One issue we are likely to see a focus on in the upcoming municipal elections is community safety, often focusing on crime and violence. But important though that is, community safety is about much more than that. I recall, as a consultant working on the Healthy Cities initiative with the World Health Organization in the 1980s and 1990s…
There is a concept in health promotion called victim-blaming — blaming smokers for their habit, for example, when in reality they are the victims of a sophisticated marketing campaign. The same concept applies to the tendency by many to blame the City of Victoria for problems such as homelessness, mental health and addictions problems, park camping and crime and violence.
The Pilgrimage is a communal walk over four days from the Cowichan Valley to Metchosin to consider our place in the biosphere and connect with nature and spirituality. Details of the walk are here- Vancouver Island Anthropocene Pilgrimage. You are welcome to join the... Read more
One of my professional roles throughout most of the 1980s and 1990s was that of a health futurist. Often that involved working with scenarios of plausible alternative futures. In addition to helping people understand the implications of past, current and future actions, these scenarios are useful in exploring their values…
Even the human species is probably not at risk, although we should remember that, over time, pretty much all species become extinct. But we are a highly adaptable and tough species, able to survive and indeed usually thrive in habitats as diverse as the Arctic, equatorial jungles, deserts and high altitudes.
Why are they important? What is threatening them? What can you do? • There are 5 species of pacific salmon in BC: Sockeye, Pink, Chum, Coho and Chinook • Salmon are keystone species in BC, meaning that many other organisms along BC’s coast rely on salmon to sustain... Read more
In North America, we spend on average 90 per cent of our time indoors. So the design and operation of the immediate built environment where we spend the vast majority of our time is of great importance for our wellbeing.
Active transportation is a major focus of public health action, and has been for some decades. The health benefits include increased physical activity (in turn linked to reduced obesity and improved heart health), improved air quality (linked to improved heart and lung health), and reductions in injuries, noise and greenhouse gas emissions.
I have felt sometimes lately like I am descending into some kind of limbo. So much seems to be going sideways in the world at the same time, yet there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to slow or halt the decline. For the last three years, all I seem to have been... Read more
I’m a bit concerned about the recent missing middle article posted on Creatively United. It frames the proposed missing middle policy as an attack on trees and there are several reasons this is factually untrue. The missing middle policy has a max 40% site... Read more
Dear friends of the urban forest, This Thursday, August 4th, Victoria city council is holding a public hearing about the proposed “Missing Middle” zoning change. This unprecedented change could mean a massive loss of city trees — yet with no... Read more
This summer, Capital Bike makes exploring by bike more rewarding than ever. Now in its third year running, the Sticker Challenge has over 60 organizations participating. The guiding principal: the more places you visit by bike, the more prizes you can win. Capital... Read more
Please find below a draft design for a system of boardwalks at Cattle Point prepared by well-known landscape architect Paul de Greef and commissioned by the Greater Victoria NatureHood. The design was donated to the District of Oak Bay as a contribution towards... Read more
Please consider filling out this survey below (use a computer rather than a phone to be certain to save your answers). Aysha Emmerson is a brave young student at Harvard doing ambitious undergraduate research. Her invitation: Hello! My name is Aysha Emmerson. I am... Read more
Should we be paying more attention to the cumulative loss of privacy resulting from widespread CCTV surveillance? Privacy is a civil liberties issue. Are we vigilant enough about surveillance-creep, and its threat to privacy rights?
I was just complaining yesterday that no media had taken up my press release regarding the mural. I had really hoped that the concept would be shared more widely in the mainstream press: “The characters are from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, says... Read more
This week, I will begin to explore our “Five Big Ideas” in more detail, from the perspective of human wellbeing and its achievement within the Earth’s ecological boundaries. These ideas are intended to provide a balanced and holistic perspective and be implemented together. We want to create a city-region that…
Parents wanting to bike with their kids but who are concerned about safety and are not sure how to start, now have a “leg up”, with help by Capital Bike. This summer, Capital Bike’s All-Aboard Family Cycling program returns for the second year, funded by Island... Read more
In November 2021, the City of Ottawa completed the process of revising its official plan. My attention was drawn to Ottawa’s plan through a recent news posting by the Canadian Public Health Association, which focused on the role of public health in the development of the new plan.
I have had it with letters to the editor that seem to be trying harder and harder to be nastier and nastier about people who are, for whatever reason, down on their luck and living on the street. Too often, recently, I have seen references to such people as “bums,” or worse, “undesirables.”
For those that missed the One Planet Celebration Event, please check out the recording! We profiled some of the amazing work that you are all doing, featured and awarded the winners of our One Planet Student Challenge, and heard congratulatory remarks from the... Read more
Friends, please sign the petition by Elizabeth May who has put forth a bill and petition to STOP OLD GROWTH LOGGING.
The Fairy Creek area and other rare Old Growth habitat are still slated to be logged. Thanks for caring!
We have missed other important environmental goals. An independent scientific report prepared for the recent Stockholm+50 conference examined progress across a range of environmental goals agreed since 1972, and found that “typically only one-tenth of targets show significant progress or can be considered achieved.”
I wish to offer that two great societal forces seem to be cancelling each other out in terms of moving society forward during this critical moment. The first of these forces are those of hope and gratitude and promise for a better future; and the second those... Read more
The 2022 Community Canvas Mural Project aims to add vibrancy to Saanich this summer with three mural opportunities in public parks. Find more information on the project website: 2022 Community Canvas Mural Project | District of Saanich Information on the Call to... Read more
Question: Is there room for hope in the modern world? I’m a Delta, BC resident who writes poetry as a way to explore and understand myself and the wider world. My love of trees, the environment, poetry and the written word continue to inspire me.
