ClimateWest Forum: Building Climate Resilience

The Canadian Prairies are a hotspot for climate change —not just within Canada, but across the world. Being prepared, proactive, and working together is essential to building climate resilience in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

The ClimateWest Forum will bring together a wide range of sectors, communities, knowledges, and perspectives from across our provinces. The theme for this year’s free, hybrid event is “Building Climate Resilience: Being prepared. Working together. Creating change.”

Sessions will explore how to build climate resilience in an inclusive, collaborative way.

• Network in a shared space that promotes cooperation and knowledge-sharing.
• Hear from climate experts with a prairie-perspective.
• Explore inclusive and collaborative approaches to building stronger, more climate resilient communities.
• Learn about the role of ClimateWest as the regional climate services hub for Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

While we are still finalizing the agenda to ensure that it is packed with prairie-specific climate experts, we can confirm the following topics:

• Weaving Indigenous and Western Knowledges
• Mental Health and our Changing Climate
• Local Initiatives for Climate Action and Resiliency
• Youth Perspectives on Climate Action

Further details on topics and speakers will be released in the coming weeks. Please note that the agenda is subject to change.

“The ClimateWest Forum highlighted the value of being in community with other climate action practitioners who understand the challenges and the importance of working together to take climate action based on mutual respect, strength in diversity, and the inclusion of Indigenous ways of knowing and being. The sense of connection I felt at the forum has inspired me to attend future adaptation conferences to fill the tank for more work and progress. I’m looking forward to the next ClimateWest forum and further exploring a prairie specific approach to climate action that taps into our unique culture, resources, and potential.”

Past forum attendee: Kayla Dawson, Civil Engineer/Community Consultant, Urban Systems

Space is limited for in-person attendees so register early!

Unable to attend in person? We are also offering this event online.

ClimateWest’s work occurs on the traditional land of Treaties 1 through 8, and 10. This area includes many Indigenous Nations. The ClimateWest office is located on Treaty 1 Territory, the historic meeting place of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Inninewuk, Anishininiwag, Dakota and Dene, and the Homeland of the Métis Nations.

The 2024 ClimateWest Forum is being held in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan) within Treaty 6 Territory and the Métis Homeland. The City of Edmonton is home to one of the largest Inuit populations south of the 60th parallel.

The photo above shows the Tawatinâ Bridge, a shared-use pathway featuring over 500 paintings of the River Valley’s flora and fauna, and the First Nations, Métis, and settler histories of the area. Bridging the city, the art works show the intertwined lives of the people and the non-human beings who live and travel through here. We chose to use this image to reflect the intentions of this event: bridging and braiding Indigenous* and Western knowledges to better advance climate resilience.

Read more about the artist, David Garneau, and the Tawatinâ Bridge project on the Edmonton Arts Council website.

Photo credit: Brandon Mattice / Explore Edmonton

*including First Nations, Métis and Inuit knowledges

ClimateWest is conscious of emissions from travel and as such, we are pleased to be hosting a hybrid event. As our network covers three provinces, we will rotate the event throughout the three provinces each year.

Our goal is to balance the benefit of face-to-face collaboration with the need to travel. We use the following principles when planning the annual ClimateWest Forum:

• Host the event in locations where a larger number of interested network members are currently located
• Invite local speakers wherever possible
• Plan future agendas to focus on local speakers
• Select a venue that shares our commitment to hosting sustainable events (download Delta Hotels Edmonton South sustainability practices) and is easily accessible by public transport.

The ClimateWest Forum will also be bullfrogpowered with 100% green electricity.

This means that Bullfrog Power’s generators put 100% green power into the grid to match the amount of conventional electricity the forum used, displacing energy from polluting sources. Across Canada, Bullfrog Power’s green electricity comes from a blend of wind and low-impact hydro power sourced from new Canadian renewable energy facilities. For more information on Bullfrog’s green energy, visit www.bullfrogpower.com.

Travel Tips

If you do decide to travel, consider the following tips:

• If you are less than approximately 500km away, consider transit or carpool
• If you are close by, consider active transportation methods or public transit

If you do have to fly, here are some tips to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions from flights:

1. Ask your airline what their policy is on carbon offsets, and if available, choose the "purchase offsets" option when booking your flight.
2. Calculate your carbon footprint and purchase carbon offsets using an organization such as Terrapass or Less Emissions. Carbon offsets for a typical flight within the Prairie provinces is approximately $5-$12.
3. Choose direct flights over layovers
4. Fly economy
5. Choose an airline with modern, fuel-efficient planes – more information
6. Minimize your number of flights per year

Interested in helping to keep this event free? We have a range of sponsorship packages for financial and in-kind contributions. Download our sponsorship packages.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre, 4404 Gateway Blvd NW, Edmonton, Canada