October 2023

Hello friends!

As we fully settle into our Fall routines and welcome the rains and shorter days, it feels like the dry, hot summer is a distant memory. And while the wildfire season is mostly behind us, with only one current wildfire "of note" and under control (according to B.C. Wildfire Service), we all know this is only a temporary reprieve in this new normal hotter planet reality.

I am heartened by the commitment to climate action we're taking here in Nanaimo and the progress we continue to make. I also acknowledge that it isn't an easy job. It takes no small amount of courage to stand up to people who want to shut down progress and change. In our work we must accept that there will always be people who are afraid of change and want to avoid difficult decisions that have to be made for the sake of our planet. Nanaimo Climate Action Hub membership continues to grow and I am excited to get to know our new members as we engage together in this important work!

-Heather

Old Growth Day of Action: Saving Earth's Lungs!

September 28th was Old Growth Day of Action. Residents from across B.C. showed up outside 17 MLA offices to protest old growth logging that continues to happen in our province. NCAH members and other local activists assembled outside Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcomson's office (see pictures above, photo credit: Elaine Briére) to send a message of urgency to our provincial government. The protest occurred on the third anniversary of the province's Old Growth Strategic Review; to-date none of the 14 recommendations from the review have been implemented.

According to David Quigg, Sierra Club of British Columbia Organizer and NCAH Member, 150 soccer fields of old growth are cut down every single day. "Even in the middle of a climate emergency and a biodiversity crisis, we are failing to protect these organisms that make us resilient", added Quigg. "When you're having trouble breathing, you don't cut out your lungs".

Quigg emphasizes that there is much work to be done to protect our forest ecosystems—and awareness and education are key to this. There is a common belief that our old growth forests are protected but in reality they're not. "People are shocked when I tell them that even a tree the size of the one in 2021's viral image from Vancouver Island (see above, photo credit: Lorna Beecroft) isn't big enough to warrant protection", said Quigg.

For more information and to add your voice for old growth protection visit Sierra Club B.C.'s Forest Action Centre.

Debunking the Heat Pump Affordability Myth: Part 1

As part of our ongoing coverage of heat pumps, specifically heat pump affordability, NCAH's Larry Whaley decided to make his own home part of our research. Larry's assertion is that heat pumps needn't be cost-prohibitive, and his hypothesis was that he could get one installed much more affordably—especially when factoring in available government rebates. Well, as of three weeks ago Larry and his wife now have a nice heat pump and are ready for the cool temperatures we've already started to experience. The important question: how much did it cost? Stay tuned until our November newsletter to find out when we share a video documenting the details of Larry's heat pump adventure.

ZCSC: Story of a Climate Solution Bylaw

The Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC) is now law in Nanaimo! This is cause for celebration indeed, but how did we get here? We thought a quick review of the timeline of events would be helpful to our membership. Thanks to NCAH Organizer Shelley Serebrin for putting this together.

Winter 2022: discussion started with councillor Ben Geselbracht about a substantive policy action that the municipality could implement to reduce, as much as possible, fossil fuel gas (aka Natural Gas or Renewable NG) from new building construction. Low carbon energy (LCES) system bylaw restricting fossil fuel gas was thought as the way to go, the precedent being LCES Vancouver. A group of 3 people got together to develop a presentation—the story of climate impacts and how they are being experienced here and now, and how adopting a LCES bylaw is the best path to take.

April 25, 2022: During a regular Council meeting a presentation was made to Council asking them to supporting LCES in new builds in the City of Nanaimo. Presenters represented NCAH, Unitarian Fellowship and Council of Canadians Nanaimo chapter (Shelley Serebrin, Brian Short and Frances Deverell). We also had support from Canadian Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) who made a presentation on the health effects of using fracked gas in homes (Dr. Deborah Curry).

May 9th, 2022: At the Governance and Priorities Committee (GPC) meeting Councillor Geselbracht made a motion: "to strengthen policy direction to prioritize support for LCES in all new construction in the ReImagine Nanaimo City Plan (OCP)". The motion passed.