Rising concern about the impact of humanity on the environment led to the first UN conference on the environment in 1972. However, the issue of sustainability itself was barely touched on at the conference, with only one mention in the 80-page conference report. Nonetheless, publications prepared for the conference, such as Only One Earth and The Limits to Growth, as well as the conference itself, led to a much-heightened awareness of the challenges we faced.
The Artist in Residence program gives a professional artist the opportunity to work collaboratively with the community, City staff, and the Art in Public Places Committee to identify and develop an art plan over a two-year term. The program is open to mid-career... Read more
Pacific Opera, in collaboration with Creatively United and the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund, are presenting a series of free outdoor performances in a variety of Greater Victoria parks during the month of June. Experience nature and live... Read more
We’re All in This Together… Now What?, the final webinar of Creatively United’s Climate and Artists fourth season, explores how we can collectively reduce our carbon footprint by 40% by 2030 and transformatively shift to healthier…
Please write to LandlordBC to voice your concerns about them promoting Fortis and RNG as a solution for new and existing homes at their virtual event on June 15th. LandlordBC has a good reputation and we would not like to see it have its name sullied by promoting this... Read more
The concept of a carbon bomb is pretty simple: It’s a potential source of a large amount of CO2 that could be released quite rapidly (or the loss of important carbon sinks), accelerating global heating and taking us beyond the 1.5 C and even the more damaging 2 C targets that have been internationally agreed upon.
How to deal with Freedom of Speech and Liars I am a dual citizen, born and raised in New England, the son of French Canadian grandparents and, since 1980, I am a Canadian citizen living on beautiful Vancouver Island. I love my dual heritage, warts and all. I am... Read more
Two-thirds of the trees in Victoria are on private land, within the setbacks of buildings that do not maximize the allowable footprint. Upzone most of those properties and you provide the financial incentive to remove thousands of Victoria’s mature trees. The tree protection bylaw does not protect trees that fall within allowable building footprints.
The following urgent plea to save the rare lush Old Growth Forest habitat and Marbled Murrelet (Ma Mu) and endangered species at risk was hand delivered by MP Elizabeth May to Federal Environmental Minister Steven Guilbeault at the end of March, 2022 . The... Read more
Victoria Mayor, Lisa Helps, wants to force a vote (May 12th.) on an initiative that will seriously impact housing for homeowners and renters in Victoria long into the future. Crucially, it will involve upzoning residential areas of Victoria to allow development of up... Read more
All of us can contribute to a healthy environment in our communities. CENiC—the Citizens’ Environment Network in Colwood—is celebrating the efforts of some of the community leaders who are showing the way. Colwood residents Abby and Roger St. Pierre were recently... Read more
Do you feel paralyzed when you can’t see a solution or a way forward with the seemingly endless bad news? Creatively United’s founder and webinar host, Frances Litman, is dedicated to showcasing and sharing positive solutions that offer transformational... Read more
B.C. likes to claim it has a wonderful, world-leading climate action plan. So it is perhaps surprising that the Sierra Club B.C. announced in February that it is taking the B.C. government to court “for failing to present plans to achieve several key climate targets, as required by its own climate change legislation.”
The 10 year anniversary of Creatively United for the Planet’s first Earth Day event was celebrated with an incredible panel of youth voices that featured five young Canadian changemakers working in creative ways to help amplify youth voices…
We are seeking more volunteers, especially for our Monday markets at Gorge Park! Volunteering is a great way to get involved to help develop a more sustainable food system and help create a vibrant farmers market and community gathering space. We could always use... Read more
The story of Fairy Creek comes to the world stage! In the summer of 2021, Canadian filmmaker Peter von Puttkamer and his crew made the trek to Fairy Creek to document the struggle and speak first-hand with the forest defenders passionate about saving the old-growth... Read more
Thank you to everyone who has lent their support, time, and talent to Creatively United over the years! It takes a village! Photos by: Matthew Davies, Mo Parker, Melawend Photography, Daniel Etiene, and Frances... Read more
Nature heals — in more ways than one. Science shows that spending time in nature reduces stress and anxiety and boosts energy, creativity, co-ordination, problem solving and curiosity. For Earth Day, you can make MORE green spaces available to MORE people. Donate to... Read more
Right now, globally, we have experienced global warming of about 1.1 C, and we saw last summer here in B.C. what that can mean. Two recent reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change paint a grim picture.
Elders for Ancient Trees Newsletter, April 14. It’s a cool and wet spring. Despite the chilliness, there is so much to be grateful for. Our friends and families. The blossoms along urban streets and in the forests. The first bees and small butterflies. The beautiful tumbling garlands of blooms nestled in the uncurling leaves of the Bigleaf maples.
The Old Growth Solutions Group and the Mother Tree Network team have joined forces to launch this new website focused on the science of ancient forests – please help us amplify its impact as we race to protect these rare magnetic forests of the Pacific... Read more
Housing is fundamental to health. That should not be a surprise, especially in a country with Canada’s climate. The health impacts of being homeless or living in poor-quality housing are well understood, and must be obvious to anyone. But it is not just homelessness that is a concern — there is a much larger problem of affordability. Lack of affordable housing can markedly affect people’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.
