October Climate Action Events:
"Sooke Slow Food Cycle"
Ride. Learn. Discover. Eat. And give fresh-air thanks for the season's bounty.
Community groups sharing a live/work/eat locally philosophy are banding together to present the first Sooke Slow Food Cycle (SSFC). This non-profit, volunteer-run, fundraising initiative shapes up as a fun, inspiring day of exercise, fresh air, education and discovery .Choose between two bike routes both beginning at the Sooke Harbour House, and enjoy a variety of educational stops along the way.
Sunday, October 9
10:00 am - 4:00pm
$21 per person / $42 per family
Start: Sooke Harbour House
More info: SSFC
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"IESVIC/PICS Seminar: 100% Renewable Electricity System for New Zealand"
New Zealand's electricity system is dominated by hydro generation (54%), with about 31% fossil fuelled generations plus renewable sources. This seminar will summarise the 2005 - 2007 renewable energy study and demonstrate solutions to the problems of hydro and wind energy spillage, peaking and security of supply in a particularly dry hydrological year.
Wed., Oct. 12
9:30am - 10:30am
Free
Room 660, Engineering and Computer Science, University of Victoria
Or Webcast: PICS
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"Bike to Work Skills Workshop"
The Bike to Work Skills Course takes you through all of the most common traffic situations you'll face on your commute. It also provides you with the tips you need to make cycle commuting a fun and regular part of your life.
This free 7.5 hour course combines classroom and on-road training and is designed for participants aged 18 and over.
Saturday, October 15 or Sunday, October 16
9:00am- 4:30pm
Downtown Victoria
Free
More info and to RSVP: Bike to Work
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"Goldsteam Station Market"
Our goal is to support and promote a sustainable and vibrant local agricultural industry and artisan community by providing an outlet for the sale of locally-grown and locally-processed agricultural products and artisan crafts.
Saturday, October 15 and Saturday October 22
10:00am - 2:00pm
Bryn Maur Road in downtown Langford
More info: Goldstream
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"PICS: Wind Power Integration: How useful is a Smarter Grid?"
Presented by Torsten Broeer, PhD Candidate and PICS Fellow, Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVIc), University of Victoria.
Wed., Oct. 19
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Rm 002, University House 1
University of Victoria
or Webcast here: PICS
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"Bright Ideas IV"
Under 25? Have ideas about how to improve opportunities and services for youth? This is a one day, free event for youth and adults to come together and create a vision for our communities. Connect, share insights, and gain tools to create change. Meet other youth. Enjoy free food and fun activities.
Tuesday, October 25
9:30am - 3:30pm
Free
4 Points Inn
Langford, BC
Find more info and RSVP: Healthy Communities BC
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Greetings!
Welcome to the monthly ClimateNews Community Edition. This e-newsletter will keep you informed about all the upcoming learning opportunities, carbon reduction strategies, and chances get involved in creating future friendly communities throughout the Capital Region. Please feel free to forward to other community members.
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Origin & Destination Household Travel Study
The 2011 CRD study is underway!
 The new Origin-Destination survey is now taking place in the Capital Regional District. Transportation planning is crucial to planning travel routes and services that communities really need. The new Origin-Destination survey will gather extensive, up-to-date information on current daily trip patterns of area residents.The information gathered helps the CRD, municipalities and provincial agencies create an improved and sustainable transportation future for the region.
Whether you walk, cycle, bus, or drive, please participate! Professional telephone interviewers will call 6,039 randomly selected households October 5 - December 7, 2011. Please answer the call!
Find out more here: CRD 2011 Origin & Destination Study
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Saanich Kicks Off the Carbon Champions Program!
And are working to recruit citizens now!
On September 23, 2011, the District of Saanich kicked off t heir Carbon Champions Program at an event held at their municipal hall. The program aims to connect those residents who want to reduce the community's carbon footprint, with the information and resources they need to do their part. This program challenges residents to commit to GHG reductions and share their stories with the municipality as they work towards a low-carbon future.
