Greetings All,

As the year comes to a close, I wanted to share a few reflections.

First and foremost, it has been a real honour to serve as the Executive Director of the Calgary Climate Hub over the last 9 months. 

One of the first things that really struck me when I began my role here was the notable level of community engagement. It has been truly inspiring, and a clear source of hope during increasingly troubling times to see such an engaged and active volunteer community leading our actions, and successfully working on a variety of issues that they truly care about. Indeed, it is this community that makes the Hub what it is, and it is a caring, united and empowered community.

I believe that ultimately, this reality speaks to the overall mission and vision of the Calgary Climate Hub. On the one hand, it is a commitment to educate and empower all Calgarians to be active climate citizens, and position Calgary as a leader on climate action. Yet, at a broader level, this is really about advancing equity, justice, unity and emancipation, and this is a vision that I hold dear to my heart - and something that I have been striving to better understand and realize throughout my own life, through my education, personal projects and work engagements. 

To this end, I’m very excited to share with you all what we have in store for 2025:

  • Art of Protest - monthly protest and movement art making at Community Wise Resource Centre
  • New Climate Justice Program - in partnership with the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University Social Work Departments
  • Community Climate Conversations - beginning in-person once again at Community Associations across Calgary
  • Advocacy Campaigns - we are hiring a position which will be focused in part on supporting our citizen led advocacy campaigns, to better secure outcomes
  • Forests For Calgary - planting another Miyawaki/mini forest in the spring, with the addition of a Tree Equity Ambassador program, and Citizen Science program. 
  • Youth Climate Bursary - working to double our youth bursary awards in 2025
  • Climate Book Club - continuing to explore climate literature and actions with community
  • Climate Lens Podcast - continue to produce our monthly podcast 
  • Eco Elders - deepening our support of this awesome action group for Seniors
  • Hub and Spokes - continuing to develop and scale up our active transportation events with the City of Calgary
  • Contractors to Employees - beginning in January of 2025, Contractors will become employees of the Calgary Climate Hub!
  • And more!

 

We are so excited to continue building a climate action community and movement with you all in 2025, rooted in equity. Please keep in touch, and we will be sure to share updates on all programs and volunteer opportunities as they develop. 

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year.

Stronger together!

 

Solidarity and all the best,

Jared Blustein, MA

Executive Director

Calgary Climate Hub