Communities Climate Transitions Newsletter - August 2023
Dear there,
With every passing day, our climate reality becomes clearer, and these last few weeks have been no different. We hope you are hanging in there and being kind to each other and yourselves as we navigate the changes all around us and act to our best abilities in response to them.
This month, we have many stories and opportunities of hope and action to share with you. From community-led nature-based solutions to protect and restore the coasts of South-East New Brunswick to our upcoming masterclass with Aurash Khawarzad that will help you and your community adopt arts-based and democratic planning practices, we’re thrilled to share the latest and greatest from our network and partners with you!
On top of all of this excitement, we are eager to announce that registration is now open for our second annual national gathering on November 14-15 and you can view session descriptions and some of the many speakers who will be joining us.
Happy learning, reading, and growing – in partnership!
In our latest case study, Pays de Cocagne Sustainable Group and Helping Nature Heal demonstrate how they used renaturalization to restore and reinforce their local coastlines.
The case study details how collaboration can lead to long-term transformational change and the promise of nature-based solutions for climate action. Learn how educational workshops were paired with hands-on work to bring over 40 people together and restore 1,000m2 of coastal habitat.
Contrary to what some politicians claim, we don’t have to choose between tackling affordability and the climate crisis. There are many examples from coast to coast to coast of how these goals can be pursued in tandem, from building affordable and sustainable housing to increasing access to locally grown food and reducing waste.
Inspired by our recent webinar, this post explores the groundbreaking work of Neighbours United, a global leader in deep engagement that has revolutionized the way we approach climate and energy conversations.
Read more about how you can leverage a deep canvasing approach to find common ground on various pressing issues and mobilize your communities towards collective action.
We are excited to share the inaugural members of the CCT advisory group. These leaders span nonprofit, grassroots, public and private sectors and exemplify the courageous leadership we need amidst the climate emergency.
Learn more about the group’s hand in the CCT Innovation Fund, the Community Contributions Fund, designing our national gathering Communities Taking Climate Action, and advancing critical systems shifts and policy change.
The Community Climate Transitions team is thrilled to welcome Kieran Maingot to the team as a Manager of Communities. Kieran joins the team from within Tamarack where they had been supporting our resource activation work since July 2022. Their interests and involvement in the climate movement are ever evolving and currently focused in areas including, but not limited to, responding to climate grief and anxiety, the role of care work and collective organizing in our climate futures, and Indigenous land defence and stewardship campaigns.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, Tamarack partner and ally the Canadian Red Cross is continuing to support people living across Canada who are facing the unprecedented impacts from this year’s wildfire season.
They will be distributing N95 masks to individuals, organizations, and corporations located in communities where exposure to forest fire smoke has become a health concern. Organizations and corporations can request N95 masks by filling out the online request form available on their website.
Format: Virtual gathering with in-person meet-ups in several cities
With less than three months until our second annual gathering, we’re excited to announce that registration is officially open! We’re bringing together a diverse group of climate leaders who are eager to be in conversation with 200+ advocates and changemakers through keynotes, panels, workshops, and more. Session topics will include:
Co-Creating Local Climate Transitions: Celebrating Urban and Community-Led Climate Innovations
Creating Bold Transitions: The Role of Arts in Climate Action
Unleashing the Power of AI, Technology and Data in Climate Transitions
Adaptation and Resilience: Community-Led Disaster Planning and Response
Do you know a climate and/or equity leader you think would be great to join the conversations? Share your thoughts and ideas with Kieran Maingot at kieran@tamarackcommunity.ca
Date: September 7, 2023 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. ET Speaker: Aurash Khawarzad
What is the role of citizens in urban planning and their built environments? How can responsive planning processes help address interconnected social, economic, and environmental inequalities facing communities?
Artist, educator, and urban planner Aurash Khawarzad believes that by encouraging imagination and fostering innovative ideas, urban planners and community leaders can challenge the status quo and reimagine built environments as vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable places. The free masterclass is designed to equip participants with arts-based tools for building community identity, documenting complex issues, and creating equitable urban environments.
The Civic Incubator is a unique five-month support program designed for individuals, groups, and small non-profit organizations (NPOs) who are motivated to implement projects with the potential for systemic impact in their communities.
Join Myriam Bérubé for a rich exchange with our panellists from Montréal’s Maison de l’innovation sociale (MIS), Hugo Steben, Director of Capacity Building and Incubation, and Sarah Abarro, Incubation Programs Coordinator, accompanied by program laureates. Our guests will share their experiences and learnings from the program, as well as their thoughts on the transformative potential of incubated projects.
Language: This event will be happening in French with simultaneous interpretation into English.
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