Workshops and Speakers at PowerShift Canada

Workshop Descriptions Workshops Anti - Oppression Visit Another Planet Anti-Oppression Campus Organizing Student Unions for Sustainability How to Engage Campus Administration Don’t agonise, organise! Workshops A hands on, lived experience on being from another planet to give participants the experience of living as members of traditionally oppressed groups. Amanda Whitten - Women’s Resource Centre from University of Ottawa Why Student Unions should be part of a sustainable campus process; a review of top of Student Unions across Canada that are fully involved. Pascale Geoffroy - Sierra Youth Coalition This workshop focuses on techniques that will allow you to increase the awareness of your project with higher administration on campus, and to gain higher level buy-in. Jonathan Rausseo - University of Ottawa The workshop will go over strategies for effective on-campus organising Noah Stewart & Katherine Giroux-Bougard Effective lobbying Working by Consensus 41 Indigenous Solidarity Activism: The Role of Allies How can non-Indigenous activists support struggles in affected communities. Eriel Deranger - RAN, Dave Vasey - RAN-Toronto,CSR-Toronto Campaign Planning General tips on planning and running a successful campaign. Vincens Côté - Sierra Youth Coalition Anti-Oppression & Respecting People’s Experiences Talking about Change: Behaviour Change, Motivation Theory, and Outreach This workshop is meant to be a basic introduction to some of the ideas behind anti-oppression and doing anti-oppression work. The workshop will lay down the foundations of what anti-oppression means, how the ideas behind anti-oppression can be put into practice (i.e. strategies), and why anti-oppression is so important to the idea of respecting people and people’s lives. SACOMSS - The Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students Society A daunting part of working on climate change is changing people’s mind and behaviour. This workshop will give you an overview of behaviour change theory, and tools for raising awareness of climate change on your campus. Tria Donaldson & Jamie Biggar - goBeyond Sometimes working to build a better world seems to involve spending a lot of time in meetings. The way we discuss ideas and make decisions in meetings is just as important as the actions we take afterwards. In this workshop, we’ll look at the consensus decision-making model as one approach that can help make space for everyone, bring out the wisdom in a group and strengthen our movement to keep working together over the long term. We’ll go through the process step by step, explore when this type of decision-making is appropriate and discuss what it takes to make it work. You’ll leave with the tools to facilitate and participate in consensus-based decision-making, as well as with a bit of practice under your belt. Erica Young - Manitoba Environmental Youth Network The workshop will go over strategies for effective lobbying. Noah Stewart & Katherine Giroux-Bougard Climate Science& Solutions Renewable Energy in Canada 42 How Post-Sec Institutions Can Save the World Building Safe Spaces Training on how to make a space safe for staff, volunteers, and clients Marcelle Kosman The campus sustainability movement has emerged as one of the biggest forces for action on climate change and sustainability. Yet, to date most of this activity has been focused on campus. Today, we have an opportunity and responsibility to take post-sec institutions beyond the campus, and catalyze regional transformations. Jamie Biggar - U Vic Graduate Student Community Asset Mapping - Community Organizing Canada’s Energy Future: nuclear, fossil, or renewables? As we move into the climate change era, what choice do we have? The choice to be made is now – either be stuck with more nuclear energy for the next 60 years and its waste for another million, subject the planet to more GHG emissions by burning up all the remaining fossil fuels – OR transition to a 100% renewable electricity grid. What would that look like? This session will discuss the renewable targets we need in Canada and the federal and provincial policies guiding renewable energy development. Angela Bischoff- Ontario Clean Air Alliance & Tim Weis - Pembina Institute This workshop follows the Community Asset Mapping approach to help groups recognize shared assets and move forward with projects using the positive attributes they identify together. Cheryl Ripley - Falls Brook Centre The Science of Climate Change This panel discussion will explore the latest findings in climate science. Leading Canadian scientists will discuss the science behind climate change and the implications that the science has for Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org climate policy. This is an exciting chance to hear from our top experts involved in academia and government about the current climate science, communicating it to the public, and applying it to policy. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn more and ask some questions to our stellar panel! John Smol - Queen’s University , Jacinthe Lacroix - Environment Canada Workshops Communications/New Media Communication: Planning and Tips 43 What can we learn from the past? A climate change perspective from talking trees and gyttja! How to make your actions successful: tips about planning an efficient communication strategy. Pascale Geoffroy - Sierra Youth Coalition Kate from ClimateSight.org explores the societal and journalistic fallacies which have repositioned climate change as an equal-sided controversy, from which everyone is encouraged to form their own opinion. Hopefully it isn’t too late to move the public conversation to something more appropriate to a scientific question. Kate -Climatesight.org Look Mom, I’m on TV!: Gaining National Attention for Grassroots Campaigns Online Workshops Media for Change New media at COP15 The science of climate change is largely based upon our understanding of past climatic conditions gleaned from sources such as tree rings, ice cores or lake sediments. The now infamous hockey stick diagram used extensively by the IPCC in their earlier assessments was developed partly from tree ring growth records. But, how do we obtain these records and interpret them? This workshop will explore these tools and illustrate the usefulness of natural archives such as tree rings to investigate past changes in climate. Dr. Michael Pisaric - Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON Reel Youth (RY) is a not-for-profit, media empowerment program supporting young people to create and distribute films about their visions for a more just and sustainable world. In this workshop participants can check out films that other youth have made to address issues in their community, learn more about these issues, and discuss the importance of the youth voice in media to affect change locally and globally. Mike Sheehan - Reel Youth Social Media for Environmental Change We need YOU! Blogging, podcasting, radio, video, and print media are key to connecting Canadians with the UN climate negotiations and ensuring that our government is held accountable for their actions in Copenhagen, and back home, We need people from all across the country to make sure the message gets out. Come learn more about the CYD’s new media strategy, gain some media skills, and, more importantly, find out how you can join the media team. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) This workshop will cover Social Marketing/New Media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and Blogs and how to use them effectively for your campaign. It will discuss the art blog outreach and how to win messaging wars online and will provide an introduction to Google Analytics and Search Engine Optimisation. Adam Miron -Director of Social Marketing Pondstone Communications 44 Label Game/Leadership Wheel Participants will have some time in another’s shoes and feel the effects of stereotyping in our diverse world. Kathryn Meisner and Luke Nares - Me to We Want to connect your organizing efforts with a global network of inspired youth? Learn how to amplify your energies by harnessing the power of new media technologies. Emily Briggs, Chiara Camponeshi & Liam O’Doherty - Takingitglobal Intro to Eco-Journalism Credibility in a Bewildered World If scientists are so sure that humans are causing climate change, why is the public still confused? Why do your friends and relatives still think that global warming might be natural, or even nonexistent? In this interactive workshop, The “Intro to Eco-Journalism” workshop will cover why this form of media communication is important as a form of activism and change making. This workshop will give a brief overview of the history and future of eco-journalism. Also, it will give basic training into finding stories; pitching those stories to media outlets; and working in print, broadcast, online (including blogging) journalism. Emily Hunter- Freelance Eco-Journalist Effective Communication About Climate Change This workshop will review recent polling data, discuss which storylines and narratives engage the majority of Canadians and end with top ten tips for speeches, presentations and media relations. Tzeporah Berman- Executive Director, PowerUp Canada “Old” Media Skills In this hands-on workshop, we’ll be building skills for traditional media: print, radio, TV, etc. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Workshops “New” Media Skills This hands-on workshops will build skills for new media work - blogs, social networking, webvideo, etc. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Campaign Strategy – How we decide what to do and when to do it to win campaigns Drawing on examples from over 15 years of campaign experience with grassroots groups, Greenpeace International, ForestEthics and now PowerUP Canada Tzeporah will outline key strategy considerations and skills like powermapping, matching your skills and resources to your big ideas and identifying SMART campaign goals. This workshop will help you design effective campaigns and initiatives on climate change. Tzeporah Berman - Executive Director, PowerUp Canada Domestic Actions and the Tar Sands with the CYD Film/Documentary Skills Come build skills for producing film/ documentaries with members of the CYD. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) 45 Community Organizing Inspiring Community Action through Solidarity It will take public pressure to see the climate bill C-311 passed this fall in Parliament. By organizing monthly demonstrations and creative actions across Canada in the lead up to Copenhagen, we can hope for greater media coverage and awareness-raising around the urgency of the climate crisis, and have growing dissent towards the lack of effective governmental action and cohesive plan at the UN climate talks. Come learn more about the CYD’s plans for domestic actions and find out where you can be directly involved. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) climate change. It needs everyone’s support to get hundreds of thousands more people signed on to their petitions and raising awareness about Canada’s current inadequate approach to reducing our greenhouse gas pollution. The Adopt-an-MP campaign developed by CYCC is a great way of educating our MPs about KyotoPlus and encouraging them to push for bold climate legislation this fall in Parliament. Come find out what the CYD’s strategy is and how you can get involved. