| | | | April is the month to get involved with CEA, tour climate-friendly homes, connect at regional meetings all over BC, say “so long” to old friends... and hello to new ones.
And maybe it’s the month the spring this newsletter on a peer by inviting them to subscribe. Thank you for your support!
Announcements & Stories - Help Chart CEA’s Course: Apply for the Board
- Climate Friendly Homes Tour
- Regional Outreach on Key Climate-Related Topics
Peer Networks News - New Peer Network Sprouts Up in the Lower Mainland
- Dialogue with the Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
- New Network on Digital Permitting
- NorthCAN Forum 2025
CEA Staff News
- Saying “so long” to a CEA trail blazer
- Saying “hello” to new CEA staff
| | | | | | | | Help Chart CEA’s Course: Apply for the Board
CEA is accepting applications to the Board of Directors. If you have governance experience and an interest in providing strategic direction and guidance during this period of CEA’s evolution and growth, we want to hear from you.
The application deadline is May 6, 2025.
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Directors attend quarterly meetings, the AGM, and a Budget meeting, in addition to committee meetings. An exciting, upcoming focus for the Board will be the development of a new strategic plan for CEA.
| | | | | | Climate Friendly Homes Tour
Homeowners in ten communities around BC will be opening their doors later this month as part of the annual Climate Friendly Homes Tour. This event first took place in 2023 and will return on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
For anyone curious to see what it’s like to live in a modern, energy-efficient home, this is a great opportunity. Homeowners will show off features like heat pumps, solar panels, resilient landscapes, passive heating & cooling designs, and more.
The tour is possible thanks to the generosity of homeowners, many of whom were recruited by grassroots community groups such as the New Westminster Climate Hub and Maple Ridge Climate Hub. We are also thankful for financial support from BC Hydro.
Plan to get out with your neighbours and see first-hand what makes a comfortable and climate-friendly home. Visit the Climate Friendly Homes Tour website to see the participating communities and plan your route.
| | | | | | Regional Outreach on Key Climate-Related Topics
The annual regional gatherings of local elected officials across BC will feature CEA staff and collaborators addressing some of the most critical topics in local climate action today. Economic benefits, housing, collaboration, reconciliation, and adaptation will all be covered in four upcoming presentations.
Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC)
“Amplifying climate solutions through regional collaboration”
April 12, 2025 in Nanaimo
Association of Kootenay and Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG)
“Building Resilient Homes and Local Economies Through Community Retrofit Programs”
April 26, 2025 in Kimberley
Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA)
“Bridging Climate and Economic Resilience: Collaborative Approaches to Regional Challenges”
April 29, 2025 in Merritt
North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA)
“Building Bridges: Climate Adaptation, Housing, and Reconciliation in Partnership with Indigenous Communities”
May 14, 2025 in Prince Rupert
| | | | | | | | | | New Peer Network Sprouts Up in the Lower Mainland
The launch of the BC Lower Mainland Peer Network (LMPN) on March 5, 2025, closes the gap on regional networks available to local and regional government staff across BC. This new network aims to accelerate local action through increased regional coordination among the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Squamish Lillooet Regional Districts as they work on collaborative approaches to climate action planning and implementation. This network also has the potential to involve participants from other sectors and support policy implementation.
CEA convenes a variety of local government peer networks, mostly for staff in local, regional, and Indigenous governments. Check out the full roster and inquire about joining ones that interest you.
| | | | Dialogue with the Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
April 10, 2025 from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. PT
This session for local elected officials will involve remarks from the Minister, a Q&A, and a presentation from the BC Watershed Security Coalition on local watershed protection. The virtual event is being presented by the BC Municipal Climate Leadership Council, which comprises local elected officials around BC and is facilitated by CEA.
Email CaroleAnn at cleishman@communityenergy.ca for more info and to register. | | New Network on Digital Permitting
April 24, 2025 at 9 a.m. PT Register on Zoom
Following development of a new provincial Building Permit Hub meant to standardize and streamline processes provincewide, CEA is launching a new peer network that will help local government planners and building officials transition to digital tools for permitting.
Rescheduled from March 26, no need to re-register if you are already signed up. | | NorthCAN Forum 2025
April 29-30, 2025 Prince George, BC
Register on Eventbrite
Up to 100 people will participate in the premier event of 2025 for local climate-related action in Northern BC, which will include tours, sessions designed to foster collaboration and develop new ideas, networking, the latest research on the energy transition and the state of BC’s glaciers, and opportunities to safeguard the health and wellness of northern communities in a changing climate. | | | | | | | | Saying “so long” to a CEA trail blazer
“When I don’t know who to give something to, I give it to you.” These were words that Pat Bell heard from a manager early in her career as a community planner. Late last month, as Pat retired after 17 years at CEA, she reminisced about that conversation and how she feels it reflected a faith in her ability to take on any challenge and succeed. In the years since, Pat has written countless community plans, developed policy for local governments, designed and delivered workshops, led a national coaching program on local climate action, and helped articulate how CEA can apply UNDRIP principles to support Indigenous sovereignty and resiliency in a changing climate. All of it was learned on the job. “My whole career, I’ve taken on things I didn’t know how to do yet. I learned and grew so much as a result." Her passion for life-long learning, experience in local government, and many roles at CEA made her the perfect person to develop and teach courses for BCIT, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Saskatchewan on community energy management and climate action. “These topics are always rapidly evolving but teaching helped me keep up with what’s going on and really focus on organizing complex information in ways that anyone can understand it.” In fact, some of her former students became her colleagues, part of a growing community of more than 50 CEA employees. “When I started, there were five of us at CEA. It has been so rewarding to see new staff joining CEA from so many different backgrounds and experiences. I think every single person is exceptional and I am proud to have been part of an organization that draws such talent from all over Canada.” Congratulations on your retirement, Pat. You’ll be missed.
| | | | | | Saying “hello” to new CEA staff
Ruth Midgley is CEA’s new Climate Adaptation / Low Carbon Resilience Lead, planning projects and helping develop the capacity for communities to prepare for climate impacts. She previously worked on climate action initiatives for the Capital Regional District but has returned to Alberta to live and work in Lethbridge, the traditional territory of the Siksikaitsitapii or Blackfoot Confederacy.
Rebecca Edwards is a new Communications Lead, supporting marketing and communications for Retrofit Assist and other projects. As a former journalist, she is experienced in reaching small, rural communities and encouraging grassroots change. She lives and works in Fernie, BC, the territory of the Ktunaxa Nation and her home for the past 16 years. | | | | Our Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
The Community Energy Association commits to the principles of Truth and Reconciliation. As an organization, we support the Calls to Action released by the
Truth and Reconciliation Commision of Canada
and recognize the importance of the self determination of Indigenous Peoples as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. | | Thank you for subscribing to the CEA Newsletter, our monthly update on local climate and energy initiatives connected to the Community Energy Association. No longer interested? You can easily unsubscribe or update your preferences | | | | | |
