News and upcoming happenings

Join us for “The Power of Big Oil” Film at Poirier Library in Coquitlam on Nov. 5, 2025 at 6PM

Location: Poirier Library in the Nancy Bennett Room (575 Poirier St, Coquitlam). Register here.

Discover what oil companies knew about climate change 40 years ago, and why we should hold them to account. With speakers Samantha Agtarap, councillor at city of Port Moody, which has pledged to join the Sue Big Oil lawsuit, and Julie Strilesky from Equinox Power, who are working to make our energy systems cleaner.

This event is a collaboration with the Coquitlam Public Library and the Sue Big Oil campaign.

Climate Action Week at NW Library Nov 1-7

Join NWPL November 1st to 7th, 2025 for Climate Action Week in BC Libraries! They have a full week of programs for all ages, including adults, teens and children, highlighting environmental awareness and climate action— all practical, hopeful, and locally-sourced.

You’ll also find displays of books in the branches to learn about climate change. The aim is to help the community learn about climate science and change some of our climate anxiety into hope through action.

Learn more here!

‘Weathering the Future’ Film on Tues, Nov 4 at 6:00 pm at the NW Public Library

Join us for the last Climate Film Night of 2025. Learn about traditional knowledge and new solutions for adapting to climate change impacts. This film is timely as our City of New Westminster is creating a Climate Adaptation Plan. Contribute your ideas during our discussion and have some free popcorn! See attached poster & register here.

Climate Solutions 101: Gain Hope Through Action

Join educators from RegenerateBC and your Richmond neighbours to learn about impactful climate solutions and how to implement them!

5 Wednesdays: October 22nd – November 19 2025

Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Brighouse Library

Week One: Broad Climate Concepts & Solutions and Disinformation
Week Two: Community Action and Reducing Emissions
Week Three: Action Plans and Impactful Solutions
Week Four: Natural Carbon Sinks and Additional Solutions
Week Five: Clothing Efficiency, Interview with Climate Activists & Connecting on Action

Register here.

Youth climate leaders get their hands dirty for stream restoration

On September 27 the Mayor’s Youth Climate Leadership Team installed a new rain garden in Terry Hughes Park. Check out Safeeya Pirani’s Global News video on the event here!

The following is from a Facebook post by New Westminster City Councillor Ruby Campbell:

Did you know streams used to run through many areas in New Westminster and as the city was built out, streams were put in pipes and buried underground to make way for the city’s infrastructure, including Glenbrook Stream?

The Youth Climate Leadership Team (YCLT) wanted to reconnect the community with this historic waterway and while this is not a full stream daylighting, it represents the first step in revitalizing the Glenbrook Stream and helps create more green spaces in New West.

The YCLT works with climate leader Mayor Patrick Johnstone and is supported by talented City staff to champion local climate solutions.

Action: Push for a Youth Climate Corps

You can use this link to send a letter to Prime Minister Carney and his cabinet to let them know that you want to see a permanent, well-resourced Youth Climate Corps in the 2025 budget. As the campaign states:

Instead of abandoning young people to record-high unemployment and climate despair, we could be creating good, green jobs to drive down our emissions, protect our communities and build the Canada that we truly want to see.

Here again is the link:

https://www.goodgreenjobsforall.ca/tell-carney

Be Heard on New West’s Climate Plan!

Our city is developing its first Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. As the Be Heard website states:

New Westminster is already experiencing the impacts of climate change. We are seeing more frequent and extreme weather events and natural disasters such as floods, storms, drought, heavy rainfall, extreme heat, and more. These events can disrupt daily life, cause damage to our homes, buildings, and infrastructure, and affect both physical and mental health.

In 2019, New Westminster’s Council declared a Climate Emergency and endorsed the Seven Bold Steps for Climate Action that guides us to moving the community towards a zero-carbon future by 2050…

To reflect the lived experiences of our New West community, and to ensure the Plan is developed based on our shared values, priorities, risks, vulnerabilities and needs, the City would like to hear from the community about:

• The challenges and concerns our community members face when dealing with climate impacts

• How prepared the community feels to handle those impacts

• What the City and community can do to be better prepared for future climate events, and

• How the community envisions a resilient present and future for New West

Have your voice included in any of the following ways:

a) Pop – ups – locations available at the Be Heard website (including Sept 27 at Riverfest where our Hub will also have a booth)

b) Visit the Be Heard website and complete the survey!

NWCAH joins big turnout at Riverfest

The rain held off and Hub volunteers enjoyed attending Riverfest on September 27. It was a real family event with children and parents spinning our wheel together and thinking about the answers to the climate questions. We were happily surprised at how many people from surrounding communities came by to see what Riverfest was all about.