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Workshops 46 Greenpeace Action Planning **please note this is a full day workshop In this full day, hands on workshop participants will actually plan and simulate an action from start to finish. Groups will cover affinity group work, roles and responsibilities, legal and action planning, and role plays. By the end of the workshop participants will have developed and be able to carry out an action. Mike Hudema- Greenpeace Canada In this workshop you will gain a broader understanding of community organizing (what it is and what it isn’t). We will present different approaches to building common priorities with community members and challenge some of the common approaches that parachute climate campaigns into communities. We will also develop your skills as organizers to make the links between local and national change. This workshop will involve role-plays, individual action planning, and tools for community organizing. Jeca Glor-Bell - President Sierra Club Canada & Lindsay Telfer - Director Sierra Club Prairie Brainstorming Our Toolbox This workshop will draw on the knowledge and experience of the whole group to develop a list of ideas, tactics and events that participants can take with them for effective climate change campaigning in their own communities and schools. Tzeporah Berman- Executive Director, PowerUp Canada Serious Play: an Activist Role-Play in Solidarity with Mine-Affected Communities Creative Activism Creative Tactics This workshop will be a role-playing game where participants break out into groups and are given roles within a certain mining case study, based on a real-life campaign. Within each group, 4-5 participants will role play as activists from Canada and leaders from affected communities. With the goal of gaining support for your campaign, participants can earn (and lose) energy and support points by interacting with a number of players, representing the government, the media, major shareholders, and the public. Sakura Saunders - Protestbarrick.net, Non-Violent Direct Action 101/ Action Planning 101 How do you keep environmental organizing fun, effective, engaging, and creative? All shall be revealed within... Liam O’Doherty - TakingITGlobal Adopt-An-MP and KYOTOPlus with the CYD The CYD is also working on KYOTOPlus a growing coalition of citizens, organizations, and politicians who are in favour of strong governmental action on Introduction to Nonviolent Direct Action: Non-Violent Direct action is at least partially responsible for most of the social and environmental liberties we enjoy today. From a woman’s right to vote, to the 8-hour work day, to the fight for civil rights all of these struggles involved peaceful civil disobedience and direct action. This training provides an interactive introduction to Nonviolent Direct Action and Civil Disobedience. Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Participants will identify the benefits and drawbacks of using NVDA, clarify their personal beliefs about what nonviolence means, and jump into action with few role plays. Mike Hudema- Greenpeace Canada Workshops To the Ends of the Earth: Exploring the Effects of Climate Change in Polar Regions Environmental Education Awakening The Dreamer Symposium Education 47 Act for Impact This workshop will introduce you to the process of fighting corporate power. We will be dissecting the distribution of power within the corporate model and investigate the different ways activists can engage with corporations. The focus will be on various parts of corporate involvement in environmental issues, mainly using the Tar Sands Industry as an example. You will gain useful skills to communicate with corporations and learn how to effect change in your community. Maryam Adrangi, Indra Noyes, & Crystal Metham - Rainforest Action Network Toronto An exploratory educational presentation and workshop program about the Arctic, Antarctica and climate change. Videoconferencing with the Canadian Arctic will enable northern youth to share their thoughts, stories and perspectives with southern youth regarding health, culture, climate change, conservation, sovereignty and indigenous rights. Participants will be asked to answer such questions as “What does the Arctic mean to you?” and challenged to make climate commitments. Tim Straka, - Education Program Director- Students on Ice Expeditions schools, communities and internationally. Jeremy Dias - Founder and Executive Director of Jer’s Vision & The International Day of Pink Workshops The Symposium is the single most profound and effective motivational tool where activists and non-activists alike become informed, hopeful, inspired and empowered to commit themselves to action towards a more just, sustainable and fulfilling world. Climate Change and Climate Justice: An Indigenous Perspective Climate change is estimated to affect many Indigenous communities around the world more than other groups, despite being the least responsible. This workshop will gather Indigenous youth from Canada to discuss how Indigenous (Aboriginal) Peoples are affected by climate change, how they are adapting to it, and what we all can do to support Indigenous communities. The discussion will also touch on Indigenous Peoples from around the world, from Africa to the Amazon. Ben Powless - Indigenous Environmental Network & Lynzii Taibossigai - CYD 48 Environmental Justice Indigenous Solidarity and Environmental Justice Perspectives on Environmental Education “Sustainable Campus” Certification This workshop will be about Sierra Youth Coalition’s new initiative: “Sustainable Campus” certification for universities. Learn about how we developed this project, which criteria we chose to evaluate universities and the challenges related to certification. At the moment, it is a successful project in Quebec, but it aims to be Canada wide in a year or two. Discussions, comments and questions are welcome! Geneviève Dufresne - Sierra Youth Coalition In this workshop Lisa will share the experiences and perspectives of an environmental educator and graduate student engaged in theories, movements and ideas around sustainability education, transformative learning, youth agency, and democracy and education. Lisa Glithero - EYES Project and the University of Ottawa This workshop will take participants through basic terminology and definitions of Environmental Justice, Environmental Racism and walk through how to be an ally and work towards Indigenous Solidarity within the Environmental movement. Eriel Tchekwie Deranger - Tar Sands Campainger - Rainforest Action Network. Cooperation, Communication and Ecological Thinking The Intersections: How everything we are talking about is related-and what to do next The goal of this workshop will be to look at the intersections of environmentalism and discrimination. The workshop takes a local and international look at how systems of what we are talking about work together, and Next Steps...what can we do to make a difference in our Cooperation and synergy are a natural part of human societies and all living systems. If someone said to you “You’re bad and stupid,” would you feel motivated or inspired to connect with what was important to you and to change your way of life? (I wouldn’t!) Similarly, when we communicate with others about climate crisis, we can begin to create “power with” partnership and inspire meaningful change, instead of getting stuck in “power over” domination, violence, blame, helplessness or hopelessness. We will be exploring these themes through movement, personal Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Workshops reflection and discussion - playfulness, curiosity, honesty, open hearts and minds are welcomed! Bonita Ford Listen-up everyone...please... pretty please! - Effective group facilitation skills Group facilitation skills are essential for anyone who wants to work collaboratively in groups and organizations today. If you want to increase your understanding of group dynamics and improve your skills at making groups work more effectively, this workshop is for you! You will learn: strategies to encourage individual participation Ways to implement ; participatory decision-making processes About the role of a group ; facilitator and its impact on group dynamics Essential skills, tools and ; techniques needed to be a successful facilitator. Val Cortes, - Leadership Development, Coordinator Student Life Programs, University of Toronto Food & Agriculture Climate Change and Adaptation in South Asian Agriculture Islands on the Edge: A look at climate change in the Caribbean tion activities will be used to illuminate some points, including a food web exercise. The last third of the workshop will focus on practical skills and actions participants could take to participate in a climate-friendly food system, including gardening, farming, and buying local. Sarah Mohan - USC Canada Staff, Workshops 49 The workshop will have a twenty minute film with a brief talk about some of the climate justice issues around the vulnerabilities of the Caribbean to climate change. Claire-Helene Heese-Boutin - Caribbean Studies Student Union at U of Toronto Facilitation & Leadership They are such &#*!” Leading through conflict How do you prevent conflict with someone in your group? How do you approach someone with something they don’t want to hear, without making them defensive or angry? Effective communication is essential to maintaining good relationships within groups, and to managing disputes when they arise. This participatory workshop will emphasize learning interpersonal communication skills through role-play and practice. You will learn: How to listen effectively and make people feel heard; Strategies for de-escalating tense situations; Ways to raise concerns without making people defensive or angry; How different communication styles can contribute to conflict and affect group dynamics. Val Cortes, - Leadership Development, Coordinator Student Life Programs, University of Toronto Perspectives on Leadership for Social Change This workshop will look at the concept of resilience and what a resilient food system looks like. In particular, we’ll examine what impacts are being felt by small-scale farmers in rural South Asia, and how they are adapting their agricultural practices to climate change. We’ll discuss different visions of adaptation, including how farmers can cooperate with scientists to resist corporate domination of the input market. This workshop will draw on the experience of USC Canada’s partner organizations and friends in Nepal and India Kate Green - USC Canada Staff Green Jobs/ Economy The Triple ‘E’ Crisis in Canada 50 The terms leader and leadership are thought to be essential these days, but often lack meaning. In this workshop you will learn about leadership, from its early beginnings to a new approach of leadership for social change. You will explore a new model that will guide your leadership development as an individual, when working in a group and as a member of society. Val Cortes, - Leadership Development, Coordinator Student Life Programs, University of Toronto Eating Local for Global Change This crisis of the economy, environment and energy mix together to make these times extraordinary. Simply put, the environmental crisis of climate change cannot be overcome without taking up the challenge of building a green economy and industrial strategy that is increasingly fuelled by renewable energy alternatives to fossil fuels. Tony Clarke - Polaris Institute Facilitation Training Being able to facilitate diverse groups of people is a fantastic skill to have. