Transforming Communities Creatively Season 4 Premiere |
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On Wednesday, November 24th, hear positively uplifting and inspiring stories from eight fabulous guests committed to regenerating and transforming communities creatively in Season 4 of this special Climate and Artists free webinar series. Learn how committed actions taken by individuals have empowered neighbours, communities, cities and countries to become happier, healthier and more resilient. This diverse panel of speakers includes a First Nations perspective on integrating Indigenous knowledge into nature-based resource planning in British Columbia; ways to save money and help the planet; artists creating international change; how to become a car free community and overcome bylaw challenges; plus an overview of COP26 from the point of view of a veteran policy maker and a guest with hands-on experience at COP events. Inspired by the work of Paul Hawken, celebrated author of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming and the just released book, Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, Creatively United has created the graphic below to set the course of this webinar season. |
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This season will feature four special webinars on Wednesdays, from 10:30 am to noon, November 24, 2021, January 26, March 23 and May 25th, 2022, all highlighting different aspects of well-being from an individual, community and global level with incredible presenters from both near and far on a wide range of topics that showcase solutions of every description. Be prepared to be inspired as we focus on what’s possible and how to get there. A live Q+A will be held during the last 10-15 minutes of the webinar, with a video replay available, complete with answers to all the questions, within the week of the webinar. Please be sure to register for free to receive access to the webinar, the video replay link, and also check CreativelyUnited.org’s Event Calendar to learn of other events happening throughout the year. |
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November 24th Featured Speakers |
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Eleanor Boyle is a Vancouver, BC-based activist for food that is healthy, sustainable, and fair. A former journalist and college instructor, she holds degrees in psychology, neuroscience, and food policy. She authored High Steaks: Why and How to Eat Less Meat, and the upcoming Mobilize Food: Wartime Inspiration for Environmental Victory Today. As one solution to the climate crisis, Eleanor promotes mandatory limits on emissions-intensive consumption, and blogs on her website. Focused on to healthy living as well as eating, Eleanor is a recreational triathlete and grows potatoes on her apartment balcony. |
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Gwen Bridge, M.Sc Bio, works on natural resources issues with Indigenous peoples to ensure mutual benefits and equality in decision making with all levels of government. Adept in establishing new conceptual frameworks to support equity in negotiating government-to-government agreements, Gwen’s mission is to improve relationships between Indigenous nations and their partners so peoples and natural resource conditions are improved. Gwen is a member of the Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta, Canada. She received a Master of Science degree in Renewable Resources studying forest hydrology from the University of Alberta in 2000. Gwen has worked in the US and Canada as a hydrologist, water quality standards and source water protection expert, riparian habitat specialist, watershed planner, indigenous rights specialist, cultural research manager, and now consultant. Gwen started consulting in 2010, advising First Nations, First Nations organizations, other governments and the private sector on relationships, natural resource and economic development projects, including working on a water law project with the Lower Similkameen Indian Band. Gwen will discuss how Indigenous knowledge can help elevate and regenerate legislative frameworks around natural resource management. |
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In another life, John James O’Brien would have been an architect. In this one, he has drawn upon that natural inclination to create organisational systems that build the capacity of people in matters of governance and in community to achieve outcomes not thought possible. Balancing internal leadership, external consulting and educational roles has meant that each informs the other, offering a broad, interdisciplinary perspective. John has a background in knowledge resource management, serving as Director and Principal Archivist, the Government Records Service, Hong Kong and as a consultant in privacy and evidence-based practice. He has served on a number of professional and community boards internationally. John has returned to Victoria where he and his partner are housing providers and bureaucratically sensitive community champions. |
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Jon O’Riordan is the founder of the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Series. He plays viola with the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and is a chorister with the Victoria Philharmonic Choir. He completed his public service career as Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management with a commitment to ensure that we lived within nature’s limits. In that role he led a joint Indigenous/provincial government reconciliation agreement on preserving the Great Bear Rain Forest. After leaving government, he taught a graduate course in Resource Planning and Public Policy at UBC to inspire students to pursue careers to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. He advises the Polis Project on Ecological Governance at University of Victoria on watershed resiliency and on climate change adaptation. |
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Emily Pickett has been involved in various animal advocacy campaigns since joining the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) in 2014. Currently, as VHS’s Campaign Director, she manages the organization’s campaign strategy around issues including farmed animals; animals in captivity; animals in entertainment; and co-existence with wildlife. Emily graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree in Political Studies and has been involved in the animal protection and non-profit sector since 2009. Emily will share how the Vancouver Humane Society has encouraged the City of Vancouver to increase plant-based purchasing at the municipal level. |
