Services
Solsticeworks has a reputation for thoughtful, professional, and innovative work in sustainability, and environment, social and governance (ESG) practices. We have a long track record of pioneering advances in strategy, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
More recently, we are working with and through private and public sector, academic and civil society organizations to build capacity in several important and related fields:
- Adapting to climate change
- Natural capital
- Social sustainability
- Social purpose
- ESG disclosure standards
Sustainability Services
At Solsticeworks, our services focus on enhancing our clients’ sustainability performance which in turn contributes to accountable, connected, resilient organizations – and to a better world. We help organizations through:
Deepening Understanding
Many organizations start by seeking to understand how the changing world will affect them and how their business either contributes to sustainability or threatens it. They wonder about risks, opportunities, trends and how sustainability connects with their business goals. Our clients ask us for help with:
- Making sense of ESG reporting standards
- Benchmarking and gap analysis
- Specialized ESG and sustainability research
Building Accountability
Without accountability, sustainability goals are merely good intentions. Accountability makes it real. We help our clients build accountability through:
- Strategies and implementation plans
- Governance for climate change and sustainability
- ESG and sustainability performance reports
Engaging Stakeholders
Few sustainability goals can be achieved without some level of collaboration. Sustainability performance will be judged by those who are affected. In this crowded world, there is no escaping the need for dialogue – both to inform strategy and to understand the results. Solsticeworks can assist you with:
- Stakeholder analysis
- Stakeholder engagement planning
- Facilitating workshops and stakeholder panels
Case Studies in Innovation
At Solsticeworks we delight in the opportunity to support innovators. It’s a privilege to help them develop new programs, approaches or frameworks that stand the test of time. Here are examples of projects that demonstrate the value of our enduring innovations.
Starting in 2010, a Solsticeworks team supported the City’s social planning group and Steering Committee to develop an innovative Social Sustainability Strategy with unprecedented levels of Burnaby citizen involvement. We helped the City to develop its social sustainability goals and priorities through an extensive community working group process and then worked with the City to develop a strategic framework and draft strategy for further community consultation. The City of Burnaby was recognized for its achievement with the 2012 Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Planning Excellence in the category of Social Planning.
The Township of Langley used our Burnaby work as a reference point in designing their own highly inclusive and accountable social sustainability strategy. Solsticeworks was a key advisor and contributor throughout the process. We were honoured to share in the silver award for Our Thriving Community: Township of Langley Social Sustainability Strategy, awarded by the Planning Institute of BC in 2022.
There is growing awareness that communities depend deeply on the life support systems nature provides day in, day out, apparently for free. The District of West Vancouver wanted to bring attention to this unseen value to inform its asset management and financial policies. They reached out to Solsticeworks to create the initial inventory of natural capital. Through our research we developed estimates for the ecosystem services provided by West Vancouver’s forests, streams, foreshore and parks. Highlights of our 2019 report to Council have been widely shared by West Vancouver to inform its citizens and inspire other communities.
The Secwepemcúl’ecw Restoration and Stewardship Society (SRSS) honoured us with an unprecedented request in 2020. The society was formed by eight Indigenous communities to lead restoration efforts on their traditional lands following the devastating 2017 Elephant Hill wildfire. They asked Solsticeworks for a valuation of the ecosystem services in the massive 193,000 hectare area affected by the fire. Our report Natural Capital of the Elephant Hill Wildfire Area was achieved through collaboration with SRSS, Earth Economics and Michelle Molnar Consulting. SRSS plans to use the report to help community members, resource managers and others appreciate the value of what SRSS is working to restore.