Metro Vancouver ‘unlikely’ to meet 2030 emissions target, district staff say

In an interview with CBC on September 15, Hub member Dr. Tim Takaro urges Metro Vancouver to reduce emissions faster so their 2030 targets will be reached. He advises that they target climate pollution from non-road equipment and engines, which refers to items like construction machinery and manufacturing equipment. Thanks to Tim for his advocacy for evidence-based climate solutions!

Counting the Cost: a new report on the oil and gas industry and affordability by False Profits

Ever wondered what’s behind the rising costs on your heating bill or at the gas pumps? It may not be what you think. Led by economist Jim Stanford and the Centre for Future Work, the False Profits project “break[s] down myths about fossil fuels and affordability, showing how oil and gas companies profit while everyday Canadians pay the price.”

An excerpt from their new report, Counting the Costs:

“Oil prices are set on speculative ‘futures markets’ where paper barrels trade hands many times among financial gamblers rather than real businesses.

In 2022, oil prices spiked to $130 U.S./barrel, not due to shortages, but because traders profited from fear and uncertainty after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Global oil supply grew, and Canada’s oil output reached record levels, yet consumer prices soared.”

Youth Climate Corps: A Meeting with Jake Sawatzky

NWCAH member, Karin Roberts, met with New Westminster MP Jake Sawatsky, on July 2, 2025 to provide information about the BC Youth Climate Corps (YCC) and to encourage him to support federal funding for a Canada wide YCC program. As a youth himself, concerned about the mental health needs of young Canadians as relates to climate anxiety, Jake agreed to garner support for a federally funded YCC program in his meetings with the other five newly elected MPs aged 31 years or younger who form the Liberal MP Youth Caucus.

Visit the Youth Climate Corps of BC website here, and go here for more information about the push for a national YCC.

Prove the LNG industry is safe: Physicians, nurses and First Nations leaders challenge B.C. and federal governments

Agnes Black, shown in the photo at a media conference on September 8, 2025, is a Registered Nurse in Vancouver and member of the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment. She is part of a coalition of doctors, nurses and First Nations leaders who are challenging the BC and federal governments to acknowledge the liquefied natural gas industry’s health impacts, which disproportionately harm rural and First Nations communities. They are calling on provincial and federal governments to fund a comprehensive, cumulative, and independent health impact assessment of LNG and fracking activities before approving any more of these projects. Read more about the initiative in the announcement here and an article here.

Charting Paths: NWCAH Fall Visioning Session

Hub members came together for connection, creative brainstorming, and a “snackluck” at our September 6, 2025 visioning session. Participants generated many great ideas for projects and activities to work together on—all moving us closer to a clean, healthy future where nature and communities thrive for generations to come. Come talk with us at Riverfest (see the posting on this page) to learn more!

NWCAH Member Aggie Black featured in Sierra Club profile

Check out the full profile Q&A here!

A sample answer from the article about Aggie’s work with Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE):

Can you tell us a bit about CANE and your involvement?

“CANE represents nurses dedicated to the improvement of planetary health across all areas of nursing practice, policy, research and education. At the 2021 rally at the B.C. Legislature, I met Helen, the nurse who was leading the B.C. chapter of CANE at that time. She invited me to their next monthly meeting, and I’ve basically not missed one meeting since then! I am now on the national board of CANE. Along with my colleague Zach, I lead B.C. CANE. We hold regular meetings of our B.C. members, including presentations that educate and encourage them to take action in a variety of ways: raising awareness of climate change during election campaigns, writing letters to the editor and op-eds on the topic of planetary health, encouraging our pension plans to divest from fossil fuels, sharing book and film recommendations, and more! CANE helps nurses tap into the advocacy part of a nurse’s role and gives them tools to advocate on behalf of all patients.”

Join us at Riverfest on Saturday, September 27!

Come play the “spin the wheel” game and chat with us on Sept 27 (10 am – 4 pm) at Riverfest at the New Westminster Quay. Find out ways you can get involved and take action to build a better world while stopping global overheating!

See the City of New Westminster’s site here for more details.

Join us for Climate Film Night Tuesday October 7: Trouble in the Headwaters

Trouble in the Headwaters is a hard-hitting, 25-minute documentary which examines the multiple reasons for the disastrous 2018 flood event in Grand Forks, BC. Filmmaker Daniel Pierce, and forest hydrologist, Dr. Younes Alila will be present and lead the discussion after the film!

Join us Tuesday, October 7th, 6:00 to 7:45PM at the New Westminster Public Library (716 6th Ave.)