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Razcel Jan Salvarita is a multi-disciplinary artist, creative activist and founder of the Baryo Balangaw Creative Initiatives who directs the vision and mission of the CommUNITY Centre for Peace, Arts and Sustainability in the Philippines. In 2018, Razcel presented a TEDx Talk on Artivism: Effecting Environmental Consciousness through Art. His impact in local and international eco-artivism has brought him to a deeper sense of commitment to becoming a Teaching Artist and integrating creative awakening to supplement practices that support behavioral and perspective change among grassroot communities. Razcel has represented the Philippines in two United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP11/Montreal-Canada and COP13/Bali-Indonesia) where he was one of the climate artist campaigners and environmental journalists. For more than two decades, he has continued to work as an environmental educator, community-based facilitator and consciousness activator with various local and international non-profit organizations. Most recently, Razcel, led and co-facilitated an on-going series of Creative Recovery workshops focusing on women farm workers through a support grant. |
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Simon Sharkey was one of the founding directors of The National Theatre of Scotland, where he pioneered a “Theatre Without Walls” approach across Scotland and the rest of the world creating genre defying participatory programs and professional arts projects and festivals that reached globally and impacted locally. In 2018, he formed The Necessary Space which he calls a Theatre of Opportunity. Simon is currently engaged in several projects worldwide as a director, writer, speaker and documentary filmmaker for social change. |
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Julian West is the owner of Urban Thrive, a Victoria-based social enterprise development company that specializes in car-free missing middle housing. Julian takes a human-centered approach to housing development and views Urban Thrive as a catalyst for creating more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods. He actively advocates for transportation and land use reform at the local level, collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to build support for change. Julian has a degree in economics and a background in project management, communications, engagement, and entrepreneurship. He lives car-free in Vic West with his wife and three children. |
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Fairy Creek Update & Events
Submitted by the Elders for Fairy Creek |
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Maryanne Pare, one of the Elders for Ancient Trees, has produced, along with members of her family, a beautiful and inspiring video about Fairy Creek. |
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Elder Bill Jones tells us these forests have always been sacred places for meditation and prayer. Many of the trees they contain have been around longer than Western society. Researcher Suzanne Simard illustrates the importance of mycelial networks, the interconnectedness of the ecosystem, and the medicines they contain. A 2008 study found that these forests alone sequester about 1.3 gigatonnes of carbon per year and when these trees are disturbed by logging or natural causes. The value of these sacred lands is vast and undeniable. |
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Lawyers for Teal Cedar Products Ltd. (Teal-Jones), the Attorney General of BC, and the Attorney General of Canada (representing the RCMP) — are ranged against the team of lawyers representing the Rainforest Flying Squad and Elders for Ancient Trees in an effort to overturn Judge Thompson’s September decision to deny Teal Jones their injunction. |
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Funeral for the Future - Saturday, November 20 An Extinction Rebellion organized action featuring David Suzuki as speaker. 12:30 pm in Centennial Square, followed by a funeral procession down Douglas Street to highlight the deaths that will accompany 2°C, 3°C, and 4°C warming. |
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Rise Up for the Fallen - Wednesday, November 24 Procession and action on Day of Remembrance for Lost Species. See details below, and consider signing up to be a member of a silent witness contingent. Meet at the Central Library Courtyard at 3 pm for a walk to the Legislature. We will be remembering and honouring what has been lost and insisting that the government honour promises to protect old-growth forests and deliver financial support to first Nations to give real choices for transitioning away from old-growth logging. |
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In the meantime, please keep up the pressure on your MP and MLA on the importance of protecting Fairy Creek, with special reference to the link between protection of old-growth forest and climate change, and contact: Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault 1-613-992-6779 - Steven.Guilbeault@parl.gc.ca Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Katrine Conroy
1-250-387-6240 - FLNR.Minister@gov.bc.ca Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, George Heyman
1-250 387-1187 - ENV.minister@gov.bc.ca |
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Community Bus: A weekend bus (either Saturday or Sunday) generally leaves from UVic. For questions or seat reservations, contact FairyCreekBusService@gmail.com. Alternative Rideshare Options: There are also alternate rideshare options available through the Fairy Creek Carpool thread on Signal (app) or the Fairy Creek Rideshare + Shuttle group on Facebook. If you have a car and can offer a ride please post on the Signal or Facebook groups. |
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Supplies are once more needed on the front lines at Fairy Creek: Food: Baked goods, food that doesn’t take prep, energy bars (there’s not much point bringing food that needs to be prepared). Non-food: tarps, waterproof gear, bike wheels (preferably front with tires and inner tubes to make handcarts), pannier racks that connect with axle, wool layers and socks. If you have supplies to donate, please contact janandbill.victoria@gmail.com. |
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Creatively United Solutions Hub |
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Creatively United for the Planet is a registered non-profit society. Since 2012, we have been leading, convening and amplifying ways to share how collectively we can reduce our ecological footprint and implement long-term sustainability solutions. Our mandate is to foster conversations, connections and create collaborative opportunities that bring individuals and organizations together in support of achieving common sustainability goals and accelerating climate action. Creatively United is a member of the Westcoast Climate Action Network and works collaboratively with numerous community organizations and in partnership with the Gail O'Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund, supported by The Victoria Foundation. The Gail O'Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund is dedicated to changing human consciousness towards global environmental change by combining science with the creativity of the performing arts. |
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Healthy, happy communities begin from the ground up. Help us inspire generations to protect and preserve the natural world and confront climate change, so families, communities and nature can prosper together. |
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