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll be building skills for becoming an effective facilitator. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) This workshop will examine the greenhouse gas emissions of, on the one hand, the industrial farming method - including the footprint of transportation, soil degradation, livestock - and the emissions from the alternative, local ecological agriculture. The workshop will draw on the experience of USC’s Seeds of Survival program, showing how organic agriculture can feed the world, and exploring the concept of food sovereignty. We’ll explore themes food sovereignty. We’ll explore themes of control and power in our food system, in particular at how the WTO’s TRIPS agreement is privatizing our food system and making it harder for us to move to a greener food future. Popular educa- Preparing for Green Jobs David Berliner is a recent graduate of UofT and is currently employed in a ‘green job’ as a sustainability coordinator at UofT. He will be exploring what green jobs are, and the skills necessary to land a ‘green job’ in the future. David Berliner - University of Toronto Green Jobs Discussion CLC Young Worker Working Group Members will lead a discussion on the need for a green economy. Canadian Labour Congress Young Workers Working Group Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Workshops Making A Living By Making Change: Social Enterprise for a Green Economy Greening the Economy Politics and Strategies 51 This workshop is designed for people with ideas for social/environmental change, but who need help on how to start an organization or business to address environmental issues. It will help participants grow their idea from vague to concrete, and help them to map out their resources, and to make actionable steps. It will also clarify the lenses through which to make decisions about growing their enterprise (ie financial, team, mission integrity, legal, etc.). When participants leave the workshop, they’ll know what their idea is, what their next steps are, and what to consider in developing their enterprise. Assaf Weisz - Young Social Entrepeneurs of Canada The workshop will look at various political and practical strategies to organize around green job creation including community based and economic sector strategies. Nick De Carlo CAW Canada, Representatives from the Jane Finch Green Anti Poverty Coalition and the Toronto based Good Jobs for All Coalition Grassroots Action for a Green Energy Act for Ontario In 2008, the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association and a coalition of farmers, First Nations and environmental organizations joined forces to advocate a Green Energy Act for Ontario - legislation that would make Ontario a leader in renewable energy, reduce our pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, create meaningful green jobs and enhance economic development for rural, remote and Aboriginal communities. In this session, Roberto Garcia will discuss how OSEA’s members are developing their communities’ local renewable energy resources and why Community Power is essential in the transition to a 100% sustainable energy economy. He will discuss how the Green Energy Act establishes the supportive policies and regulatory framework to allow Community Power to flourish in Ontario. Roberto Garcia - Manager of resource development at the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association Workshops Green Technology Thinking about PHEVs: can the car of the future save us from our climate crisis Jobs in the Renewable Energy Sector The renewable energy sector is set to become one of the biggest job growth sectors in Canada, as well as an important part of the fight against climate change. This workshop will recognize the opportunities for a range of careers in renewable energy for young people looking to build a career. Tim Weis - Pembina Institute Labour unions in Canada has been a strong advocate for a just transition to a green, clean energy economy in Canada, as a pathway out of the economic and environmental crisis we are facing today. Trade union representatives will share strategies on how Canada can restructure from a fossil fuel-driven to low-carbon economy and creates new jobs while addressing pressing economic and social inequities. Nick DeCarlo - Canadian Auto Worker’s Union, Andrea Peart - Canadian Labour Congress, Andy King - United Steelworkers, Moderator: Erin Harrison Canadian Labour Congress A Just Transition to a Low-Carbon Future PHEVs, or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, may be an important climate-saving technology. But are PHEVs really the answer to human-induced global climate change? This workshop follows our year-long research project aimed at understanding how people drive in Winnipeg, MB, and brings to light some fundamental questions and myths about how we move ourselves around. This workshop will make participants assess their own driving styles, and will make them more aware the impact CO2 emissions from the transportation sector have on climate. Ryan Smith and Dave Capelle University of Winnipeg Department of Geography 52 Carbon Markets 101 Health & Community Re-Fresh!/Re-Jaillir!--“How to Build a Bottled Water Free School!” Practical Solutions Green Jobs in Agriculture This session will be a panel discussion on climate change and agriculture, and fulfilling green job opportunities that exist in sustainable agriculture from the perspective of food activists, farmers, and researchers in the field. Aric McBay - New Farm Project Creating Green Jobs through Extended Producer Responsibilities of products and a special focus on End of Life Vehicle Recovery and Recycling. Ken Bondy - CAW National Coordinator This series of workshops will introduce participants to the carbon market, issues surrounding carbon markets and how carbon credits are produced and traded. Howie Chong - Carbonzero Ever found yourself wondering “What’s up with bottled water?! Whatever happened to water fountains”? Join the Re-Fresh!/ Re-Jaillir! Team in a bi-lingual workshop on environmental and social justice campaign building. You will have the opportunity to take a close look at a campaign to ban bottled water at your school, while also being provided with the necessary tools to Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org create your own campaign around sustainability! Re-Fresh!/ Re-Jaillir! is a workshop geared towards fostering youth involvement in raising awareness and action on water privatization issues locally, Nationally and Internationally. Elly Adeland, Tanya Roberts-Davis & Cameron Grey - Polaris Institute Decorporatization of Campus Food She’s been in the trenches for more than 2 decades, and she’s still inspired and motivated to bring on the revolution. But she’s seen many of her activist friends burn out. What does activist burn out look like? What are the risks of activism, and and how can we most successfully avoid those risks? Learn about and share your ideas with others in the activist movement. Angela Bischoff - Greenspiration tal leadership, sustainable agriculture, and connecting with their community. This workshop will not only describe this award winning program, it will also cover the practicalities of engaging and employing youth in your community. Marilyn Brownlee - Urban Agriculture Manager at Greenest City High School Life Balance tion on our school’s energy use? What is an indicator anyways? And what do our gym uniforms have to do with sustainability? This workshop will provide participants with a brief introduction to the Project and the opportunity to develop some valuable skills towards transforming our schools into models of sustainability. Erica Nickel - Sustainable High Schools Project, Sierra Youth Coalition Workshops Workshops 53 Have you noticed that there is a lack of healthy & ethical food available in schools? This workshop addresses food security from a campus based perspective, using the hot yam! as an example. The hot yam is a volunteer run campus based community group providing torontonians with ethical local organic vegan meals that are made with love. We will be looking at the environmental and political challenges that the yam works to overcome. Learn how to start a positive food initiative in your school context. Kira Kastener & Indra Noyes Change Yourself, Change the World Globalization 101 Land is Connected to Bodies: reproductive justice, the environment, and YOU! In theory we know that land rights and body rights are connected, but what do we know about this in practice? Come out to this interactive workshop where we’ll talk about what reproductive justice has to do with the environment, and what YOU have to do with it. Jessica Yee - The Native Youth Sexual Health Network As one changes one’s self, one also changes the universe. As activists, a lot of our efforts go into pushing for large scale changes: greening the energy grid, putting a price on carbon, signing international treaties. These efforts are often directed at large monolithic institutions and can be very tiring. We should all be reminded of the change we can enact simply by examining our own lives and adopting an ecological outlook. Inspired by Buddhist and Tantric philosophy, this interactive workshop will empower participants to realize their own ability to affect change by being the manifestation of a positive alternative. Brett Rhyno - University of Toronto Stress management/Time management & life balance - how to keep your school work, paid work, volunteer work, and in balance with the personal aspects of your life – friends, family, spirituality, hobbies, having fun, etc. Huma Khan & Rohit Mehta - Peel Environmental Youth Alliance Environmental Education/Outreach in school system Come gain skills for designing environmental education or outreach in the school system. Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Corporations - there’s more of us than there are of them. Learn what we can do to take power back from trans-national business and put it into the hands of the people. This workshop introduces participants to what economic globalization is and how it affects youth. Participants explore issues and create critical analysis around economics, trade, colonialism, consumerism, sweatshops, and climate change and how these are all related under the umbrella of globalization. Kaitlin Pelletier & Bianca Baggiarini Check your Head 54 International La Traversée Africaravan Sustainable High Schools 101 Are you passionate about sustainability but feel like you’ve been spinning your wheels? Are you tired of working night and day to fundraise for a composter only to find out that your head custodian already purchased one? The Sustainable High Schools Project begins with the premise that an assessment of our current sustainability is critical in creating effective, efficient sustainability projects. But where do we start? Where do we go to get more informa- The Youth Green Squad: Growing Food and Making a Difference in Toronto’s West End Activist Burnout and Sustainable Activism Sustainable Activism - is that an oxymoron? Angela Bischoff doesn’t think so. Greenest City’s Youth Green Squad is a summer leadership program that employs at-risk youth who are 15 to 18 years old. Grounded in the culturally diverse west-end neighbourhood of Parkdale, Toronto, youth have the opportunity to learn about environmen- A voyage of discovery, outreach, solidarity, hope and fearlessness across Africa, employing a sustainable means of transportation: the bicycle. Together, Africans and non-African friends and allies will bike across the continent in four years. Come and discuss this project with its instigator, Amadou Touré. Discuss Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org your ideas and reflections and see how you might collaborate or participate in its realization, and maybe even help connect it with the rising climate justice movement! Amadou Touré & Kristian Gareau Workshops community-based adaptation planning, drawing on the CARE International Climate Variability and Capacity Analysis principles and practices. John van Mossel International Movements for Justice in Mining Climate Wrongs and Human Rights 55 In failing to tackle climate change with urgency, rich countries are effectively violating the human rights of millions of the world’s poorest people. Such rights violations could never truly be remedied in courts of law. In this workshop, we will look at how continued excessive greenhouse-gas emissions primarily from industrialized nations are – with scientific certainty – creating floods, droughts, hurricanes, sea-level rise, and seasonal unpredictability. The results are failed harvests, disappearing islands, destroyed homes, water scarcity, and deepening health crises, which are undermining millions of peoples’ rights to life, security, food, water, health, shelter, and culture. Human-rights principles must be put at the heart of international climate-change policy making now, in order to stop this irreversible damage to humanity’s future, Hasnat Ahsan - Oxfam Canada Climate Change and Development This is a workshop specifically on Climate Change and Mining, and put mining in a Canadian context and then looks at it’s impact on climate change. Sakura Saunders - Protestbarrick.net What is the Canadian Coalition for Climate Change and Development (C4D)? Come learn about C4D and Paul’s inside perspective from the Pembina Institute on what climate change means to development and humanitarian organizations and what they’re doing here in Canada. Paul Cobb - Pembina Institute United Nations - “Seal the Deal” Campaign CYD Copenhagen Project Team Join the Copenhagen Project Team to help us prepare for our work on the ground in Copenhagen. Do you have ideas for creative actions or a certain message you want us to bring? This is your chance to work with us and contribute to the Canadian Youth Delegation’s efforts for Copenhagen. Come prepared to share your ideas and contribute your message and thoughts! Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Seal the Deal! is a powerful new campaign by the United Nations to encourage governments to agree on a fair, balanced and effective climate agreement when they meet in Copenhagen this December. This workshop looks at the campaign and how you can get involved in brining Seal the Deal across Canada. Participants will have a chance to share their thoughts on why sealing a deal in Copenhagen is important and explore ways to incorporate the Seal the Deal campaign into their own local campaigns. Tshirts/Hats will be distributed to youth interested in being part of the Seal the Deal campaign. Ms. Khairoon Abbas - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Regional Office for North America (RONA) activities in the areas of capacity building, environmental awareness, and information exchange. This regional network of youth educating youth will produce well-informed leaders of tomorrow who are prepared to tackle global environmental issues. This workshop will explain the application process for joining the North American Tunza Network as a Regional Representative. Ms. Khairoon Abbas -United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Regional Office for North America (RONA) Workshops 56 Lobbying How to Lobby like a Pro Lobbying is one of the single most effective ways to influence your government. This workshop is designed to increase participants’ knowledge of how the lobbying process works while providing hands on experience to guide participants on how to lobby like a pro. Andrea Peart - Canadian Labour Congress & Kiavash Najafi - N.D.P. Organizing & Strategy Strategies for Action: How environmentalists can learn from resistance movements of the past Hot Topics at COP15 Come learn about climate change impacts in Africa, national adaptation plans of action, and community-based adaptation planning! John will share his experience managing the project Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change and from training sessions focused on hands-on approaches to Come for the latest update of what’s hot on the international climate change negotiation stage. PJ’s got tons of climate policy experience that he’ll be sharing in this session to psych you up for COP15 this December. PJ Partington- Pembina Institute Join the United Nations Environment Programme Youth Network! This workshop will discuss the youth initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), called TUNZA, which means “to treat with care and affection,” in Kiswahili (a sub-regional language of Eastern Africa). Tunza is a global initiative that is meant to develop Aric McBay will discuss strategies and tactics that can be used by the modern environmental movement while drawing on the successes and failures of historical resistance movements. Aric McBay Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Workshops Politics and Policy How the Environment Affects Poverty Come learn more about this innovative approach to global mitigation pathways! Joanna Dafoe Climate Mitigation Strategies and Policy 57 What can be done to prevent the decline of natural resources and the poverty that results from that? We will look at the economic results of environmental decisions and the problems caused by new technologies. Michael Rosenberg - Economics of Technology Working Group Introduction to UNFCCC Climate Conferences This session will explain the complex workings of international climate negotiations, and give participants a window into the process underlying COP15. Caroline Lee & Adam Scott - Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) This session will cover renewable energy, energy efficiency and other mitigation strategies, as well as the policies behind them. Alex Doukas & Adam Scott Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Climate Change impacts in Canada Workshops A summary of how climate change will impact different regions of Canada - a panel discussion. Rosa Kouri Tar Sands 101 Carbon Trading and the Flexible Mechanisms Adaptation Financing Financing is one of the four “pillars” of the climate action plan developed at 2006’s UN climate conference Bali, Indonesia and is critical to a successful agreement in Copenhagen. How big is the global north’s climate debt to the south, and how might we begin to repay it? What does the World Bank have to do with it? Come discover the ins and outs of adaptation financing! Dana Stefov - Canadian Council for International Co-ordination Climate Politics in Quebec An introduction to the tar sands, their environmental impact, and the policy surrounding their continued development Alex Dukas & Maryam Adrangi Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Quebec has a unique political ‘climate’ when it comes to climate change. This workshop will explain some of the politics and policies of the province of Quebec. Catherine Gautier- Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) Lessons learned from U.S Climate Policy International carbon trading, the clean development mechanism and the joint implementation mechanism are essential elements of international climate change policy. This session will explore how they work and what role they play in international climate change negotiations. Zoe Caron - World Wildlife Fund Canada 58 This session will share some of the lessons that can be learned from U.S. climate policy. Rhiya Trivedi & Maryam Adrangi Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) International and Domestic Climate Policy Forests and Land Use - 101 ‘REDD/LU-LUCF and Agriculture’ Climate Justice 101 Global Mitigation Pathways: Greenhouse Development Rights We know the world needs to reduce our GHG emissions, but by how much and by whom is a contentious issue. The Greenhouse Development Rights Framework is designed to support an emergency climate stabilization program while, at the same time, preserving the right of all people to reach a dignified level of sustainable human development free of the privations of poverty. A significant part of climate change is caused by deforestation and land use changes. REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries), LU-LUCF (Land Use - Land Use Change and Forestry), and agriculture are vital areas of climate negotiations. This session will help make this complex topic clear. Dean Medeiros & Thea Whitman Canadian Youth Delegation (CYD) This workshop will explore themes of climate justice at the international, domestice, and interspecies level including: inclusiveness of UNFCCC process, gender-dimension, compliance offsets as CO2 Colonialism, indigenous commuinties, equity concerns in Cap & Trade and Carbon Tax policies, class-dimension of emissions profile, intergenerational-dimensions of climate change, impacts on arctic communities, problems of ecosystems and biodiversity valuation, environment ethics, etc. Andrew Cuddy -Pembina Institute, Canadian Youth Delegation Policy guides our actions and will be key to our success in the fight against climate change. This session delves into Canadian climate change policies, as well as the broader international political situation at the level of the United Nations Climate Change Negotiations. This session assumes that participants have some familiarity with climate change policy as it delves deeper into both domestic and international political workings. Dale Marshall - David Suzuki Foundation Main Currents in Canadian Climate Policy Why has Canada’s performance on the climate change issue been so appalling? Canada has always presented itself to the world as a leader and a good global citizen, regarding environmental Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org 59 problems as well as more generally. But for climate change, its emissions have been growing faster than almost any other rich country, and successive governments, whether Liberal or Conservative, have failed to take serious decisions to control them. Many will suggest that its much more difficult for Canada to reduce its emissions than for other countries – because of the cold, the distances, or the dependence on the oil industry. But I try to show, by comparing Canada to other countries, that at the root of Canada’s failure is a lack of imagination, by