July 5, 2022: the City endorses the new official community plan which included the motion put forward by Councillor Geselbracht. This started consultations with stakeholders and the development of bylaws governing the BC Step Code and the newer provincial policy of Zero Carbon Step Code (which subsequently became law in the province on May 1, 2023).

Fast forward to July 26, 2023: GPC meeting staff Environmental Sustainability Manager, Ting Pan, informed the GPC of the engagement and present recommendations related to implementation of the ZCSC and acceleration of the BC Energy Step Code and Council direction to bring forward amendments to "Building Bylaw 2016 No. 7224". Several delegations from the community presented mostly in favour of the bylaw. It was accepted by Council to go forward in principal with a final draft of the bylaw.

August 28, 2023: the final draft of the accelerated implementation of the ZCSC, and the BC ESC for Nanaimo passed with a 5-4 vote (Brown, Eastmure, Geselbracht, Hemmens, and Manly voted in favour; Armstrong, Krog, Perrino and Thorpe voted against the accelerated time-line for the ZCSC).

September 25, 2023: the Bylaw was then put to a vote for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd reading and passed.

October 16, 2023: the Bylaw became law after 4th reading. Whew, and Hurray!

Thank you to all of you who wrote letters, sent emails, talked to your friends and neighbors about this important action, and showed your support by attending Council meetings—this is a shared success, and a great example of what a community can accomplish together!

NCAH Welcomes New Partner: Strong Towns Nanaimo

We are pleased to welcome Strong Towns Nanaimo as our newest partner. Advocating for a new approach to urban planning and development that is financially resilient, sustainable and equitable, the North America-wide Strong Towns movement represents a new way of thinking that prioritizes the needs of the community, rather than those of developers or other stakeholders.

Strong Towns Nanaimo was co-founded by Michael Bassili and Olivia Grant, who both grew up in Vancouver. After living for a time in Prince George, the couple moved to Nanaimo and now call the Harbour City home. The organization's primary focus is advocating for a city "built around people not automobiles". Strong Towns Nanaimo plans to engage actively with Nanaimo City Council, and will have the opportunity to introduce the organization at the November 6th Council meeting.

Strong Towns Nanaimo is rapidly building their membership and encourage anyone who is interested to join one of their monthly meet-ups and sign up for their newsletter. Visit their website to read some great articles, view their calendar and subscribe to their newsletter.

NCAH recommends... The Future is Now by Bob McDonald

Did you know that a combustion engine automobile emits its own weight in carbon every year? That means your average midsize car emits about 1500 kg (3,300 lbs) into the atmosphere per year! That's just one fact Bob McDonald, CBC's host of Quirks & Quarks, shared at Knox United Church in Parksville on Sunday afternoon.

At an organ music-infused, science fact-fueled event to spread optimism and enthusiasm around green energy solutions, Bob spoke on topics from his 2022 book The Future is Now, ranging from solar to wind to geo-thermal—and heat pumps too! The Future is Now is available at Vancouver Island Regional Library or considering purchasing your own copy at an independent bookstore such as Windowseat Books in Old Town.

Upcoming Event: 16th Annual Urban Issues Film Festival, Nov. 3rd

The festival's vision is to educate and inspire people to promote sustainable cities by showcasing the possibilities of walkable, accessible, and car-free urban centres. Through thought-provoking films and engaging experiences, the festival aims to inspire solutions, amplify voices, and drive positive change in our urban landscapes.

The theme of this year's festival is: Prox(City) How Close are We?: The Possibilities of Walkable, Accessible, Car Free Urban Centres. Keynote speaker is Tyler Brown, Nanaimo City Councillor and Chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo.

The festival will take place Friday, November 3rd, 6 - 9 pm at VIU, Admission is FREE, and pizza and Refreshments will be provided. Please register here.

Please Support Us!

We have an account with the Regional Recycling South Return-It Depot at 839 Victoria Road in Nanaimo. You can donate the money from returnable items by asking the clerk to credit the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub account. Thanks in advance for your support. It makes a huge difference!

This newsletter is a publication of the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub. For more information, please click below:

We respectfully acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw, Stz'uminus and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations.