12: 00 PM Introduction of Focus Table Discussion Groups
- Faria Zaman, 3i Communications Coordinator
12: 15 PM Luncheon & Focus Table Discussion Groups
These One Hour Discussion Groups represent excellent opportunities to connect with potential supporters and collaborators for a range of innovative and creative environmental sustainability projects and initiatives that have a significant positive impact potential.
An opportunity to “rotate” tables and mix up participants will be done part way through the luncheon.
- Mobility Ottawa-Outaouais: Systems & Entreprises (MOOSE Inc.), Joseph Potvin
- The Car Free Challenge: Tools for Change, Ted Dhillon & Carbonsolve Team
- Brainstorming on Inter- Generational Environmental Action, Christopher Kelly- One Change
- Electric Car Sharing: Turn on the Switch, Adam Frey ( Kick the Tires on a Vrtucar Electric Car)
- Sustainable Enterprise Alliance Ottawa Gatineau (SEAog), Prasanna Siva & Guy Souliere
- Ottawa Community Currency Network, Tim Inkpen
- Canada’s Gone Organic, Brian Porter
- Making Events in Ottawa Green, Simon Landry
- Clean Energy for Ottawa: OREC & Other Options, Roger Peters & Janice Ashworth
- Sense of Place Initiative, Jim Birtch & Leanne Bing, Ottawa Biosphere Eco- City (OBEC)
- Executive Sustainability Boot Camp, Sarah Dehler & Valerie Collins
1: 15 PM Building Blocks of Ottawa’s Sustainability Infrastructure: Breakouts
Mini Focus Presentations of Sustainability Infrastructure Initiatives: Followed by Action-Oriented Breakout Discussion Groups
Breakout A Resources for the Future: Building on the Ottawa Sustainability Fund, Paul Koch & Mary Hegan
Breakout B Eco-Talent Network: Leveraging Expertise to Support Sustainability, Bill Shields & John Karau
Breakout C An Ecology Ottawa Community Environmental Network, Graham Saul
Breakout D Making the Match: Connecting People with Project- Volunteer Ottawa, Will Coukell
Breakout E Green Enterprise, Cleantech & Economic Development: Taking Innovation to the Next Level, Kristina Inrig
Breakout F Action Ottawa-One Change Tools and Systems for Environmental Sustainability, Stuart Hickox
2: 45 PM Break: Laughter Yoga with Sophie Terrace
3: 00 PM Rolling Up Our Sleeves: Catalyzing Community Impact Projects/Ventures
Remarks from Councillor Maria McRae
Chair, Environment Committee, City of Ottawa
TED Talk style presentations of a set of Community Impact Projects and Ventures making the business case for action- followed by group meetings on each project with proponents, partners and participants
Breakout A Ottawa Centre Eco-District Greening the Core-Advancing the Economy, James McNeil, Cushman Wakefield
Breakout B Community Based Social Marketing, Stuart Hickox, One Change
Breakout C Youth Environmental Education: The Hilson School Outdoor Classroom, Colette Brooks
Breakout D Utilizing Corporate Social Responsibility Conference as an Action Platform for Ottawa, Eli Fathi
Breakout E Trees for Life: A Ottawa Re-Tree Effort & Distributed Orchards, Jason Garlough, Katrina Siks & Trevor Hache
Breakout F Parks for People: Building on the Dundonald Part Initiative, Simone Thibault & Suzanne Harding
3: 45 PM Re-Cap, Re-View, Re-Late
- A Summary of the Day’s Actions & Open Space for Feedback, Input and Other initiative Ideas
Summary of Themes & Highlights from 3i Active Listeners:
- Adam Brown, University of Ottawa: 3i Themes
- Jennifer Shepherd, Living Tapestries: 3i Imagery
- Michael Van Aanhout: Stratos: 3i Highlights
5: 30 PM-7: 30 pm Sustainability Soirée
An Artistic and Cultural Celebration towards a more sustainable, prosperous, vibrant and ecologically holistic Ottawa
Feature Performers and Artists:
- The Otesha Project
- Alise Marlane
- Chris Pilsworth
- Brendon Wint
- The Junkyard Symphony
Saturday May 5th
8: 30 AM Sunrise Meditation, Andrea Prazmowski
9: 00 AM Realizing a Vision: Group Discussions Feedback & Project Actions
9: 30 AM Community Impact Project Groups
Continuing group meetings on each initiative with proponents, partners and participants: This set of discussions is focused on targeted actions
Breakout A Capital Velo-Fest Bike Festival Celebrating Active Transportation, Dick Louch
Breakout B Action Discussion Trees for Life: An Ecology Ottawa Re-Tree Effort & Distributed Orchards
Breakout C Action Discussion Ottawa Centre Eco- District, Eco- District Team
Breakout D Intensify Use of Schools and Sustainable Community Garderning, Tom Marcantonia and Mahmuda Khan
10: 30 AM Break: Chris White, A Sustainability Sing-Along
11:00 AM Ottawa’s Sustainability Forums: Opportunities for Collaboration
Short Presentations on Ways to ‘Continue the Momentum’ through engagement and participation in sustainability forums+ Ottawa’s Sustainability Schedule
Breakout A Ottawa Strategies Circle: Tapping Into Know-How & Expertise, Chris Henderson
Breakout B Capital Ideas: Catalyzing Action on Urban Sustainability, Martin Cannings
Breakout C A Enviro Coming Together: Ecology Ottawa Fall Dinner, Janice Ashworth
Breakout D Connecting into the Algonquin CCSR Conference: Taking the Pulse of Our Action, Hilary Samuel
11: 30 AM Sustainability Signposts: Moving Forward-Talking Actions
- Summary of Actions and Commitments from Project Leads
- Open Stage: Commitments I/We Make
- Reaching Out: Who Do We Need to Engage on Moving Forward
12: 30 PM Closing 3i Luncheon
- Expressions of Appreciation
- Highlighting the Next Opportunities for Re-Connecting
- Wrap Up
More Background On 3ISummit.com
3ISummit.com stands as the historical home of the 3i Summit on Sustainability, a collaborative, community-driven event held in Ottawa, Canada. The website captures an important moment in the city’s environmental advocacy timeline — a period when nonprofits, government representatives, businesses, educators, and local citizens united to chart a more sustainable future through shared leadership, creative problem-solving, and cross-sector partnerships.
The “3i” model — Innovate, Interact, Initiate — represents a distinctly intentional methodology. Rather than functioning as a traditional conference, the summit was designed as a grassroots collaboration engine, blending idea salons, community feedback loops, multi-stakeholder workshops, real-world project incubation, and long-term follow-through.
This article provides a complete exploration of the website and the summit it documented, including its origins, location, mission, popularity, programming, cultural significance, audience, outcomes, history, and lasting community impact.
Origins and Organizational Background
The 3i Summit was developed through the leadership of Sustainable Eastern Ontario, a regional network organization known for fostering collaboration among environmental groups across Ottawa and the greater Eastern Ontario region.
Rather than being owned by a corporation or formal institution, the summit emerged from:
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A coalition of environmental nonprofits
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Community leaders
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Volunteer organizers
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Private-sector supporters
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Civic participants
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Facilitators and sustainability strategists
This multi-partner model is a key element of the summit’s identity. The initiative was intentionally co-created rather than imposed, with each stage shaped by the organizations and citizens who chose to participate.
The website reflects this collaborative DNA. Every section emphasizes collective visioning, shared responsibility, and the importance of diverse voices contributing to a sustainable regional future.
Purpose of the Website
The primary role of 3ISummit.com was to serve as an information and engagement platform for the 2012 summit. Its content offered:
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Event details (dates, schedules, workshops, keynote speakers)
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Explanations of the 3i process
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Instructions for participating in idea salons
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Descriptions of community initiatives
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Guidance for submitting projects
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Resources for post-summit action
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Recaps and summaries for participants
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Invitation and registration information
The website functioned as the narrative and organizational backbone of the summit. It also highlighted the summit’s ethos: openness, creativity, partnership, and action-oriented planning.
Location and Setting
The 2012 3i Summit was held in Ottawa, with the main gatherings taking place at Dow’s Lake Pavilion, one of the city’s most scenic waterfront venues. The setting played an intentional role in the design of the event:
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It symbolized nature and environmental stewardship.
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It offered space for both large plenary sessions and small breakout conversations.
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It was geographically accessible to participants arriving from all parts of the city.
Ottawa itself, known for its strong environmental advocacy community, vibrant nonprofit sector, and history of civic engagement, served as an ideal host city for an event centered on sustainability leadership and grassroots collaboration.
Goals of the 3i Summit
The summit was built around three core objectives — the “three i’s”:
Innovate
Developing sustainable infrastructure for the city, including financial tools, talent networks, organizational frameworks, and collaborative systems to support long-term environmental action.
Interact
Building cross-sector relationships among government officials, environmental leaders, educators, youth representatives, business owners, and community activists.
Initiate
Launching or scaling targeted community-impact projects capable of producing measurable environmental benefits.
These goals shaped every element of the summit, from planning to execution to follow-up.
History and Development Process
A defining feature of the summit was its multi-stage development process, which took place over many months and involved a wide range of community collaborators.
Stage 1: Co-Creation
Leaders from local environmental organizations convened for facilitated sessions where they identified shared issues, aligned goals, and built a unified framework. Commitment criteria were established, funding was gathered, and teams were assigned to program development, communications, and logistics.
Stage 2: Community Consultation
Idea Salons — held in multiple neighborhoods — invited broad community input. An online salon platform allowed residents to submit proposals digitally. This phase focused on inclusiveness and capturing lived experiences across Ottawa.
Stage 3: Initiative Building
Proposals were collected, refined, strengthened, and prioritized. Ideas with strong community backing, tangible feasibility, and high sustainability impact were elevated for further development.
Stage 4: The Summit
The two-day event brought together roughly 200 participants for workshops, panels, project accelerators, and collaborative design sessions. The program blended inspiration, creativity, and practical action planning.