politicians and businesspeople alike, about the possibility of transforming the economy through “decarbonising” it. This could give us some hope that citizens movements and activists can be the basis for a political transformation on this issue. Mathew Patterson Workshops learn how to bust all of the common myths around global warming. Zoe Caron - World Wildlife Fund Canada Power Shift World Cafe Join others like you who are passionate about building a sustainable world as we explore stories about the great work that is being done out there – both stories that you brought with you and new stories that you’ve heard over Power Shift. The World Café discussion format (www.theworldcafe.com) is a perfect way to connect with more people who are doing interesting things and it’s also a great way to experience what it could be like to tap into the collective intelligence. If you are looking for facilitation and communication tools to take back to your community, this is a great opportunity to experience the unique World Café conversational format. There is no observer status in this session. Jen Hunter-President of The Learning Catalyst & Green Party of Canada Candidate for Ottawa Centre Sustainable Campuses; Erica Nickels -Regional Coordinator, SYC Sustainable High Schools Workshops 2d Sociometry - A Creative Tool For Dialogue National Strategizing Session 2d Sociometry is a facilitation tool for mass dialogue that allows participants to place themselves along two axis: agreement and understanding. The technique is effective for exploring issues and making decisions, and it makes it easier to come to solid agreement and solid understanding for a whole group. Jamie Biggar From treating the symptoms to curing the disease? From Paris Hilton to DiCaprio to Twilight Vampires to former Prime Ministers – Celebrity and Opinion Leader Progressive policy through engagement for a cause Drawing on successful grasstop and youth participation celebrity organizing experiences this workshops discusses the benefits and pitfalls of celebrity engagement and some best practices for opinion leader engagement. Tzeporah Berman- Executive Director, PowerUp Canada Can the climate change solutions that are currently being proposed get us to a totally climate neutral world? If not, what are practical strategies to make it politically possible to transform our society and economy? Jamie Biggar After an inspiring weekend at Powershift, what is the most important work we can be doing when we return to our communities? This workshop is a space for students working on sustainability projects on their campuses to create a national strategy and identify the issue they will mobilize around for the rest of this year. This workshop is the cornerstone of the Sustainable Campuses National Conference, come and play a significant part in directing the focus of this youth-run project. All are welcome. Laura Read - National Coordinator, SYC Sustainable Campuses; Geneveive Dufresne - Quebec Regional Coordinator, SC Sustainable Campuses 60 Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework This workshop will explore how Canadian youth can more efficiently engage in public consultation as well as discuss how the youth environmental movement can better achieve its goals. Emily Briggs - TakingItGlobal, Ellen FieldEducation Alliance for a Sustainable Ontario, Sarah Burger - Fondation québécoise en environnement, Stephanie Levy - Evergreen, Amber Church - Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Monique Lefebvre - Canadian Environmental Network Sustainable Campuses National Conference Avoiding Activist Burnout Activists work passionately for their cause, often reaching a point where they feel exhausted, ineffective and burnt out. This is an interactive workshop to help activists in different stages of their careers identify and prevent activist burnout in themselves and their colleagues. Participants will leave with practical strategies for remaining an engaged and passionate activist! Laura Read - National Coordinator, SYC Global Warming 101 This session will give you the basics so that you can understand global warming, relate it to your daily life, and be inspired to start working on solutions to this complex issue. Learn the latest facts about science, politics and policy and Assessing the baseline of operations at an institution is the first step in transforming it into a more sustainable place. The Campus Sustainability Assessment Framework (CSAF) can be used by any campus group to audit the sustainability of their school. Come join the Sierra Youth Coalition in an introductory and instructional session on how to use the most comprehensive campus based sustainability auditing tool. Not only will this tool provide a holistic view of social and environmental sustainability, but it empowers students to have the numbers to back up our demands for a more sustainable future. Sierra Youth Coalition Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Speaker & Panelist Bios Workshops Multi Stakeholder Processes Adam Miron This workshop will walk you through the theory and practice you need to establish a collaborative process for a sustainability initiative on your campus. Carly Joynt -Sierra Youth Coalition 61 Pondstone Communications Adam brings a wealth of knowledge in the areas of development and placement of on-line advertising, SES indexing, blog coordination, and social marketing. Having attended Cambridge University in England, Cape Breton University and Thompson Rivers University, Adam has been involved with campaigning, fundraising, and advocacy for more than 9 years on a number of levels. Most recently, he has served as National Director of the Young Liberals of Canada, and as manager of the Liberal Party’s Social Media War Room for the 2008 General Election. working alongside her life partner Tooker Gomberg. From 1999 - 2002, Angela was Project Manager with the Toronto Atmospheric Fund and the Clean Air Partnership. After the tragic passing of her partner Tooker due to pharmainduced suicide, Angela immersed herself in issues of mental health, sustainable activism, big-pharma, and the dangers of anti-depressant drugs. She is currently writing, researching, networking and speaking exclusively about these issues. Speaker Bios Aric McBay 62 Amadou Touré Amadou Touré, originally from Dakar, Senegal. Student of medicine. Experience of racialization in Canada coupled with deep reflections on life and history gave rise to this dream. Aric McBay (www.inthewake.org) is a writer, activist, and small-scale organic farmer. His first book was Peak Oil Survival: Preparation for Life After Gridcrash. His second book, with Derrick Jensen, is titled What We Leave Behind and is now available. Assaf Weisz Amanda Whitten University of Ottawa Amanda Whitten is the Community Relations Coordinator at the Women’s Resource Centre at University of Ottawa as well as, for the past three years been an active Community Education volunteer with Planned Parenthood Ottawa - through both roles promoting anti-oppressive, sex-positive sexual and women’s health education. Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada Assaf Weisz, 24, is Executive Director of Young Social Entrepreneurs of Canada, and co-founder of its parent organization Project Equity - both youth run initiatives thatenable young people to emerge through social enterprise. Assaf studied International Relations at York University, and has been actively involved in youth engagement and alternative education since he was 16. He lives in downtown Toronto. Angela Bischoff Ben Powless Ontario Clean Air Alliance Angela Bischoff is native to Edmonton, and grew up as a dancer and musician. In the late 80’s Angela was associate director of the Edmonton Bicycle Commuters, advocating for bicycle facilities, Indingenous Environmental Network Ben Powless is of Mohawk and Ojibwe ancestry, having grown up in Ottawa. He is in his 6th (yes, 6th) year of his undergrad degree, having switched programs and universities four times before settling on Human Rights, Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org 63 Indigenous and Environmental Studies at Carleton University. Way back when, he was even a co-founder of the CYCC, and went on to start a successful Ottawa chapter before it went dormant. He has been employed by and sat on the board of the Youth Environmental Network (now defunct), and the National Council of the Canadian Environmental Network. He works as well with the Indigenous Environmental Network on issues of climate justice. He is often found hopping from meeting to meeting around the world, taking photos as he goes. He also loves learning languages, speaks Spanish and a reasonable amount of Brazilian Portuguese and French. Toronto, Perth and Carp. She enjoys blending Permaculture, Compassionate Nonviolent Communication, movement, dance and body-mind awareness to promote eco-logical and healthy living. Please visit: www.eco-logicalsolutions. com Speaker Bios learning how to live a more sustainable life (which is always fun), playing the violin, drinking lots of tea, experimenting with vegan food, taking pictures of her surroundings and going to lots of indie concerts. Dave Vasey Speaker Bios RAN-Toronto,CSR-Toronto Dave is a solidarity activist working with several groups in Toronto to support Indigenous stuggles. Dave was born and raised in Walkerton, Ontario Carly Joynt Dale Marshall Bodhi (Paul) Chefurka Awakening the Dreamer Bodhisantra became aware of the converging crises of our industrial civilization and has been actively taking his own message of awakening to a wide variety of audiences. When he discovered the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium last year it placed his personal activities in a much broader context, and he immediately decided to become a Symposium facilitator. He feels it is essential to involve young people in the awakening and dialogue that is occurring around these issues because they have the most at stake as we move into an increasingly uncertain future. Sierra Youth Coalition Carly Joynt, environmental technician, has worked within the sustainable campuses movement for the past 3 years helping to transform institutions into more lovely places. She currently works for the Sierra Youth Coalition as the Ontario Regional Coordinator of the Sustainable Campuses Project. She is an avid environmentalist and believes in connecting with our surroundings and nature to develop deeper roots and more meaningful projects. David Suzuki Foundation Dale Marshall is the Policy Analyst in the Climate Change Program at the David Suzuki Foundation. Elly Adeland Polaris Institute Elly Adeland is Polaris Institutes Water and Energy Campaigner.. Emily Briggs Dana Stefov Canadian Council for International Co-operation Dana Stefov is a policy analyst for the Canadian Council for International Co-operation, working on issues of environmental justice, human rights and gender equality. Previous to joining CCIC, Ms. Stefov was based in Washington DC and coordinated the International Coalition of Human Rights Organizations of the Americas, a group of over 100 civil society organizations committed to the strengthening of the inter-American human rights system of the Organization of American States. She also lived in Central America for several years working with an array of national and community-based women’s, youth and indigenous groups. Cheryl Ripley Falls Brook Centre Cheryl Ripley, Education Department Assistant with the Falls Brook Centre, studied International Studies and Modern Languages at the University of Ottawa. Working at FBC within the many dimensions of rural revitalization she hopes to contribute to maintenance of sustainable livelihoods on Earth. TakingITglobal Emily is thrilled to bring insight into engaging, enabling and empowering young people across the world through online education. Emily oversees the overall logistics of the e-course and the happiness of the Sprout team. She is passionate about enabling transformative changes in communities and personal growth in innovative young people everywhere. Emily graduated from the University of Toronto with an Honours BA, double majoring in International Relations and Political Science. When not bouncing around the TIG office, Emily can be spotted across Toronto attempting to be a potter, a flutist and a culinary enthusiast. 