The District of Saanich is helping drive engagement with its new Climate Plan by facilitating free public workshops on November 29th and December 1st, raising awareness of changes in the environment.
“Rising sea levels, longer dryer summers, and shorter, wetter winters, as well as recent forest fires, heat waves, and storms are showing how climate change will affect our future,” said Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes. “Local governments have a responsibility to respond to a changing climate and have an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I invite Saanich residents to join together to shape a plan that will work for our community.”
Climate Plan open house and public workshops at Gordon Head Recreation Centre:
- Thursday, November 29 from 3 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (child minding available)
View the workshop schedule and register online at saanich.ca/climateplan.
These free events at Gordon Head Recreation Centre include a drop-in open house and a series of one-hour interactive workshops. Early registration is recommended for the one-hour workshops, although drop-in spots may be available on the day. The events are intended for the general public and no special climate change background knowledge is required. Child minding is available on December 1st to allow parents to participate in the workshops. Light refreshments will be provided both days.
Residents can sign up for two different interactive workshops that will be offered twice each day:
- Mitigation (reducing our climate impact); and
- Adaptation (preparing for a changing climate).
Participants in the mitigation workshop will work together to build strategies to reach the community greenhouse gas emission targets using an interactive modelling tool. Participants in the adaptation workshop will review what sea level, temperature, and precipitation changes mean for the community and identify local risks that need to be addressed.
The open house will provide information about Saanich’s current greenhouse gas emissions, climate projections for the region, and possible climate actions in the areas of renewable energy, transportation, buildings, waste, food, and consumption. There will be opportunities to speak with Saanich staff, to complete surveys learn about actions that can be taken in the community, and to submit ideas for the plan.