Residents that commit by October 15th will be entered to win one of three $400 Carbon Champion prizes!
To find out about this program, check out the Saanich Carbon Champions website.
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New Report Available...Paying the Price:
The Economic Impacts of Climate Change for Canada
 Climate change could be expensive for Canada. Unless global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are brought down and Canada invests in adaptation, the economic impacts of climate change on Canada could climb to billions of dollars per year.
Those are the conclusions of a new report of the National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRT). The report entitled, Paying the Price: The Economic Impacts of Climate Change for Canada . This report discusses the findings of the first national-level study assessing the economic impacts of climate change on Canada.
NRT found that the costs of impacts could range from $5 billion per year in 2020 to between $21 billion and $43 billion per year in 2050, depending on global greenhouse gas emissions and domestic economic and population growth. There are also risks that costs could be much higher - for example, there is a 5% chance of costs exceeding $91B per year in the 2050s with high climate change and rapid socioeconomic development.
Read the executive summary or download the report here: NRT
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Attention CRD Businesses -
It's time to put on your thinking cap.
In order to meet our waste diversion goals, we're planning on diverting kitchen scraps produced by businesses from Hartland Landfill. So we want to work with you to implement a material diversion program that fits. The CRD is consulting on kitchen scraps recycling for businesses.
Stakeholder consultation is taking place over a six-week period from October 3 - November 10, 2011
- To take our online survey click here.
- Visit our open house on Friday, October 14th from 11am - 3pm, at the CRD Board Room, located at 625 Fisgard Street
For more information visit www.crd.bc.ca/kitchenscraps, email the CRD hotline at hotline@crd.bc.ca or call 250.360.3030
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October is BC Hydro Power Smart Month!
Check out the contests & incentives available for Power Smart month!
Power Smart at Work? Show Us! -
BC Hydro is asking you to send them a video that shows how you are an advocate for energy conservation at work. The top five videos will be posted to bchydro.com for public voting, and the winner will receive an exclusive Team Power Smart Leaders prize pack featuring a signed Ryan Kesler jersey, two tickets to a Canucks game, one night hotel stay and dinner for two. Contest runs October 1, 2011 to January 31, 2012. Find out more here: Power Smart at Work
Dinner in the Dark -
Everyone likes to take a night off from cooking dinner, so dine out on Thursday, October 27 for the Candlelight Conservation Dinner. Lights will be dimmed in restaurants across B.C.-as a demonstration of how simple actions, like flicking off a switch, can make a big difference when it comes to energy conservation. Over 115 will be participating this year; for a list of participating restaurants in your area 
Check out the number of additional incentives available for the month including those for appliance, lighting and electronics, events and contests: BC Hydro Power Smart
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Check out the Energy Diet Challenge
Brought to you by Canadian Geographic.
From dozens of applications across Canada, six households have been chosen to take part in the Energy Diet Challenge. Over the next 12 weeks, they will compete to cut their energy use and win great prizes. Canadians can follow the families success and help decide the winner by voting for their favourite. The website also offers information on how to reduce your energy use and a carbon footprint calculator.
Also - you can use the Personal Energy Dashboard. This is an easy-to-use, organized tool that keeps a detailed log of your energy use. Track your energy, water, and fuel consumption at home and on the road to find out which areas need improvement. By logging your consumption, you can implement changes to your routines and lifestyle, and watch your energy footprint shrink. Compare your log to those of the participating households and learn from their example how you can become an Energy Diet champion. |
Thanks for your interest in climate action in the CRD. If you have any upcoming events, learning opportunities, resources, school projects you would like us to highlight or suggestions for future editions of ClimateNews please email them to nelliott@crd.bc.ca.
Sincerely,
Climate Action Program 625 Fisgard Street
Victoria, British Columbia V8W2S6
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