Last week, I described the growing global attention to the concept of a well-being society and economy. The latter has already been the focus of work by several national governments. In particular, New Zealand (Aotearoa) was the first country in the world to develop and present…
We wanted to share some exciting news with you in hopes that you may share it to your circles, as well as in any upcoming e-newsletters. POLIS is collaborating with the University of Victoria Sustainability Project, the Canadian Freshwater Alliance, and the Cowichan... Read more
Dear Friend of the HeArt, Greetings! The year 2020 was grappled with the global pandemic and we were caught in the midst of it when we moved from one island to another – to settle at my mother’s hometown; a farming community located 35 miles from the capital city of... Read more
Happy Lunar New Year ! Let’s spread good fortune and support Asian-owned businesses, Asian artists and BIPOC organizations in 2022 Hi there My name is Ella and I am the social media coordinator for CU I am half-Korean and my step family is Chinese, so I am lucky to... Read more
Learn how communities around the world are developing new solutions to mitigate risks by working with nature. Water is the essence of life. Rivers are the arteries of life. Coasts are the gateway to the oceans. All three ecosystems are threatened by the climate crisis — more severe droughts…
The Little Creek that Could is a children’s story written by Mark Angelo celebrating his life long commitment to bringing degraded urban streams back to life. Mark Angelo is a globally renowned conservationist, teacher and writer who is an Order of Canada recipient... Read more
The BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy today released a Discussion Paper on Watershed Security and and associated Fund to support community engagement in watershed management across the province.
I am now of the view that the scientifically validated discovery of nonhuman sentience and intelligence in the natural world offers the greatest potential for transformation in natural and cultural interpretation and education since the rise of the ecological movement... Read more
I have recently come across a new source of information, inspiration, and opportunity to act. Endangered Ecosystems Alliance (EEA) is a relatively new non-profit environmental group. They have just been granted charitable tax status. The executive director is Ken Wu. One of the science advisors is Andy MacKinnon. To me, those participants signal knowledge, integrity, courage, and smart ideas.
Congratulations to Vancouver’s sixth and Poet Laureate, Fiona Tinwei Lam. Fiona has been a guest on CreativelyUnited.org Climate & Artists Series free webinars. She just launched a new competition for young, emerging and established wordsmiths as her legacy... Read more
On January 24, 2020, School District 61 Trustees will be deciding on the sale of a parcel of 1.9 acres of publicly-owned land and section of Bowker Creek at Lansdowne South (previously Richmond Elementary School) We have been told that the number of emails the School... Read more
With more than 80 million views since its release on December 24th, the film Don’t Look Up has become one of the top three films ever shown on Netflix. It is a brilliant parody on our inability as a global community to focus on an immediate existential threat to... Read more
I have been struggling since the beginning of the pandemic to find meaning in, and to give value to this transformational moment in the human journey. At last, after many months, I have got as far as an outline, at least, for a personal approach to dealing with the accelerating…
Next week the federal government’s online consultation on our 2030 climate targets closes. It’s a crucial opportunity for us to have our say about Canada’s climate targets and the plan to reach them. The consultation was launched under the radar in December, and... Read more
… well, world peace, of course; an end to poverty, hatred and discrimination in all its forms; reconciliation with Indigenous people in Canada and around the world; serious action on climate change, an end to the ravaging of nature…
On Sunday evening, I will gather with others in our neighbourhood at Lights on the Gorge, our annual event to mark the midwinter solstice. We will light some of the trees along Gorge Road, sing songs appropriate to midwinter and the solstice and have a lantern parade for the kids.
Eight cellists from University of Victoria Cello class, under the direction of Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, recently debuted a new composition by Hollas Longton, featuring the poems of Creatively United’s Frances Litman. he commission, funded by the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund, is presented…
Season 4 of Climate and Artists free webinar series premiered with positively uplifting and inspiring stories from eight fabulous guests committed to regenerating and transforming communities creatively. Learn how…
Why are they happening? Preparation and safety tips.These conditions are not just being caused by “natural” disasters. They are “unnatural” disasters that have been exacerbated by climate change and exploitative land and resource management.
Oh the weather outside is frightful… 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.
It’s sunset, at the end of another beautiful day in Honolulu. The high tide is arguing with the seawall, which was raised another metre last year to protect the Capitol Building – but what’s new? They’re still not on good terms with each other. My name is Ben... Read more
A few weeks ago, the City of Victoria, the Victoria Foundation and the Canadian Urban Institute came together to host an “urban intensive” called CUIxVictoria – Vital Conversations for Our Shared Future. It was a very powerful three-day series of discussion and... Read more
This 7-minute NYT cartoon from Greta Thunberg is excellent at showing how the political and economic systems we have are failing to face up to the existential crisis of the climate emergency. It is up to us to make sure that changes!