64 Chiara Camponeshi TakingITglobal Chiara grew up with a book in her hand and a suitcase in the other. Traveling is what activated her thirst for knowledge and curiosity. Originally from Rome, today she spends her time between Toronto, where she works and studies, and various parts of Europe. When not working or studying, she spends her time Emily Hunter Dave Capelle Bonita Ford Bonita is passionate about personal and social change and has led workshops worldwide for over five years, including in Budapest, Soweto, Durban, San Francisco, Seattle, New Mexico, Vermont, University of Winnipeg Dave Capelle is in his final year in a BSc. in Geography, also at the University of Winnipeg, and is currently working on his Honours Thesis. Freelance Enviro- Journalist Emily Hunter is an environmental journalist that resides in Toronto, Canada. At 25 year-old, she is the eco-correspondent for MTV News Canada and THIS Magazine chief eco-blogger. She has had her work published and broadcasted with the Eye weekly, Now Magazine, CP24, City TV Toronto and CTV National. Emily has also participated in numerous conserva- Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org tion campaigns abroad as an activist, including protecting indigenous species in the Galapagos and fighting for whales in the Antarctic Ocean with Sea Shepherd. Emily is currently producing a book on young environmental activists called ‘The Next Eco-Warriors,’ and her mini-doc, “Journey to the Tar Sands” on MTV News airs in November. it. Eriel has dedicated herself to advocating for environmental justice for her traditional First Nations community, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Fort Chipewyan, volunteering and working alongside various environmental organizations. Hasnat Ahsan Erica Nickels Erica Young 65 Manitoba Environmental Youth Network Erica works at the Manitoba Eco-Network where it’s her job to help connect and support environmental youth groups in Manitoba through the Manitoba Environmental Youth Network. She studied Environmental Studies at the University of Winnipeg where some of the most valuable aspects of her education came from all of the student organizing she was involved in. Having worked with a variety of decision-making structures and types of groups, she discovered consensus through the SCM (a student group focused on justice, community and spirituality) and immediately fell in love. She believes that process is just as important as outcome and sees consensus decisionmaking as a great way to model the change we want to see in the world. Sierra Youth Coalition Erica Nickels is the Ottawa Sustainable High Schools Coordinator for the Sustainable High Schools Project at the Sierra Youth Coalition. Erica works with Ottawa area schools in both official languages to help empower students and staff to envision, assess and transform the sustainability of their high school communities. SYC is Canada’s largest youth environmental organization, working to empower young people to become active community leaders. Oxfam Canada Hasnat Ahsan is Youth and Campus Outreach Officer at Oxfam Canada. She has been involved with Oxfam’s work since university, her academic background at McMaster University are undergraduate and graduate studies in biology and psychology and she is multi-lingual. In the past, she worked with the Stephen Lewis Foundation as a researcher, before coming to Oxfam Canada. Africa and the Caribbean. Ms. Lacroix holds a B.SC. in Geography from the University of Sherbrooke and a M. SC. in Physical Oceanography from l’Université du Québec à Rimouski. She also did doctoral studies in climatology at Laval University in Quebec City and in Environment (climate change and river floods) at the University du Québec in Montréal. In the last 10 years, Ms. Lacroix has been giving numerous talks on climate change science and impacts, nationally and internationally. Speaker Bios Speaker Bios Jamie Biggar 66 Huma Khan Geneviève Dufresne, Eriel Tchekwie Deranger Rainforest Action Network Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is a Dene woman belonging to the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation of Northern Alberta. Eriel is currently employed with the Rainforest Action Network as the Freedom From Oil Campaigner in Edmonton, Alberta targeting Tar Sands development and the banks that fund Sierra Youth Coalition Born in Québec City, graduate of HEC Montréal in applied economy and international management, Geneviève’s interest for fair trade, the environment and for corporate social responsibility began early in her university studies. She discovered her passion for management and sustainability through her involvement in the environmental group HumaniTERRE. Her internship in Nicaragua in the summer of 2007 made her realize the reality of the people in the South and the increasing disparities. Smiley, engaged and wearing pink, Geneviève loves life, chocolate, outdoor activities and good movies! Peel Environmental Youth Alliance Huma Khan is a self-proclaimed ‘ecowarrior’, and the Council Representative for the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance. She currently attends the University of Waterloo for Kinesiology, and is a proud member of the Sustainability Group on campus. She has been involved with the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance, and is currently serving as a member on its Advisory Committee. Her environmental intrests include civic engagement, and water related issues. University of Victoria Jamie Biggar is a graduate student at UVic, where he studies the political ecology of climate change in the School of Environmental Studies. He has co-founded several youth and climate-focused organizations, including Common Energy and goBeyond, and has recently become the Chair of the Sierra Club of BC. Jamie is interested in social media and has been behind several successful social media campaigns for Canadians for a Progressive Coalition and Canadians for Donuts and the Planet.” Jacinthe Lacroix Environment Canada As of October 2005, Ms. Lacroix is the senior science advisor for climate change at Environment Canada. Prior to that she worked for 15 years as a Natural and Meteorological Hazards specialist for the Public Safety Branch of the Ministère de la Sécurité Publique du Québec. She also acted as a Climate Change and Emergency Preparedness advisor for The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and worked in developing countries in Janet Laughton Mackay and Tom Pickens Awakening the Dreamer Janet Laughton Mackay, with her husband Tom Pickens, founded the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium in eastern Canada, two years ago. She has co-lead Facilitator Training programs and has also co-lead an international team of facilitators advising Pachamama on ‘globalizing’ the material for the next version of the Symposium, to be released this fall. For the past 13 years Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Speaker Bios she has had a leadership consulting practice, previously holding senior management roles in various corporations. council and is currently the coordinator for an emerging Prairie Water Coalition as well as Co-Manager of the Alberta Environmental Network. Canada’s Youth Diversity Initiative and the Jeremy Dias Scholarship. Jessica Yee today.’ She just recently visited the Ashuars in the Amazon forest and feels more than ever the importance of the Symposium. Speaker Bios Jeca Glor-Bell 67 Sierra Club Canada Jeca is the President of the Sierra Club Canada National Board (2007 – present) and is currently working with the UBC Sustainability Office on the university’s Sustainability Academic Strategy (www. sas.ubc.ca). Jeca on the Budget Allocation Board for the Energy Action Coalition and also co-founded the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition in 2006. She was the Boreal Network Organizer for Greenpeace Canada’s Kleercut Campaign (2006) and the Ontario Regional Coordinator for the Sierra Youth Coalition’s Sustainable Campuses Project ((2003-2005). Why does she do it? To build a community of active citizens who have the knowledge, tools and support to change our world and make it better for people and the planet. LINDSAY TELFER Lindsay has been working with the Sierra Club of Canada for nearly seven years on issues of community sustainability, energy and climate change. She has a masters degree in Environmental Studies from York University and brings with her international, national and local experience working on issues around energy, water and the environment including representation on the Canadian Delegation to the Eleventh Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the First Meeting of the Parties of the Kyoto Protocol. Most recently she was an ENGO representative on the Oil Sands Strategy multistakeholder committee, is an alternate ENGO member on the Alberta Water Jen Hunter The Learning Catalyst For over sixteen years Jen Hunter has worked with and acted as a leader to create positive and engaging futures. She is the president and founder of The Learning Catalyst, an organization committed to helping organizations learn to prosper financially, socially and environmentally. Jen is a professional facilitator and process designer whose work centres on supporting leaders and organizations as they engage members in purposeful and sustainable work. Jeremy Dias Jer’s Vison Jeremy Dias was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and grew up there until moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where he attended high school. As a youth, he was motivated by social and political inequality to take action, volunteering with numerous organizations and charities. In high school he started and lead a number of clubs including Stop Racism and Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving. He also founded and coordinated the Sault Ste. Marie first regional LGBTQ youth group. After coming out in high school, Jeremy faced extreme cases of discrimination by school officials. At 17, he began a legal case against his school and school board, and at 21 won Canada’s largest human rights settlement. Jeremy used the money to found Jer’s Vision: Native Youth Sexual Health Network Jessica Yee is a 23 year old Two Spirited young woman from the Mohawk Nation. She is the founder and Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network, a North America wide organization working on issues of healthy sexuality, reproductive justice, cultural competency, and youth empowerment. Jessica is a strong believer in the power of the youth voice, and you can see her activisting it up on sites like Indian Country Today, the CNN syndicated Racialicious, or pick up her recently released book “Sex Ed and Youth: Colonization, Communities of Colour, and Sexuality” She is the 2009 recipient of the YWCA Young Woman of Distinction, a 2009 Role Model for the National Aboriginal Health Organization, and was named one of 20 International Women’s Health Heroes by Our Bodies/ Our Blog. Dr. John Smol Queen’s University John Smol is a biology professor at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and is a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Change. His ground breaking research on climate change, lake acidification, and land use change has permanently altered views regarding the extent to which human activities affect the natural environment, and prompted key public policy and program development worldwide. He has received many honours, most recently including the 2009 Killam Prize, a Premier’s Discovery Award for 2009, and being named one of the Environmental Scientists of the Year by The Royal Canadian Geographical Society in 2008. 