Susan Belford

As of July 12, 2023 fires had engulfed nearly 10 million hectares (100,000 square kilometers), a combined area which dwarfs the province of New Brunswick (72,908 square kilometers). On July 13, severe storms in eastern Ontario spawned tornados near Ottawa and Montreal. Catastrophic floods and landslides have destroyed towns and displaced millions from New York and Vermont, to India, to China, to Spain in recent days. The costs, in human, animal and ecosystem life are great; the financial costs, for emergency rescue and housing, lost livelihoods, repairs and restoration are steadily rising.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada and Federation of Canadian Municipalities estimate that Canadian local governments need about $5.3 billion per year to prepare for climate change. That’s a lot, but the cost of not preparing is greater. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives has calculated that when including non-insured losses “the… economic hit in B.C. from 2021’s extreme weather events is between $10.6 billion and $17.1 billion.  

Who’s going to pay these costs? Taxpayers?

We all bear some responsibility for climate change; after all, most of us have blissfully used fossil fuels in our cars and homes our whole lives. But most of us didn’t know till the last 20 years or so that burning fossil fuels adds a layer of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, trapping the sun’s heat, causing the heat waves, wildfires and storms we know as climate change.  

Consumers didn’t know, but the fossil fuel industry sure did. They did their own studies in the 1950’s but they’ve known since 1912 that the products they extract, process and sell could eventually destroy life on earth. They chose to increase production while spending millions to deceive the public, co-opt politicians, foster conspiracy theories and climate denial to prevent useful climate action. 

Last year the top four oil companies gained $190 Billion in profit. 

I think that they should be called to account and pay their fair share of the costs of climate destruction.

Sue Big Oil is a movement here in BC– a class action law suit brought on behalf of municipalities by West Coast Environmental Law. Gibsons and View Royal have signed on so far, and others in the CRD aren’t far behind. There is a Sue Big Oil group here in Sooke. If you want to know more, email us. To support the campaign, click here to sign the Sue Big Oil declaration.

Fossil fuels have been known to be damaging to the environment for more than 100 years, as the clipping below indicates.

Zero Waste Sooke will be continuing its successful Swap series in cooperation with the Sooke branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library.

Coming up on Sunday, August 20 from 11am to 1pm will be our School Supplies Swap! 

Bring your school supplies in good condition that you no longer need, to share. Take home at no cost school supplies that will be useful for you & your family. Students always need pens, pencils, crayons, felt pens, and more. Binders and writing paper are needed! Maybe you have scissors, rulers, and protractors to share, or a pencil bag, lunch kit or backpack. To drop off a box of supplies ahead of time, email  

FIXERS NEEDED

Are you good at mending broken items?  Do you have skills in repairing electronics, wood items, ceramics, clothing, appliances or bikes or in tool sharpening (or anything else)?  

Zero Waste Sooke is looking for volunteer “fixers” for its Repair Cafés, held 3 times a year, usually on a Sunday, in the dining room of the Community Hall from 10-2.  

Repair Cafés are a free event open to the community where folks can bring in broken items and work with a volunteer repair person to see if the items can be fixed instead of landfilled.  These are always fun events.  Coffee and goodies are available for the public and lunch will be provided for the fixers. Things that have been fixed in past ZWS Repair Cafés include: precious toys, lamps, appliances of all sorts, family heirlooms, bikes and clothing. If you are unsure of how you might fit in to the Repair Café you can always work alongside one of our regular fixers 

To explore becoming a fixer, contact Sooke repair café. You can learn more here about Repair Cafés.   
   

FIXING IS INTERNATIONAL

                                                                                    
A European Repair Café Conference was held online for three hours on July 9, 2023. It was a good collection of presentations in English that helped me put my ideas about our own Repair Cafés in better order in my head. You can watch the recording here 

Though the international effect of these local meetings for people fixing things has spread to every continent, it is still happening in Europe most of all, with over 2,000 Repair Cafés in many European countries and several hundred scattered around the world. Most of these local events are highly practical. Few have political activities associated with them, and those who do focus mostly on supporting ‘Right To Repair’ legislation.  

Two good quotes that stood out are:

• “We want to stop the throw-away society, and for that we need skill and rules to support repair.”
• “To encourage young people to attend, cultivate relationships with other agencies that are youth-centred and encourage families to come.”

What I took from it most of all was the resolution to find out if our events would be served well by getting insurance, and to ask for a copy of a repair café carbon calculator which one presenter has made available for anyone to put on their group’s websites.

Jo Phillips, Paula Johanson, Wendy O’Connor

Transition Sooke Strategic Planning Event, Jan 22, 2023, download here

by Paula Johanson

On Sunday, Sept 18 from 10 am to 2 pm, Zero Waste Sooke and the Sooke Library held a Craft & Art Supplies Swap. We had done one Swap before the pandemic began, and were delighted to see how well this Swap went. The Library’s April Ripley made a good image for small posters and for sharing on social media.

Six tables were filled with sorted crafting materials and art supplies, emptied, and filled again, emptied and filled once more. I lost count of attendees at over fifty people. So many bags of yarn, or fabric, or art supplies went to new homes. The library workers were glad to see many people who said this was their first visit to our new library building.

This event was particularly popular with small daycare homes, and those mothers were delighted at how much they could take. Some families came back for a second turn through the room, and one person came back twice! At the end, three friends came to help pack up the leftovers, and another volunteered her vehicle to take leftovers to a sharing store. Thank you all for participating!

At the Library’s request, Zero Waste Sooke will be co-sponsoring three two-hour-long Swaps in the new year instead of one four-hour event: a Yarn Swap one month, a Sewing Supplies Swap the next month, and an Art Supplies Swap the month after that. 

When candidates arrived at the October 2 all-candidates’ meeting sponsored by Transition Sooke at the Sooke Community Hall, they weren’t lined up on stage waiting for questions from the audience. All the questions will be delivered at small tables with only one candidate present.

Each candidate sat at a table and several participants joined them and asked questions. After about 5-10 minutes, a gong sounded and participants moved to a new table.

“We like to call it speed-rating,” says Transition Sooke’s Bernie Klassen. “Participants get to move around the room and for a short time they get to ask their questions face-to-face with each one of the candidates.”

“Transition Sooke members were eager to ask questions about the climate emergency and how Sooke should respond to it,” says Klassen, “but participants asked questions about any subject area that interested them.”

There are 23 would-be council members running this year, and most of them came to the event.

         by Paula Johanson

Zero Waste Sooke hosted a Repair Café on October 16 that went really well in our new location at Sooke Library! This appears to have been the LAMP Repair Café, as everybody helped with lamps.

Many thanks to Carol and Dave who greeted arrivals, set up coffee and homemade snacks, and kept contact info for anyone wanting to be part of future activities. Nineteen repairs were made, advice was offered on how to make a zipper work for a while longer, and many conversations took place.

A new arrival to Sooke introduced himself as Rick. All his tools are boxed up in his new garage, so he just came to say hi — but before long he was helping me with a blinky bike light. Of course he had a Swiss Army pocket knife with tweezers. Suddenly, Rick became one of our fixers! He made several repairs, borrowing tools from Jeremy while chatting knowledgeably about the Right to Repair movement.

We had a welcome visit from Susan McDonald who runs Repair Cafés in North Saanich, and another person visiting from California who had checked the Sooke Library’s website and brought her clock from home to take it to our Repair Café. These visitors came because they were planning TWO activities for their trips and had found word of our Repair Café on the Library’s website; others came for the first time after seeing the terrific poster made by Library worker April Ripley.

Bernie worked on at least two electric kettles, and some lamps. The final repair he made was to a toaster that had to have its lever held down for it to toast bread. The owner waited her turn, polishing the toaster and then explained to Bernie how the lever just wouldn’t stay down on its own.

“Bad toaster!” said Bernie, and he smacked it. “Bad toaster!”

And then the toaster worked properly.

The toaster owner was mystified and delighted.

“If it gives you any more trouble, just bring it around again,” said Bernie.

Meanwhile, our final repair was taking place: it was a vacuum cleaner. Before the vacuum reached Jeremy, I’d already quizzed the owner and agreed the problem wasn’t any of the things she or I knew how to fix; it was a switch. This took half an hour to successfully fix!

All in all, a wonderful success, with new people planning to come to the Zero Waste Sooke meeting on Thursday Nov 17 at 7pm at the Library.

Transition Sooke General Meeting

March 4, 2020

19 attending

Opening

Territorial Acknowledgement

Added item to new business

Feb 5 minutes. Motion to accept: Bernie. Second: Paula. Approved

No significant change to financial status. Report as per Societies Act filed and was accepted

Recap of AGM. Notes to follow

New board members introduced

Policy on TS sponsorship

Heather: question as to “types” of members. Who is a member and do we need some type of policy? Discussion around what defines a member. Proposal to establish an ad hoc committee: Alan.

Membership ad hoc committee: Hester, Heather, Sue L, Susan B, Bernie

Examples of WildWise Sooke and ZWS already applying for grants using the TS society number–both are sub-groups of TS.

Finance policy and procedures ad hoc committee: Sam, David, Chris

Decision making ad hoc committee: Alan, Bernie, Hester, Susan B

Original ad hoc committee was thanked for their work and that committee (with new members) has morphed into Finance policy and procedure

Earth Day: Ann: update, call for ideas Moki: Harbourside is in for recycling display. update on April 22 event (vigil) to take place at the Baptist church sponsored by multi-faith initiative Deb: direct action and legal observer workshops are on

Climate Emergency

Green Energy action team Cheryl: presentation to council on disallowing natural gas in all new builds. Reviewed and presented to TS. Discussion around presentation. To be presented March 23 at 7:00 pm

Review of the Climate Action To-Go kit available from the library. Displayed and discussed

Break

Forest and Ocean action team: Andy McKinnon to speak at event on May 05, 7:00 pm

Green Energy action team: pocket news article recap. T’Sou-ke Nation tour had ~18 people. Life Long Learning program being developed for the fall. Sooke Green Energy Vision 2030: reduce 50% by 2030. Reduce 100% by 2050. GEAT is developing a 10-year plan and is looking for input from other teams

Transportation action team: survey ready on transportation needs and desires. To be released on the Survey Monkey platform. There was a presentation to council on cycling in Sooke.

Rainwater Harvesting action team: Contact with Gord and Ann Baird at Ecosense. Tour of off-grid house. Next meeting 15 March.

Food and Agriculture action team: Stephen Hindrichs has offered to champion. Inaugural meeting 7 March at 10 am

Divestment action team: Meeting March 5. Sending a letter to all local banks and credit unions asking about their exposure to fossil fuel companies. TS to endorse the letter: Moved Bernie. Second Jack. Approved

No report from District of Sooke Climate Action Committee

No report on Seedy Saturday (TS table)

Library has requested another craft swap. Knitters and library have joined ZWS to sponsor the event. Next one to be held during Earth Week: April 21, 2020 6:30-8:00pm

Pesticide Education Group: more signatures gathered at Seedy Saturday. To present to the Sooke District Committee of the Whole.

Wild Wise Sooke: 2020 planning meeting: 15 March 1-3 at the fire hall. In-school program continues. Focus this year on wolves following population increase. “Caution Deer” signs available

No announcements

Regular roster of TS attendance at Council meetings: Hester to champion Need words to do a callout in newsletter

Adjourned

Next meeting April 1, 2020

Transition Sooke General Meeting

Feb 5, 2020

27 attending

1. Opening

Facilitator – Alan

Territorial acknowledgement

Jan 8, 2020 minutes. Draft minutes not to be posted to social media.
When a Susan is minuted, there needs to be an initial.
Moki moved to accept minutes. Robin seconded. Approved.

2. Treasurer’s Report

No change in the financial status from last meeting. Reminder to get approval and then rent a venue. David moved for acceptance. Susan C. seconded. Approved.

3. Earth Day (ED) plans – Ann
Events will take place over several days: clean up, vigil, and event at community hall.
Action teams need to decide how they want to participate–soon!
Moki to approach Harbourside about a recycling table/display.
Funding currently under control as budget being developed.
Committee could help action teams get funding’
Moki: district grant should be pursued NOW.
Dianne: council favourably disposed to ED grant.
Yvonne to see about getting raffle status.
Questions around funding discussed generally.