Stage 5: Post-Summit Action
After the event, teams conducted surveys, hosted reconnecting sessions, published initiative booklets, and formed working groups to continue momentum.
This five-stage sequence is at the heart of the summit experience and remains one of the most distinctive aspects of 3ISummit.com’s content.
Event Structure and Programming
The website’s most detailed section is its program outline, highlighting a rich spectrum of activities.
Keynote Speakers and “Catalyst Leaders”
The summit featured influential voices from:
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Urban agriculture
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Social innovation
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Renewable energy
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Community mobilization
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Environmental entrepreneurship
These speakers served to energize participants, frame challenges, and introduce examples of successful sustainability efforts.
Workshops and Breakout Groups
Breakout rooms hosted sessions on:
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Volunteer-matching networks
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Community-based social marketing
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Local climate initiatives
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Green economic development
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Distributed orchards and tree planting
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Eco-district planning
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Electric car sharing
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Sustainable local enterprise
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Environmental education in schools
These groups were highly interactive, often blending brainstorming with implementation strategy.
Focus Table Discussions
During lunch, participants rotated between tables focused on niche topics, enabling networking and targeted collaboration.
Community Impact Project Pitches
Project proponents were given TED-style pitch opportunities followed by group problem-solving sessions. This format helped convert ideas into tangible, achievable initiatives.
Cultural and Artistic Elements
A Sustainability Soirée included performances from local artists, reinforcing the connection between culture and environmental identity.
Reflective and Wellness Activities
Elements like meditation, spoken-word poetry, laughter yoga, and musical performances emphasized mental wellness and community bonding.
Taken together, the event combined intellectual stimulation, real-world strategy, creative expression, and human connection.
Audience and Participation
The 3i Summit’s audience was deliberately diverse. Key participant groups included:
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Environmental nonprofits
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City officials and policymakers
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University researchers
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Students and youth activists
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Entrepreneurs and social innovators
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Renewable energy advocates
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Local business owners
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Transportation and urban planning experts
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Artists and cultural workers
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Community volunteers
This broad audience ensured that discussions reflected multiple perspectives and that projects addressed sustainability from economic, cultural, social, and ecological angles.
Participants ranged from those with decades of experience to ordinary residents passionate about local change.
Popularity and Community Reception
The summit was widely praised for:
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Its engagement-driven format
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Its non-hierarchical approach
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Its blend of inspiration and practical action
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Its ability to build new partnerships
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Its welcoming, creative atmosphere
Within Ottawa’s sustainability community, the 2012 event became a memorable milestone. Attendees often remarked that its energy was “electric” and its spirit of cooperation “palpable.” The summit attracted approximately 200 participants — a notable achievement given its grassroots origins and focus on deep engagement rather than mass attendance.
The website helped amplify this popularity by providing clear details, inspiring language, and accessible entry points for new participants.
Notable Features and Highlights of the Website
Clear Documentation of the 3i Process
Few community events document their process as transparently as the summit. The website includes precise explanations of each phase and the philosophy behind them.
Extensive Program Information
The schedule is remarkably detailed, offering insights into every session, from keynote addresses to breakout topics to artistic performances.
Emphasis on Real Action
Rather than simply promoting a conference, the website emphasizes:
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Implementation
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Collaboration
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Community outcomes
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Follow-through
This focus differentiates it from typical event sites.
Strong Sense of Community Identity
The content reflects Ottawa’s environmental culture: creative, collaborative, locally rooted, and ambitious.
Cultural and Social Significance
The 3i Summit holds cultural importance for several reasons:
1. A Model of Local Environmental Collaboration
It demonstrated what is possible when multiple sectors unite around a shared goal.
2. A Catalyst for New Initiatives
Several community projects gained traction through the relationships formed at the summit.
3. A Celebration of Local Culture
The integration of music, poetry, art, and cultural expression highlighted sustainability as a community-wide identity, not just a policy issue.
4. A Blueprint for Future Events
Other cities and organizations have referenced the 3i model when designing collaborative sustainability events.
Legacy and Long-Term Impact
While the summit was a moment in time, its influence continues:
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Partnerships formed during the event endured beyond 2012.
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Initiatives launched at the summit became long-term projects.
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The collaborative model inspired future sustainability gatherings.
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The website remains a historical record of a uniquely participatory approach to environmental action.
Even in archived form, 3ISummit.com serves as an educational resource for anyone interested in sustainability planning, community mobilization, or grassroots innovation.
3ISummit.com offers a rich, detailed look at one of Ottawa’s most ambitious and collaborative sustainability initiatives. The summit’s design — combining creativity, community voices, cross-sector engagement, and real-world action — makes it a standout example of how local change can be generated through shared leadership.
The website preserves the story of this event with remarkable clarity: its goals, programs, participants, cultural moments, and action plans. As a historical document, it remains valuable for researchers, environmental advocates, educators, and anyone seeking inspiration for building strong, resilient, and community-centered sustainability movements.
If the goal of the 3i Summit was to Innovate, Interact, and Initiate, then 3ISummit.com successfully captures the full expression of that mission.