April Happenings
The state of the world can feel really overwhelming at times, from the senseless devastation in Ukraine to governments being unable to help themselves by continuing to support the development of fossil fuels. Amongst it all, though are many glimmers of hope. We are clearly all needed to help create a better world.
If you are new to this list, welcome! We send out this newsletter monthly to highlight events and news from the climate hub and our partners, so please read on for more.
Our noon-hour webinar series features inspiring initiatives from our hub partners. The April one fittingly lands on Earth Day and will feature Kootenay Outdoor and Environmental Learning Society (KOELS), based out of Rossland. Read on for more!
Climate Hub Webinar: Closing the Circular Economy Loop Locally
Friday, April 22, noon-1pm
Most people have heard of the circular economy. Diverting more of our waste stream for reuse in other products is great news, but there are still significant supply chain issues. Most of the components (e.g., plastic, electronics) are shipped to differing major centers, recycled into reusable product (e.g., recycled plastic pellets) and then shipped somewhere else to be formed into another product (e.g., computer components). What if we can substantially reduce the supply chain and do more of the steps locally?
We will hear about businesses that have taken up this challenge and are recycling plastic into products without leaving the local area. We will also learn about zero waste facilities which take waste from one product and use it in the production of other products, considerably reducing waste. We hope to have a lively discussion and come up with more ideas on what we can do to close the circular economy loop locally.
All welcome! Please register here.
Climate Hub Networking Call
Tuesday, May 3, 4pm (on Zoom)
Join our quarterly call to network with others in the hub. Share and learn about updates from hub partners and individuals. We will even do a couple of rounds of speed networking. Leave feeling inspired to take action, knowing we are all interconnected!
Register here
Climate Anxiety in Selkirk College Youth: How pervasive is it?
Thursday April 14, 1 pm (onine)
Third-year Rural Pre-Med student Kaitlyn Taburiaux will be presenting results from her final project, which surveyed Selkirk College students between 18-24 years old about their concerns about climate change. Her survey questions are based on those from a landmark study recently published in The Lancet, which found that climate anxiety is pervasive in the 10,000 youth they surveyed in 10 countries. Spoiler: the results are sobering.
She did this community project in partnership with our local CCL chapter. All community members are welcome. Contact Laura at ccl.westkootenay@gmail.com by April 13 for how to join.
Shoreline Cleanup at Chahko Mika Mall in Nelson
Saturday, April 16, 1-3 pm
Join Friends of Kootenay Lake for their second cleanup of the season! Garbage from the mall parking lot builds up along the shoreline, easily making its way into Kootenay Lake. Get your hands dirty and join other passionate lake lovers to clean up this area.
Find out more, including what to bring and how to register by clicking here.
Mir Peace Café
Let's Talk Divestment: How Investment Choices Can Fuel Climate Action
Thursday, April 21, 6:30 pm (online)
Join Mir Centre for Peace for an interactive online conversation on the ethical and financial dimensions of divestment, strategic considerations, responsible reinvestment and justice for workers in an energy transition.
Bring your thoughts and questions to discuss with expert participants Kenzie Harris (Banking on a Better Future), Bruce Wilson (Iron & Earth) and Joe Reid (Vancity).
More info and register here: https://selkirk.ca/event/mir-peace-cafe
Earth Day Fest at Taghum Hall
Friday, April 22, 3:30-8pm
Local farmers and suppliers of plant starts for the garden will be set up for a fun family-friendly outdoor afternoon and evening at Taghum Hall. Food will be available for purchase. Watch a short Dr. Seuss children’s theatre production outside in the gazebo. There will be a variety of Earth Day informational booths, musical entertainment and children’s activities. Come celebrate Earth Day outside by the river, and shop local! More here
We (the West Kootenay Climate Hub) will be debuting our new tabling materials at the market. Please stop by and say hello!