68 John van Mossel Joanne Mantha Awakening the Dreamer Joanne Mantha is a certified coach with the International Coach Federation. She uses coaching approaches such as Mind-Kinetics tools, the Brainwalk and the Sedona Method. She holds a Masters degree in Intercultural Education from Sherbrooke University with a specialisation in Aboriginal Cultures. Last year she attended the ICF (International Coach Federation) 2008 Annual Conference where she was fortunate to attend a portion of the Pachamama Symposium. She says: ‘It simply touched my heart to a point where I wanted to be here with you John van Mossel is an environment and development consultant in Ottawa focused on climate change adaptation. He is currently project manager of ‘Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change’ and has extensive previous NGO experience - local to global - with the majority of his work experience in Africa, Asia, Europe and Canada. Jonathan Rausse University of Ottawa Jonathan Rausseo is the University of Ottawa’s sustainable development manager. Using his experience as a student, Jonathan was able to leverage campus community support to create Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Speaker Bios his position and to move the University of Ottawa onto a more sustainable path. Kathryn Meisner Kate climatesight.org Kate is a high school student and aspiring climatologist from the Canadian Prairies. She runs the blog ClimateSight. org, which has blossomed from a few political cartoons to a complex examination of the discrepancy between scientific knowledge and public knowledge on climate change. 69 Kaitlin Pelletier Check your Head Kaitlin is the Co- Director of Check Your Head: the Youth Global Education Network, a non-profit organization based out of Vancouver. Through CYH she works to develop educational initiatives that engage young people around connecting issues of social, economic and environmental justice. Kaitlin is a council member of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition (CYCC) and is passionate about ending this culture of violence, both as it pertains to gender, and nature. Kaitlin holds an interdisciplinary Masters degree in environmental health science and women’s studies, and a diploma in Intercultural Education and Training. Me to We Kathryn joined Me to We as a Leadership Facilitator in June 2008. A graduate of McGill University with a double major in psychology and cultural studies, Kathryn has extensive experience facilitating and working with youth. She was the founder and facilitator of Talking Heads, a mental health peer support group she started after identifying a need for a supplement to the university’s services. Kathryn was a coordinator and facilitator for Rez Project, a workshop which was delivered to all 2000 students in McGill’s residences to make rez a safer space for everyone. As a Community Links Facilitator for the Sexual Assault Centre of McGill’s Student Society, she created workshops for students, university staff and organizations in the Montreal community addressing issues such as diversity, sexual assault and anti-oppression. After graduating, Kathryn used her trusty facilitation skills as a Youth Employment Counsellor and Employment Facilitator to help people find and secure sustainable employment. Kathryn loves to cook and bake, with her specialty being handmade chocolate truffles. Canada. Ms. Abbas has experience working in radio, television and print media. Her previous professional experience includes working as a journalist for a 20-week Canadian-led project called ‘Expedition Africa,’ where she traveled by car from Cairo to Cape Town to tell the story of Africa. Ms. Abbas also produced 19 radio documentaries for Strategic Radio Communication for Development, a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiative based in Tanzania that seeks to promote radio programming on the subject of HIV/AIDS. She is currently a consultant with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Office for North America, focusing on North American activities for the Seal the Deal! campaign, which aims to encourage governments to agree on a fair, balanced and effective climate agreement when they meet in Copenhagen this December. Ms. Abbas has lived in Germany, Canada, Ethiopia and the United States, and is fluent in English and Swahili (East Africa’s lingua franca) and is conversational in French and German. Speaker Bios Liam O’Doherty TakingITglobal Liam is a trained improviser and organizer currently studying Sociology, Semiotics and the environment at the University of Toronto. Favorite pastimes of his include riding bikes, playing piano, photography, cooking without recipes and drinking copious volumes of tea. Lisa Glithero Kristian Gareau Laura Read Artist, educator, traveller. Ken Bondy Katherine Giroux-Bougard Canadian Federation of Students Katherine is the National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. Formerly a student at Memorial University, Katherine has served as Chairperson since 2008. Canadian Auto Workers Union Ken is a National Coordinator for CAW– TCA Canada – the largest private sector union in Canada with more than 225,000 members. EYES Project and the University of Ottawa Lisa Glithero is an environmental educator, youth advocate and community innovator. She has taught in Canada and Nepal, and has served as the Education Director for Students on Ice, an organization that leads educational expeditions for youth to Antarctica and the Arctic. Glithero’s dedication towards a ‘greener’ society led to her establishment of the EYES Project in 2004. EYES (Education, Youth, Environment, Sustainability) is a Canadian not-for-profit organization committed to bringing a sustainability imperative into educational pedagogy and practice. Since fall of 2006 she has been teaching at the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa where, as of September 2009, Glithero has also begun pursuing a doctoral degree. 70 Khairoon Abbas Khairoon Abbas originates from Tanzania, East Africa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Communication Studies and a Masters in Journalism, both from Carleton University in Ottawa, Sierra Youth Coalition Laura Read is the National Coordinator for the Sustainable Campuses project at the Sierra Youth Coalition. SYC is Canada’s largest youth environmental organization, working to empower young people to become active community leaders. Laura is also a member of the Canadian Youth Delegation to the UN Climate Negotiations in Copenhagen. Luke Nares Me to We Luke Nares - In June 2008, deep in the world of music, Luke discovered the work of Free the Children and Me to We. Shortly after, Luke had the life changing opportunity of witnessing a Volunteer Now Special Event. Hearing the passion of FTC speakers, learning of the “Me to We” philosophy, and seeing the devo- Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org 71 tion of all the youth involved, Luke felt incredibly moved and inspired to become part of this exciting change. Growing up in the country north of Toronto, Luke developed a lasting appreciation of the environment and the friends and family around him. He participated in many competitive sports teams and eventually became a captain for the local football team. It wasn’t until the end of high school when Luke developed his two greatest loves in life: Music and Ultimate Frisbee. Speaker Bios professor from the University of Ottawa with over 20 years experience in analyzing Environmental Policy. Mike Hudema Dr. Michael Pisaric Marcelle Kosman Marcelle loves safe spaces. Whether in government, the corporate world, or the non-profit sector, there is always room to make our organizations safer for staff, clients, and volunteers. Marcelle is a committed activist for anti-oppression beyond theory and into real life. As Tommy Douglas said, “Courage my friends, ‘tis not too late to make a better world.” Marilyn Brownlee University of Ottawa Dr. Michael Pisaric has studied past climatic conditions in northern and alpine regions of Canada, the United States and Russia. His research is focused on the development of high-resolution proxy data sources such as tree rings and lake sediment to reconstruct past climatic conditions. Previous research has included investigations of the changes in the position of the subarctic treeline in Siberia during the past 10,000 years and reconstruction of river flows for the Yellowstone River in Montana. Current research is examining fire history in southeastern British Columbia, the impacts of thawing permafrost and industrial activities on lake ecosystems in Inuvik, NWT. Greenpeace Canada Mike Hudema is a long time member of the Canadian activist scene. He was part of a motley band of activists that took to the streets of Quebec City for the FTAA protests, slept on the steps of the legislature to protest rising tuition rates when he was President of the University of Alberta Students’ Union, and occupied Anne McLellan’s office to defeat Canada’s anti-terrorism legislation. In his spare time he co-hosts CJSR’s alternative news program Rise Up: Radio Free Edmonton and co-writes books like the recently published “An Action a Day Keeps Global Capitalism Away”. Mike currently works for Greenpeace as the Climate and Energy Campaigner focusing on stopping the tar sands, the largest industrial project on the face of the planet and bringing about a green job future. He is also a climb trainer with the Ruckus Society. since October of 1994. His assignment covers environment and workers’ compensation. Prior to joining the CAW National Office, he was active as President of CAW Local 1967 at McDonnell Douglas in organizing a labour environment alliance focusing on the interplay between jobs and the environment. Speaker Bios Noah Stewart Canadian Federation of Students Noah is the National Deputy Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. Formerly