TO REGISTER: https://shorturl.at/s9Gec

Climate Films: “Eating for Tomorrow” September 10th at 6:00PM

On Thursday August 28, Hub members and New West Farmers Market patrons both learned much about the new Strata Energy Advisor Program. Some local condo strata council folks even signed up to get involved in this program that helps multi-residential buildings implement cooling, comfort, and energy saving solutions. As usual, there were also lots of wheel-spinning winners at this event and fulsome discussions about different climate solutions.

Tim Takaro Saturday Sept. 11 at VanDusen: The Health of Canadians in the Climate Emergency: What Can You Do?

NWCAH member Dr. Tim Takaro will be speaking at VanDusen Botanical Gardens Sept 11, 1:30-3pm

This talk will examine the climate emergency through the experience of a physician-scientist whose career has focused on the health impacts of climate change. Dr. Takaro will describe the stiff political resistance to overwhelming evidence presented by scientists from around the world. The talk will explore why Canada must stop building new fossil energy infrastructure and rapidly transition our energy production to renewables—and become a country where collective well-being, not fossil energy profits, carries us into the future.

Part of the Dialogue on Aging Public Presentation Series hosted by the Edwin S.H. Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, and Providence Health Care.

Register online here.

NWCAH at August 28 Farmers Market in collaboration with the new Strata Energy Advisor Program

Join us for a monthly climate film and discussion. We will watch “Eating for
Tomorrow,” a documentary highlighting the climate effects of our food
choices and how we can make changes.
This event is suitable for ages 12+.

Location: Auditorium, New West Public Library Main Branch, 716 6th Avenue

Register: Use QR code or visit nwpl.ca/events

Popcorn provided — bring a bowl!

NWCAH Summer Social

“Fun” and “filling” were common comments from Hub members at the end of our August 20 social at Queens Park, another event that strengthened our growing community. Our thanks to Ronda and Jesse for organizing the event, and to everyone for their delicious plant-rich food contributions and donations that covered the rental/insurance costs. Thanks to Cheryl for running the global top 10 climate solutions game!

Saturday September 6: Glenbrook Ravine Eco-Fest & Weed Pull

Dig in, have fun, and celebrate! Enjoy family-friendly nature activities, help remove invasive plants, and honour eight years of amazing volunteer action in the ravine!

Event Highlights

• Invasive Weed Removal and Prizes
• Eco-Art activities
• Nature Walks and Games

Location

• Glenbrook Ravine upper picnic area

• 76 Jamieson Court, New Westminster

Talking about Climate Hope and Solutions

Sept. 9: Seeing through climate disinformation
Sept. 16: Communicating with family and friends
Sept. 23: Strategies for engaging with politicians

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at Vancouver Unitarians: 949 West 49^th Avenue in Vancouver

NWCAH Invited to Siri Van Gruen’s “In and Out of Earth” Album Release Party at Bully’s Studios in New West

Pictured here performing one of her five newly released songs expressing her concerns for our Earth, Siri spoke of the need for people to come together and tell our elected leaders: take stronger action on solutions that slow global warming and strengthen natural ecosystems!

NWCAH fully agrees with Siri—join the Hub in tackling the climate crisis and empowering sustainable change in our community!

NWCAH Summer Social

NWCAH at Fridays on Front on July 11

City Councillor Ruby Campbell generously invited NWCAH to share her table at Fridays on Front on July 11. Over 160 people of all ages played our Spin the Wheel Game and discussed climate solutions with us.

Our theme was Reducing Food Waste using the Honourable Harvest principles set out by Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass: take only what you need, use everything that you take, consider the impact on the next seven generations, and more. NWCAH consulted with members of the Spirit of the Children Society in researching our material for the event and appreciated their evaluation of the Indigenous material we were proposing to use. They in turn suggested another local organization called Food Link Society that we promoted as part of our presentation.

We all learned things we can do to reduce Canada’s annual 56 million tonnes of climate pollution from wasted food, which is 2/3 of the total food we produce!

Celebration for 2,300 trees planted in New Westminster

NWCAH congratulates the City of New Westminster on increasing the tree canopy by 2,300 trees! This completes Phase 1 of its Urban Reforestation and Biodiversity Enhancement Initiative (URBEI).

A UBC urban forestry professor reminded us of the multiple of ways that trees make our lives better, from providing cooling shade and sequestering carbon to improving our mental and physical health. The next phase will see another 6,000 trees planted, with a continued equity lens priority on planting in areas that do not already have a large canopy.

Want to reach out to New Westminster’s new MP, Jake Sawatzky?

