Gene Miller Email and Phone Number

Born and raised in New York City. Attended Manhattan School of Music and the High School of Music and Art. Graduated from Goddard College (Vermont)--then one of the great bastions and incubators of John Dewey Progressivism in education, society and politics. New York made me a Democrat; Goddard made me a citizen.Arrived in Victoria, BC in 1970. Created Open Space, a warehouse cultural centre (really, an homage to the 92nd Street Y in New York), 1971. Founded Monday Magazine, an alternative city newsweekly, in 1975, and was its Publisher for 13 years. Parlayed an interest in urban planning and design into a development planning career, in 1988. Was the instigator whose efforts led to the Harris Green Charrette--a program that resulted in land use changes to a 12-square-block shoulder of Downtown Victoria; and recently, with architect Franc d'Ambrosio, of a similar process for the Rock Bay Area on Downtown's north side. Was involved from Day One with Loreto Bay, the resort development in Baja California, Mexico influenced by sustainability ideas, 2003. Influenced by ecological values and practices, and by growing concerns about global warming, conceived the annual Gaining Ground Urban Sustainability Conferences (seven, in all) in Victoria, Vancouver and Calgary, 2006 and onwards. These were timely and very important events that attracted as speakers mony, if not most, of the significant North American figures in the ecological and related fields.Began writing the "Urbanities" column for Victoria's FOCUS Magazine in December, 2005--an activity that continues to this day.Have, with partner John Kay, been pursuing opportunities for a unique small-unit housing concept called ASH (Affordable Sustainable Homes).Am currently in the early stages of planning, with collaborator Rob Abbott (the extraordinary moderator of the Gaining Ground Conferences), a range of initiatives including "50 by '20." Am working on a book, "Stranded Assets."