Hub partner West Kootenay Cycling Coalition (WKCC) will also be there, and encourage you to get there by bike! There will be a recycled bicycle craft table for kids, FREE bicycle tune-ups and a bicycle parking valet. Visit their booth to find out more about their organization, how to become a member and plans for 2022.
Intergenerational Earth Day Event in Nelson
Friday, April 22, 3:30-5pm
Please join the Nelson United Church Spirit Explorers and the Nelson Interfaith Climate Action Collaborative in an intergenerational Earth Day event, starting at Duck Bay (between Lakeside Park and the mall in Nelson). Naturalist Joanne Siderius will share knowledge and stories about the waterfowl and otters found in the bay. Then they will walk to the park for children's activities.
For more information email: randine@telus.net.
FoKLSS is Hiring a Stewardship Coordinator!
Deadline to apply: April 14 at 11:59pm
Job description: The Stewardship Coordinator is responsible for supporting the implementation of and fundraising for Friends of Kootenay Lake’s stewardship projects with oversight from the Program Manager. This includes leading field-based monitoring, site maintenance, cleanup activities, volunteer coordination and training, and data collection, analysis, and management to meet project deliverables.
More info & apply
Kootenay Carshare Coop has an inspiring new video short!
Since 2019 Kootenay Carshare Cooperative has been sharing Electric Vehicles with its certified drivers. Watch this 5 minute video to learn about thier journey, the benefits and the possibilities for you to share your own EV! Thank you Emotive for funding this film. Please SHARE with your networks!
In Case You Missed Our Inspiring March Webinar
Our webinar last month featured Solita Work with the West Kootenay Cycling Coalition, where we learned about some of their plans like a bicycle share program and fun group ride events. We also learned about an exciting “dream” that the Cycling Coalition is working on with others in the community for an accessible and protected pathway connecting Nelson to Castlegar and beyond.
Watch it here.
Great Walking, Cycling and Rolling
Wednesday April 13th, 4pm
Speaking of cycling, our own Patricia (Trish) Dehnel will be featured in this West Coast Climate Action Network (WE-CAN) webinar on active transportation. This is to the 2nd of their four-part webinar series on Transportation in a Time of Climate Crisis. Register at this link.
Becoming Your Organization’s Coach on Lobbying Politicians
Sunday April 24, 2-3:30pm
From WE-CAN and the BC Climate Alliance: Are members of your local climate group unsure about how to speak to councillors, MLAs and MPs about climate action? This free 90-minute session will train you to coach your local members on proven, respectful approaches to planning and running effective meetings with politicians. Lobbying – articulating your views to your elected representatives - is a powerful tool to create political will for climate action. Limited spaces. No previous lobbying experience necessary. Training materials package provided to all participants. Register here.
Taking It to the Streets
The local Council of Canadians chapter has been busy on the streets of Nelson. On March 12, they collected 180 signatures on a parliamentary petition asking for a just transition for workers. Events on this day were held in dozens of communities across the country. The local petitions were sent to area MP Richard Cannings. They received no response when contacting MP Rob Morrison’s office.
They were back out last week on April 7 as part of a national day of action to draw attention to the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)’s deplorable record investing in the fossil fuel sector. RBC is the 5th worst bank in the world in funding fossil fuel projects, and other Canadian banks aren’t far behind.
Fridays for Futures West Kootenay and Last Stand West Kootenay organised a climate strike in Nelson on March 25 as part of the international day of action. The event included many inspiring speakers, a march, and a die-in dramatising the felling of an old growth forest.
Here’s a video clip of city councillors Nicole Charlwood and Keith Page challenging young people to run for office.
In closing, we hope that, like us, you find inspiration in the many amazing people in our community and around the world rowing in the same direction for a better world.
Hope to see you at some of the events happening this month!
With active hope,
Laura and Judy
West Kootenay Climate Hub
CCL Nelson - West Kootenay
P.S. We are using a different email this time to see if that avoids us ending up in your Junk folder. Hope this works better!
P.P.S To unsubscribe, follow the link below.
|