Now is the time to tell Prime Minister Carney and our new MP Jake Sawatzky what we need from them as they begin laying out their next steps at the federal level. NWCAH members met with MP Sawatsky (center in the photo above) on May 7th and he was receptive and interested in what we had to offer.

We discussed numerous federal options that would make the world a better place, notably for the younger generation that Jake, who is 25, represents: a cleaner, healthier, sustainable, and more affordable life for Canadians.

You can reach MP Jake Sawatzky at:

jake.sawatzky@parl.gc.ca

New climate future painting by NWSS artist

New Westminster Secondary School artist Bless Acosta has put the finishing touches on her major climate-themed work. Measuring about 1 X 2.5 metres, Bless has created an image of the world she doesn’t want to experience in her future—but that she fears might happen.

With trees growing in bubbles and humans buying clean air for breathing, all while some polluters laugh about it, there is a lot to unpack in this piece. With the support of her teacher Mr. Randall, this thought-provoking piece will be on display in the high school’s hallway where it will surely spark numerous conversations.

We encourage students to reach out to our Hub via our contact page to find out how they can take action on climate solutions, gaining hope for their future in the process.

Coquitlam high school students call on their city to join the Sue Big Oil campaign

The Sue Big Oil campaign, organized by West Coast Environmental Law, is trying to get fossil fuel corporations who knowingly contributed to the climate crisis to pay for some of the costs incurred.

Maureen Curran is a science teacher in Coquitlam and also a founding member of the New Westminster Climate Action Hub, and she has been spending some of her summer working with the Eco Club at Centennial Secondary helping them prepare to request Coquitlam’s city council to sign on to the Sue Big Oil campaign.

Cities incur huge costs because of climate change and these students were determined to point out that it’s a gross injustice to put off dealing with our messes and push the financial burden of covering these costs onto the shoulders of the next generation.

New Westminster, for example, will need to spend about $150 million on building up dikes, along with other significant expenses, to adapt to climate change.

To learn more, see this article in Tri-Cities Dispatch and this Vancouver Sun op-ed by former Coquitlam-Maillardville MLA John Cashore.

Join us to watch and discuss Juice: How Electricity Explains the World at our June 11 Climate Film Night!

Juice shows how electricity explains everything from women’s rights and climate change to Bitcoin mining and indoor marijuana production. Learn why power equals power!

Free popcorn will be provided so please BYOB (bring your own bowl!)

Ages 12+

https://www.nwpl.ca/events/climate-films-juice/?occurrence=2025-06-11

Spinning the Wheel at the Farmer’s Market

NWCAH had a booth at the New West Farmers’ Market on May 29. The sun came out and over 60 people stopped by to view our display on plant-based diets and reducing food waste.

Our spinning wheel game attracted a lot of attention with participants ranging from age 2 to 92. Lots of great conversations!

Participants walked away with prizes: beautiful seedlings of marigolds and strawberries. The Hub will be back with new prizes at the Farmers’ Market on August 28th!

See us at the New West Farmers Market on August 28th!

We will be spinning the coloured wheel with lots of great ideas and possibly even some prizes!

The New West Farmers Market Society focuses on environmentally sustainable food production by bringing locally grown and produced foods to the community, thereby contributing to local economic development, healthy eating, and food security while connecting with our heritage of having a vibrant city market!

NWCAH welcomes Mayor Johnstone & Councillor Nakagawa at June 7 Meeting

The Hub is a community of New Westminster residents joining together for a healthy and sustainable world—and we are growing! Over a dozen new members have joined as of our June 7th meeting, which was highlighted by a lively discussion about our city’s use of the Climate Action Fund. A big thank you to Mayor Patrick Johnstone and Councillor Nadine Nakagawa for attending!

Building community and resilience with music: Karin Roberts

Longstanding NWCAH member Karin Roberts is a music therapist who is now leading monthly song and chanting circles. Struggling with climate anxiety, or just want to find your voice? Join Karin and the group to discover the power of singing with others.

June 14 at the Sanctuary on 6th, at Queens Avenue and 6th Street in New Westminster.

What is a Climate Hub?

Climate solutions are also social solutions! The Community Climate Hubs (CCH) program believes in the power of citizens and grassroots community-led action.

Canadian municipalities make up almost half of the country’s GHG emissions, and are therefore a particularly impactful level at which to act in order to reduce our emissions and achieve climate targets. Local climate mitigation and adaptation efforts can be vehicles for implementing and improving a city’s social equity.