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated almost a year ago: “Making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century. It must be the top, top priority for everyone, everywhere.” In my view, this can only happen if we recognize, as Barbara Ward and Rene Dubos’ 1972 book put it, that there is “Only One Earth” and we have to learn to live within and not beyond its bounds.
I found this an inspiring commentary by a wise storyteller, especially the difference he sees between becoming ‘older’ vs becoming an ‘elder’. We are all in that transition. This consciousness is so needed in the world right now. This is only 30 minutes:... Read more
Looking for a volunteer opportunity? Want to help shape Victoria’s future? We’re accepting applications from individuals to serve on the following committees to provide advice to City Council on a variety of arts and culture, design, planning and development projects,... Read more
I am so excited to share that my first novel, The Voyage of Freydis, has been on the Canadian bestseller list for two weeks this October. The Voyage of Freydisa is a work of historical fiction that is a revisionist retelling of the life of Freydis Eiriksdottir, the... Read more
Rocky Point Bird Observatory (RPBO) – www.rpbo.org – is based in Victoria B.C. and is the only Pacific coastal station in the Canadian Migration Monitoring Network. RPBO is a unique and important contributor to bird conservation; regionally, nationally and... Read more
Courtesy of the Times Colonist Photo: Amazon opened its first general store outside the United States in a mall near London this week, selling the online retail giant’s most popular products, including books, toys, games and consumer electronics. A UN report... Read more
In a climate emergency our elected representatives must adopt these 5 actions immediately to make real the protection of nature and the conservation of biodiversity in our parks as the top priority promised.
SPIRTS MUST BE SEEN & HEARD In recognition, these Native baby spirits must be seen and heard. Most of us have evolved enough to see their face and hear their name, now. Some of us were not awake to get involved, we let their deaths go by. Some who knew better, Dr.... Read more
Here are some resources to help settlers understand and advance Indigenous Reconciliation: 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act: Helping Canadians Make Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples a... Read more
Fossil Fool When our Fossil Fool went to school, profit was the Golden Rule. I wish that he had stopped to think that it would lead us to the brink of climate change, and fire and drought. Let’s help him see there is a way out of unrelenting growth and industry greed.... Read more
Students will walk out of class late morning and arrive at the Legislature at about noon. Speakers, music and more. Let’s get out and support the students as they struggle for a sustainable future. Organized by Our Earth Our Future. Details Date: Friday, September 24... Read more
For the 30 days of September, I have been sending a tree poem a day, written by myself and others, to protect our ancient forest ecosystems to the Premier, Prime Minister, select ministers, MLAs and party leaders. Here is my letter, followed by a poem I sent on day... Read more
Capital Bike and Victoria Orange Shirt Day are proud to announce the first-ever National Reconciliation Day Ride on September 30th in Victoria, BC, as part of Go By Bike Week, in recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Everyone is invited to wear... Read more
My poem, “The Girl Who Ate Dirt”, is inspired by an intriguing autobiographical detail that Suzanne Simard shares in her book “Finding The Mother Tree”.
Through music, dance, song and stunning visuals, the importance of protecting, preserving and planting trees is artfully expressed in this unique collaboration involving members of the Victoria Symphony, the Victoria Philharmonic Choir, the Emily Carr String Quartet and Ballet Victoria.
I have learned in a visceral way—through relentless confrontation of comfort and exposure to vulnerability—that my culture, and its systems and structures, all derived from patriarchy, is the downfall of humanity.
Join the Trees in Cities Challenge The City of Victoria is working with the community to plant 5,000 trees on public and private land in the United Nations Trees in Cities Challenge. In 2020, the City increased tree planting by 40 per cent and planted 500 new trees in... Read more
It has been a pretty dispiriting election all round. It was called in the midst of a pandemic for no better reason than that the Liberals want to hang on to power. The campaign has been lacklustre, the debates uninspiring and badly organised and, at the end of it all, it seems to me we may well be right back where we started: a minority government.
Just a quick reminder – before heading out to vote on Monday, September 20th – please check if any of your candidates signed on to the list on our “Candidates Who Care About Canadians’ Health” webpage: https://c4st.org/candidateswhocare/... Read more
