The Calgary Climate Hub's "Forests for Calgary" program uses the Miyawaki Method of densely planting native plants. This makes sure the tiny forest grows faster than it would in nature outside the Rocky Ridge Royal Oak Community Association. (Jennelle Lew, CMRU.ca)
Volunteers are the heart of the Calgary Climate Hub. As a grassroots charity, the Hub relies on community support to help its work. They aim to educate Calgarians about the climate crisis and empower them to act in ways that make sense for their lives. The Hub’s work is rooted in local communities. In a city shaped by the energy sector, the kind of action that Calgary needs may look different than other Canadian cities. The Hub builds its initiatives around the realities that Calgarians face.
On a small scale
According to the Calgary Economic Development, the city is home to the head offices of almost every major company in the energy sector. Talynn English, Program Manager for the Calgary Climate Hub, says Calgary residents have a unique perspective on the climate crisis and industries tied to it. “For Calgarians, we see the impacts right in front of us when it comes to the jobs, the affordability, and the livelihoods that people have tied their whole families around,” English says.
The Hub designs its programs with those realities in mind. Many of these focus on community and citywide action. “Municipalities are the most impactful level of government that people can engage with,” English says. “We are really focused on building that municipal level action in a way that makes it much more accessible for people to be a part of.” To do this, the Hub hosts tree planting events, film screenings, advocacy opportunities, and more to educate Calgarians about the climate crisis. Many of these events are designed to see communities change firsthand.
Some of the Hub’s programs include:
- Art of Protest – protesting through art, dance, and music
- Forests for Calgary – planting trees and shrubs in communities
- Climate Book Club – discussing climate issues through books
- Community Climate Conversations – gathering neighbours to collaborate on local solutions
- Eco-Elders for Climate Action – an advocacy group for older adults
Taking action
There are many ways to take climate action. One of the easiest ways to get involved is by volunteering with the Calgary Climate Hub. “We are always looking for people to make these events and programs possible,” English says. The Hub’s wide range of initiatives ensures there is space for every interest and skill set. English encourages students to connect their passions with climate work. Graphic designers can make posters for organizations or bakers can donate their goods to protests.
English also reassures newcomers that climate action isn’t about perfection. “It’s not about having all of the information. It’s about knowing a little bit of the information and taking that thread and pulling on it,” she says. The climate community is known for being tight-knit yet welcoming. Students unsure on where to begin are encouraged that any action is good action: recycling, volunteering, or donating can all make a difference over time. The Calgary Climate Hub is a reminder that meaningful climate action begins at the community level and only grows from there.
Personal Reflection
I had the opportunity to interview several people who were passionate about climate justice, each in their own way. That passion eventually rubbed off on me. Before working with the Calgary Climate Hub, I was involved in climate action on an individual level. I shopped local and second-hand, used libraries, and reused my containers. This project opened my eyes to the various ways I can take part in climate justice on a municipal level. It also helped me understand that climate action is more than recycling and composting. Working with the Hub and incorporating them into my coursework was a small act of climate justice in itself.
I hope that my community partner uses the media content to promote volunteerism in their community. There’s almost an hour of unused interview footage of volunteers speaking about their experience working with the Hub. I shared the raw footage with the staff and long-term volunteers of this organization. I hope that they see the extent of the positive impact they have on the community. I also hope they see the passion that stems from events and programs that their organization puts on.
I loved meeting so many people with different backgrounds yet one shared value. This project helped me hone my interviewing skills. It made me craft questions for interviewees to reflect on their own impact as a part of this organization. I got to speak with several people for long periods of time about how their journeys intersect with environmental action. Overall, I’m incredibly grateful for the insight and thoughtful responses that this community service learning project brought me. There are some people I met through this project whose words I will carry with me for a while.
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