Category: Kitchener-Waterloo Region

Climate sanity

“An impassioned generational perspective on how to stay sane amid climate disruption.”

Climate and environment-related fears and anxieties are on the rise everywhere. As with any type of stress, eco-anxiety can lead to lead to burnout, avoidance, or a disturbance of daily functioning. 
 
In Generation Dread, Britt Wray seamlessly merges scientific knowledge with emotional insight to show how these intense feelings are a healthy response to the troubled state of the world. 

BOOK LAUNCH: Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an age of Climate Crisis

Now available in bookstores, audiobook and e-book… GoodWork.ca/BrittWray

On CBC Radio & Podcast — Thursday May 26

Britt Wray on Generation Dread — On CBC Ideas, Thursday, May 26, 2022
In a world of climate crisis and inaction, the kids are not alright. Neither are many adults, including those considering parenthood. Science writer and scholar Britt Wray was one of the latter when she made a 2018 IDEAS documentary on the topic. Now she is a postdoctoral researcher at Stanford University, specializing in the mental health impacts of the ecological crisis. Her new book details her work and conversations, and synthesizes her insights. It shares productive ways to cope, think, and act while facing an anxious ecological present and uncertain future. At an event recorded at the Toronto Reference Library, Britt Wray talks to Nahlah Ayed about Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis. — CBC Ideas | Schedule (May) | Radio Schedule | Podcast 

“The antidote to anxiety is action”

Free webinar: reducing carbon emissions from city construction

Join Kelly Alvarez Doran, a professor at the University of Toronto under The Daniels School of Architecture, on January 10, 2022, between 6-9 pm to discuss reducing carbon emissions from contemporary construction.

The presentation will focus on Doran’s current research: methods to halve carbon emissions from city construction projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area. Already, Doran’s findings have been widely shared and have contributed to City of Toronto carbon studies.

The event is available for in-person and virtual attendance, with in-person registration required by January 4, 2022. The event will consist of a one-hour presentation by Doran (virtual and in-person), followed by refreshments and networking (in-person).

In-person attendance will be at Entuitive’s office in Toronto (200 University Avenue, 7th Floor).

Click here for more information and to register for the event!

Additional Resources

  • Learn more about carbon emissions from construction (also known as embodied carbon)
  • Learn more about urban sprawl and what causes it

Article image: Ümit Yıldırım on Unsplash

Virtual public lecture: improving access to drinking water

Dr. Amber Wutich, a professor at the University of Waterloo, is hosting an open lecture over Zoom on December 8, 2021, from 6-7:30 pm.

The lecture will focus on how social infrastructure can help to solve problems regarding a lack of access to drinking water, also known as water insecurity. Some topics to be covered include how various social infrastructure components such as cultural norms, informal economies, and social networks; can be used to ensure everyone has equitable access to water.

Click here to sign up for more information and to register for the event!

Additional Resources

Article image: Imani on Unsplash

Open lecture on groundwater science—all welcome

The University of Waterloo is hosting their annual Farvolden Lecture Series over Zoom on November 18, 2021 from 2-4pm.

The lecture series, created in honour of Dr. Robert Farvolden, helps to facilitate communication among the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, the groundwater community and hydrology program alumni.

This year, the University of Guelph’s Dr. Beth Parker, director of the Morwick G360 Groundwater Research Institute will be covering “Hydrogeologic Characterization of Bedrock Aquitards and Flow Systems.”

Other event highlights include a department update, a virtual draw, and a presentation on the Farvolden Scholarship.

Click here for more information and to register for the event!

Additional Resources

Article Image: Chris Montgomery on Unsplash

Climate Strike — Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph

School Strike for Climate Action, Friday March 15 in Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, across Canada & worldwide Fridaysforfuture.org (map) | cop24climatestrike.com (map) |

Get active, get involved! GoodWork.ca/fridays

#FridaysForFuture | #SchoolStrike4Climate | #ClimateStrike

Also, Friday May 3, 2019 — Canada-wide students strike

Guelph Organic Conference & Trade Show 2019

Date: Free Trade Show (January 26, 2019 – January 27, 2019)
           Conference & Workshops (January 24, 2019 –  January 27, 2019)

Location: University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1
Organizer: Guelph Organic Conference

Over 40 workshops covering soil management, weed control, harvesting, cropping strategies and more! Food and beverages will be available.

For more information on this event and to register, please click here

Reducing Waste: A Technical and Behavioural Approach

Date & Time:  Tuesday, November 27, 2018, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Location: Borealis Grille & Bar, 4336 King Street East, Kitchener ON, N2P 3W6
Host: Sustainable Waterloo Region

Join experts from the University of Waterloo and AET to learn more about  waste reduction strategies and challenges. This a great opportunity to learn and network with professionals in the region!

For more information on this event and to register, please click here

Project Neutral Series in Waterloo Region – Reep Green Solutions

Reducing your Carbon Footprint 101: Project Neutral Series
Date & Time:  Thursday, November 22, 2018, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM 
Location: 20 Mill Street, Kitchener, ON N2G 2Y3

Hosted by Reep Green Solutions, Project Neutral integrates real local data to empower citizens with information about their carbon footprint in a short time. Such knowledge is intrinsic in making decisions about improving lifestyles in homes.

For more information on this event and to register, please click here

Heal the biosphere — Oct 16 at Kitchener Public Library

Partnering with Nature to heal the biosphere
Tues Oct. 16, 6:30 – 9 pm

Earth is in crisis, but there is much we can and should do. How can we work with nature to heal the wounds we’ve inflicted?

A handful of leading-edge thinkers will be presenting their solutions at a public forum. All speakers have been involved in research and practices that contribute to the reversal of greenhouse gas emissions through natural agricultural approaches and tree-planting to restore land, and from environmental activists who see the need to encourage any and all methods to draw down existing carbon that will complement the technological methods of preventing future emissions.

This event will honour Michael Purves-Smith, who initiated the project, but did not live to see it take place. Michael’s goal was to raise awareness in Waterloo Region of the urgency for a holistic solution to the crisis of the biosphere.

FREE.

DATE AND TIME
Tue, 16 October 2018
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM EDT

LOCATION
Kitchener Public Library Auditorium
85 Queen Street North
Kitchener, ON N2H 2H1

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/partnering-with-nature-to-heal-the-biosphere-tickets-50117908012

Volunteering opportunity: Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seed Collection Oct 19th

Prairie Grass and Wildflower Seed Collection
Hosted by Grand River Conservation Authority
Date & Time: Friday October 19, 2018, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM EDT
Location: Morton Property (Between Pinehurst Lake Park and Glen Morris), West River Road, North Dumfries Ontario

On October 19, 2018, the GRCA is hosting a volunteering event for all age groups in North Dumfries Ontario, within the regional municipality of Waterloo.  Volunteers will be collecting native plant seed that will be planted next spring, to offer a haven for grassland bird species – some of which are threatened. You will also have the chance to learn about restoration practices from GRCA’s own restoration specialist Lindsay Campbell.

No experience required!

For more information and to register for the event, please click here