About Me

I’m a climate campaigner 

I have a long history of campaigning for climate action at the local, provincial and national levels and have co-founded local and national organizations in the process. 

I’ve helped:

  • Bring a climate lens to the work of a major environmental group 
  • Measure carbon footprints of my church and diocese 
  • Ensure high school graduates understand how to use their education and talents to take climate action
  • Persuade my municipal government to be one of the first to take a stand against the TransMountain pipeline, install EV chargers and set up a citizens committee to advise staff on climate change impacts 
  • Elect climate champions to every level of government 
  • Found a 500,000 pan-Canadian organisation that campaigns to get climate denying governments out of office, stop high emissions projects and lift up the voices of ordinary people who care about climate change;
  • Found a local coalition of unions, faith groups, not for profit organisations, student groups and environmental organisations to take action on climate in my region
  • Tell the stories of over 100 climate savvy young and not so young people for Canada’s National Observer
  • Mentored many young people as they find their places in climate work 
  • Taught over 150 people aged 19-92 how to talk about climate change while keeping their friends.

And yes at the personal level we are energy efficient, drive an old Prius, share our home, love our bikes, don’t eat meat and no longer fly if we can avoid it. And also at the personal level we do vacation in our gasoline fuelled camper van. No-one can get to a low carbon world on their own, us included. (My husband is a scientist. He says “If you don’t feel like a hypocrite perhaps you are not paying attention”.)

I’m a mediator and problem solver

I have been a lawyer for 40 years specialising in mediation, dispute resolution, collaborative decision-making and public policy creation. I’ve brokered agreements and hosted challenging conversations helping people solve problems in every region of Canada on topics as diverse as family disputes, tax policy, human rights, economic and small business development, restructuring health care, labour law, human rights, securities law, climate change,  land development, wilderness protection, renewable energy, housing, and Aboriginal rights and title. 

We have a problem and I want to be part of solving it

We face a climate emergency of catastrophic proportions. The days when we are not able to go outside because it is too hot or too smoky seem far too likely to turn into weeks. I am interested in being part of the conversation about what we need to do and say differently to create a public imperative decision makers can no longer ignore or dilute.

I believe the stories we have told in the past are why we are here now. I also believe we are learning to tell different stories allowing us to see challenges clearly, imagine a better future and show us a clear pathway to shape a better future. 

We stand on the shoulders of giants

I acknowledge  the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples, represented today by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations on whose lands I live. I benefit every day from the Indigenous stewardship of these lands from time out of memory that continues to this day. For example I daily walk in awe through the ancient Gary Oak forest near my home and watch the camas fields, carefully tended by the Lek’Wungen speaking peoples for thousands of years, continue to go through their seasonal changes.  I am convinced that Indigenous Peoples have much to teach us if we are to flourish. 

How I got here 

I began learning about effective communication on climate in 2006 when I joined the Board of a major environmental organisation and helped to bring a climate lens to their work. Then in 2010 I helped found a national organisation designed to  shift the conversation so voters would kick out the climate (and human) denying government and start talking about a liveable future. Part of my work was to study the right wing. The best part was watching these uber smart, very motivated young people use data to kick ass, bringing people together to vote and shut down a coal mine along the way. What an education that was! 

Then I found Cara Pike’s work at Climate Access which is now working with Re.Climate at Carleton University to provide the best possible advice about how to communicate with people in Canada around climate action. I use a ton of their work and Cara tells me to say I am loosely affiliated with them. Huge compliment. 

For 40 years I have specialised in resolving differences. I worked for organised labour and was in grassroots leadership during the Solidarity Coalition. I have had wonderful experiences at First Nation Treaty tables in Yukon, economic development and strategic planning with other First Nations around the country. I ran a very large public consultation program on fair taxation in Ontario.  As a Director of a leading credit union I helped instil community and environment first principles which led to the funding of the first car share co-op in my city.  I co-founded Greater Victoria Acting Together bringing unions, faith groups, enviro orgs and service delivery organisations together to work on shared priorities one of which is climate fairness. Over the years I have learned something about how to bridge differences to help people work towards solutions they can all support.

Katherine Hayhoe, my favourite climate scientist says the thing ordinary people can and must do is talk about climate change. Writing for Canada’s National Observer I am super lucky to have had one on one conversations with well over 100 amazing young and some not so young people in this country about what they are doing and have learned so much from them.(You know you should get a subscription.)

Now I combine my skills at bridge building with my understanding of how best to motivate people to take action on climate. I offer free training, provide advice as to how better to frame that report or that press release or what strategies might be more effective and write stories. 

Why I stay here

The young people around me are not giving up. What would give me the right to do that? Plus I am a Mum and a chosen auntie and Nana. I love the ancient Garry Oak Meadows near me too much to just “go gently into that good night.”  I really do believe that telling awesome stories is the most important work we can do at this time to keep our planet cooler and save more species. And the worst that can happen is I’ll have a better day knowing I helped others to have a better day too. 

A word about experts

I suppose I could be called an expert but that won’t get you anywhere. As long as greenhouse gas emissions are still going up no-one has it right yet. So part of this work is always asking “What are we missing? What should I try next”. In this way we are all in it together. 

Biscuit

I am a 7 pound Teacup Poodle. I love treats, walks, games and Patricia. I prefer not to assign an order to that list.