The Community Climate Hubs (CCH) program recognizes and believes in the power of citizens and grassroots community-led action in building social movements that propel municipalities forward to implement climate justice-focused policies, and works to empower and connect these citizens and grassroots groups across municipalities together through the Community Climate Hub model and overarching Hub network.

Restore the ravine! Sign up for the weed pull on June 7

The Glenbrook Ravine Restoration Project is doing a weed pull on Saturday, June 7 (10 am – 1 pm – location shown at registration link).

If you can join, please let them know!
Use this link to register. See below for what to bring.

Why clean the ravine? The goal is to remove invasive English ivy and Himalayan blackberry. As the City’s page states:

Glenbrook Ravine Park has been identified as one of the City’s key natural areas and is considered important in terms of its ecological significance and contribution to biodiversity. It is cherished by the local community as one of relatively few intact natural areas in New Westminster. Over the years it has become heavily occupied by invasive plant species which jeopardize the future health and function of the native vegetation community as well as the enjoyment and safety of park users.

What to Bring?
• Filled water bottles (1 or 2)
• Work gloves (if you have them; if not, we’ll have some to loan)
• Tools (if you have them, we’ll supply sanitation; if not, we’ll have tools available)
• Proper footwear (with ankle support and closed toes)
• Proper clothing (rain or shine!) – sunscreen, long sleeve shirt, and hat if it’s sunny, or a waterproof jacket if it’s rainy.
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided for everyone!

Youth of YCTL: lost streams and big dreams

At City Council’s May 12 meeting, NWCAH supported young people from the Youth Climate Leadership Team (YCTL) as they brought forth their vision of restoring portions of Glen Brook, for which Glenbrook Ravine and other areas of New Westminster are named. Glen Brook was piped underground in 1912, but before that it flowed through Terry Hughes Park, and through the areas now occupied by the Justice Institute of BC and the təməsew̓ txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre.

Drawing inspiration from The Hidden Streams of New Westminster Project created by Douglas College students, the youth are looking towards a future where Glen Brook can be daylighted. This 2025 project, while not a full restoration, represents a first step in demonstrating the potential and sharing this journey with the community.

Comprised of youth aged 15-24, the YCTL’s mandate is to activate the leadership skills of young people in New Westminster and drive local climate solutions. NWCAH members in attendance at the May City Council meeting were inspired by these young leaders and their vision for climate action and hope in our city, and are looking forward to working collaboratively with them.

Big success at our April 26th Sustainable Home Info Sessions!

NWCAH volunteers led the Sustainable Home Info Sessions (SHIS) event on April 26, under the umbrella of the New Westminster Climate Friendly Homes tour. Rave reviews and great turnout, with over 170 attendees! Local experts spoke on how to stay safe in heat events, stormwater management, creating bird and pollinator habitat, building electrification, and how the City of New Westminster can support retrofits.

Check out more images on our Gallery page.

Thanks to all who volunteered and those who came out to learn about home-based emission reductions, climate adaptation, and biodiversity! To learn more, get in touch.

NWCAH connects with Douglas College students and staff

On April 15th, NWCAH and RegenerateBC joined with Douglas College students for a Climate Solutions Fair. We had fun visiting one another’s booths and learning from each other—and, of course, many other college students dropped in to play our spinning wheel game and chat about the many credible solutions that improve human and planetary health.

In addition, one of our Hub members visited the Climate Action class to inspire hope by discussing local climate solutions and the Hub’s role in moving them forward.

New Westminster planting street trees to help keep people safer during extreme heat

“Thank you to the Province of B.C. and the Union of BC Municipalities for supporting the City of New Westminster’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Mayor Patrick Johnstone in a news release.

“The CEPF funding enables us to launch Phase 2 of our Urban Reforestation and Biodiversity Enhancement initiative, which aims to boost canopy coverage in those neighbourhoods most vulnerable to extreme heat.”

“Phase 1 consisted of the planting of 2,200 trees in vulnerable neighbourhoods. The target is to plant 8,500 trees on city property by 2030.”

Trees and greenspaces reduce stress, improve attention span, and boost community connectivity— and provide comfort by moderating the climate at street level. They provide shade and cooling that gives people relief on hot summer days.

Learn more about New Westminster’s urban forest here.

Join us to watch I am the Magpie River at our May 14 Climate Film Night!

In March 2021, Quebec’s Magpie River became the first river in North America to obtain legal personhood, joining pioneering countries such as Bolivia and New Zealand, which have also recognized the rights of nature to rivers and forests, granting them protections comparable to those enjoyed by humans. Free popcorn will be provided so please BYOB (bring your own bowl!) Ages 12+ Register for free here.