a student at Concordia University, Noah has been involved in organising on a number of issues from human rights to tuition fees and student financial aid. 72 Paul Cobb Mike Sheehan Urban Agriculture Manager at Greenest City Marilyn is a prairie girl from Saskatoon gone big city Toronto style. She has spent the past ten years working in food security, community economic development, urban agriculture, and youth engagement; in other words, getting paid for exactly what she wants to do. Since March 2009, Marilyn has had the opportunity to work with Greenest City as the Urban Agriculture Manager and loves it that she can walk to work in 15 minutes. Michael Rosenberg Economics of Technology Working Group Michael Rosenberg has been involved with many environmental, anti-poverty, and peace movement groups. Focusing on economic and environmental problems caused by technology, he has been involved in a range of activities locally and internationally, from the Kensington Environment Centre in Toronto to attending United Nation Conferences worldwide. Reel Youth Mike Sheehan is an artist and educator specializing in large group facilitation and youth engagement. For the past 14 years he has been designing and delivering a variety of educational programs for both youth and adults. Mike is a Reel Youth facilitator and director of BeatBoard Education and Training. He known for creating meaningful and inclusive learning environments with a surprising level of engagement and energy. Pembina Institute Paul is a Technical and Policy Advisor with the Pembina Institute’s Sustainable Communities Group. Paul leads the Pembina Institute’s international program, which is aimed at expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities through increased access to clean, reliable and renewable energy. He has worked with partners in developing countries to build capacity in the areas of renewable energy technologies, climate change and carbon financing. PJ Partington Pembina Institute P.J. Partington works to promote effective climate change policy at the federal and international levels. He is a founding member of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. P.J. has been a policy analyst with the Pembina Institute’s Climate Change Program since February 2009. Nick De Carlo Matthew Paterson University of Ottawa Matthew Paterson is a Political Science Canadian Auto Workers Union Nick De Carlo - has been a National Representative with the CAW Health, Safety and Environment Department Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Speaker Bios Rabia Wilcox 73 Awakening the Dreamer Rabia Wilcox is an author, song writer/ producer and body-centred coach who offers her joyous energy and intuitive talents in facilitating Awakening the Dreamer Symposiums and inspirational seminars. She helps guide people (of all ages) with profound yet simple techniques for emotional release and deep inner reflection. This empowers them into their own gifts and authentic expressions. Ryan Smith University of Winnipeg Ryan Smith is a recent graduate from the University of Winnipeg, with a BSc. majoring in Geography. Ryan’s research focus is on climate science. Sakura Saunders Roberto Garcia Roberto has more than 5 years of experience in planning, management, consulting, communications/marketing and finance in the public, private and international development sectors. Roberto holds a bachelor degree in Commerce from Concordia University, with a specialization in Management information Systems and eCommerce and is currently pursuing a Master in Environmental Studies degree focused on community-based energy at York University. Protestbarrick.net Sakura Saunders is an editor and founder of ProtestBarrick.net, an all-volunteer online network of groups researching and organizing around mining issues, particularly involving Barrick Gold. It contains news articles, testimonies, and backgrounders about Barrick’s operations worldwide. Every year, Sakura organizes a tour of impacted communities to visit Canada, to learn from each other’s campaigns as well as bring the battle to Barrick’s shareholders, the Canadian Parliament, and the UN. and civic education, he has taught at elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels across North America, in the Polar Regions and in Central Europe. Tim is the Education Program Director of Students on Ice Expeditions, an awardwinning educational organization based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. Tim holds a Master of Science degree in Environmental Studies from Lesley University, and undergraduate degrees in Outdoor and Experiential Education (Queen’s University) and Political Theory/International Relations (Bishop’s University). major public policy issues, including energy security, water rights and free trade. He holds a doctorate from the University of Chicago, is a critically acclaimed book author, and is the recipient of Sweden’s Right Livelihood Award, the “alternative Nobel Prize.” Among his most recent books is Tar Sands Showdown. Speaker Bios Tria Donaldson Tim Weis Sevilla Leowinata Awakening the Dreamer Sevilla Leowinata works in remote rural villages, urban slums, as well as negotiation tables across the globe. She gathers success stories - often with a focus on youths and innovations, elders and wisdom – to address issues of environmental sustainability, social justice, and eradication of poverty. Sevilla is strongly committed to sharing the Pachamama call through the Awakening the Dreamer symposia with the next generation of change makers, wherever she next sets foot. Rohit Mehta Peel Environmental Youth Alliance Rohit, who lives in Mississauga, is currently studying Environmental Management at the University of Toronto. He is a founding member of the CYCC and the Peel Environmental Youth Alliance. He recently became the coordinator of the Alliance and wants to see high school students empowered to create environmental change through local projects. Rohit has been involved with the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada, as well as Students on Ice Expeditions after an Arctic Expedition he attended in August 2008. Pembina Institute Tim Weis is a professional engineer and the Director of Renewable Energy and Efficiency Policy at the Pembina Institute. Tim has written numerous technical reports and development manuals on renewable energy and energy efficiency on issues at national, provincial and municipal levels as well as issues specific to First Nations’ and northern contexts. He has assisted more than 20 communities at various stages of development of renewable energy projects. Tim is currently completing his PhD at the Université du Québec à Rimouski studying wind energy development in remote Canadian communities, and has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alberta where he studied ice adhesion to wind turbine blades. Tim Straka Tony Clarke Students on Ice Tim seeks to co-create transformative learning experiences with students of all ages. Committed to environmental Polaris Institute Tony Clarke is the founder and director of the Polaris Institute in Ottawa, an organization dedicated to developing tools and strategies for civic action on goBeyond Tria Donaldson loves building community through activism. And Karaoke, but luckily for you Power Shift involved activism, and not karaoke – because her conference organizing skills are much more well honed then her singing skills. Tria first got bit by the organizing bug in elementary school, where she sat on a committee to naturalize her schols land scapes. Since then she has worked a numerous social justice and environmental causes – like access to education, anti-racism, and campus gfsustainability. Tria is very passionate about addressing climate change in a fair an equitable manner that also addressing systemic oppression and inequality. She is an active volunteer with several organizations, including the Sierra Youth Coalition and CYCC. She has recently been accepted to be part of the Canadian Youth Delegation to COP 15 and she is very, very excited. In her spare time, Tria works for goBeyond, a youth driven climate project that works with 12 post-secondary institutions in BC. Tria spends too much time working and is currently taking time off of her Bachelor of Journalsim at Thompson Rivers University. And she likes trying to grow food. 74 Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition Express yourself on www.powershiftcanada.org Speaker Bios Tzeporah Berman 75 PowerUp Canada Tzeporah has been one of Canada’s leading environmental voices for over a decade and is now the Executive Director and one of the Co-founders of the new national climate initiative PowerUp Canada. Tzeporah is also a Co-founder of ForestEthics, a non-profit environmental organization with offices in Canada, the US and Chile that is well known for its successful campaigns to protect the Great Bear Rainforest, the Boreal forest and to transform the buying practices of major corporations such as Staples and Victoria’s Secret. Prior to joining ForestEthics, Tzeporah worked for seven years with Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Canada. Tzeporah is also known for her work in the early nineties coordinating the largest civil disobedience protest in Canada’s history in Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Tzeporah received her B.A from the University of Toronto and her Master¹s in Environmental Studies from York University. Her graduate research was in the area of leadership development and social responsibility of students involved in campus organizations. Vincens Côté Sierra Youth Coalition Vincens comes from Rimouski, the Micmac’s « Land of the Mooses ». He was always extremely fond of nature, and decided to study ecology so he could save the world. He has since developed profound interest for environmental and development issues. He recently graduated in International Ecology. He can be found waddling in insect thick marshes, enjoying the sun on a patio with friends, or battling dragons and evil polluters in an imaginary world. Zoe Caron Val Cortes University of Toronto Valeria is responsible for the planning and logistics for all leadership development workshops, training and conferences offered through Student Life Programs at the University of Toronto. Val regularly facilitates workshops in communication skills, group coordination, conflict resolution and meeting facilitation and is a trained facilitator of a popular theatre technique called Forum Theatre. A graduate of Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Val has both an engineering degree and a Master’s in Education. World Wildlife Fund Canada Zoë is the co-author of ‘’Global Warming for Dummies” and Editor on ItsGettingHotInHere. She is the Climate Policy & Advocacy Specialist for World Wildlife Fund Canada and is on the provincial renewable energy stakeholder consultation project team in Nova Scotia. She sits on the Board of Directors of Sierra Club Canada and was a founding member of the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition. Zoë attends United Nations Climate Change Conferences and was aboard the Students On Ice International Polar Year 2007 Expedition to Antarctica. Zoë is based out of Toronto, Canada. Hosted by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition