Climate Action Fair

WHO? You and me and all our friends!
WHAT? Climate Action Fair at VIU
WHERE? VIU Nanaimo Campus Plaza in front of the VIU Library/Cafeteria
WHEN? Thurs Sept 21, 2023, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
WHY? BECAUSE COLLECTIVE ACTION IS POWERFUL!

As global climate change accelerates, it is becoming clear that its negative impacts, which we once thought would take place far in the future, and in other parts of the world, are happening in the here and now. BC is already seeing extreme weather throughout the year, and most recently in this summer’s record-breaking forest fire activity.

Do you feel anxious about this? Are you angry? Do you need more tools and information to help you figure out how to respond? Do you want to connect with other climate activists in the VIU community and get more involved?

If so, we invite you to come to VIU’s first Climate Action Fair on Thursday September 21. This event will include information tables, short talks on important topics, and offer a place to connect with other VIU students and employees involved in Climate Action on our campus.

Schedule

SPEAKERS

WELCOME FROM: Michele Patterson (VIU Geography Faculty) Land acknowledgement, description of what is going on at the fair, moment of silence for firefighters killed this summer. 

WELCOME FROM: Maxine Laqwa Matilpi (VIU Elder in Residence)

HOUR ONE – 11:30 – 12:30:  Ten speakers talking about “climate change and...”

…What difference the world has already made, and what is yet to be done: (Jeff Lewis, VIU Geography Faculty)

…VIU’s Climate Action leadership: (Elizabeth Brimacombe, Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences)

…How VIU students can get involved (Kyle Wickland, VIU Student)

…Vancouver Island University Faculty Association climate activities (Chris Alemany, VIUFA)

…Worker’s perspectives (Jessica Dagasso, Nanaimo and Duncan District Labour Council, and Local President and PSAC BC Young Worker Representative; VIU Student)

…People with disabilities (Simon Hazel Maguire VIU EcoClub, VIU Student)

…Plant restoration (Caroline Josephson, VIU Biology Faculty)

…Canada’s Commitments and youth engagement (Lauren Touchant, VIU Political Studies Faculty)

 …Shellfish (research into impacts and mitigation) (Tim Green, VIU Canada Research Chair)

…Land, outdoor education, and sustainability (Jaylene Murray, VIU Tourism Faculty)

MUSICAL NTERLUDE (APPROX)

12:30 -12:45 – Sonnet L’abbe, VIU Creative Writing Department – musical guest

HOUR TWO (Approx)– 12:45-1:30:  Seven speakers talking about “climate change and…”

…Reconciliation at VIU (Don Alexander, VIU Geography Faculty

…New Nanaimo polices re residential building emissions (Dave Stewart, City of Nanaimo)

…Moving through Climate Grief (Sylvia Arnold, VIU ESL Faculty)

…Climate Justice and an upcoming course in the topic (Juliane Collard, VIU Geography Faculty)

…Initiatives in VIU’s Kitchens (Mike Taylor, VIU Food Services)

…Agriculture (Jenny Horn, VIU Cowichan Campus)

…Air Quality (Erik Krogh, VIU Chemistry Faculty)

CLOSING WORDS AND THANKS FROM:  Michele Patterson. 

INFORMATION TABLES

Using VIU Tables (10 in total)

• ACER (interactive experiments)
• VIU MCP Program (Nanaimo map and climate change conversations)
• City of Nanaimo/Nanaimo Regional District (sharing)
• Speaker Booth/Action Booth (Michele running with student volunteers)
• Nanaimo Climate Action Hub/Council of Canadians (sharing)
• VIU Eco club/VIU Restoration (sharing)
• GoByBikeBC (two tables)
• Deep Bay
• Ecoforestry Institute Society

Using Their Own Tables (Two in total)

1. Nanaimo Green Faith Circle
2. Green Party of Canada
3. Green Party of BC

-Also, Chemistry’s Mobile Mass Spectrometry Lab Van will be parked in front of Starbucks.