4. Climate Emergency – Susan C and Jo
a) Green lifestyle–Yvonne
~ 8 people at last meeting
Discussions held at people’s homes are fruitful, this will be the ongoing model.

b) Forests and Oceans–Christina
Planning a Forests forum for April 7 (Note: now May)
Requested funds for EMCS rental, deposit, publicity, etc.
Maximum funds draw of $600 moved by Bernie. Seconded by David. Approved

c) Green Energy–Lily
Nine members after Lifelong Learning (LLL) presentation. Developing the LLL presentation into an editable, multi-audience presentation.
Working on a partnership with Sooke branch of VIRL to encourage self-education on green energy issues.
Planning presentation to council on adopting the STEP program for new housing,
Planning participation in ED.
Proposed that $50 go to a local artist. Moved by Lily. Ann seconded. Approved.

T’Sou-ke tour Saturday 08 February
Next meeting 1 March 2020

d) Divestment – Susan and Jo
LLL presentation. Research underway. Next meeting February 6,  Larger team is needed

e) Rainwater Harvesting–Robin
LLL presentation
Next meeting at Sue L’s Feb 17, 1:30-3:00
What kind of presence to have at ED to be discussed

f) Climate Angst/Connecting with youth
Local artist would like to do a mural with local students
Would like to apply to VanCity for a grant
Would like to know if TS would be a sponsor for the grant proposal
Motion proposed to create an ad hoc committee to establish criteria and procedures for TS to sponsor groups or individuals applying for grants. Jo moved. Seconded Lynne. Approved.

ad hoc committee: Lily, David M, Paula

g) Climate Angst
Next (final) group meeting is 25 February with possibility of another set of meetings

h) Transportation
February 10 a cycling proposal goes to council’s committee of the whole

5. District of Sooke Climate Action Committee (CAC) – Susan C, Diane, Christina

Christina: Council is open to suggestions from TS on policies to pursue
Patrick raised the question of a local food policy
Contact is Christina
Susan C described how the committee is set up. Pressure should be on council who will then refer it to the CAC for discussion and proposals
Next meeting date on website

6. Awareness Film Night – Jo talked about the evening on Feb 12 including a partnership with Tugwell Honey and Meadery

7. Seedy Saturday (Feb 29) – Table booked, David and Yvonne to staff it, David M and Carol to help. Questionnaire on carbon budget to be offered to attendees. Volunteers welcome

8. Zero Waste Sooke – Bernie to book hall for a Repair Cafe the day after the ED event in the hall. Talk to council about reserving land for a local recycle and composting yard single use replacement storage discussed

9. Pesticide Education Group – Alan Table at Pollinators film on Feb 12 and Seedy Saturday if possible. Perhaps share the TS table presenting the pesticide petition before the Committee of the Whole end of March

10. Wild Wise Sooke – Sam presented a quick overview of what WWS is doing. 15 people attended a recent recruitment meeting “Bear Country” sign installed by highway on eastern approach to Sooke. Signage now also in bus stops. Attend every fair and festival possible. Social media presence and web page overhaul. In-school program going very well. Working group with District of Sooke, Volunteers welcome

11. TS AGM Feb 26, 7 pm Harbourside. Susan B to be asked to run the election

12. Announcements – Proclamation from UN multi-faith initiatives. Patrick says the Eco Academy for grade 9-10 students is now in place It needs 25 students to run, so talk it up See the EMCS website

13. Arno quickly updated the group on electric cars and “harmless housing” Would be available to do longer presentations

Adjourned 9:20 pm

Minutes of Transition Sooke General Meeting

8 January, 2020

27 people attending

Acknowledgement of the meeting taking place on the traditional lands of the T’Sou-ke, Pacheedaht, and Scia’new First Nations

Introductions around the Circle.

Samantha Webb offered to take notes.

Moki asked for permission to record the session. No objections.

Some additions to the agenda accepted.

Bev moved motion to accept the minutes of the last meeting seconded by Lily.

Passed.

1. Earth Day 2020 Planning

David spoke on Ann’s behalf since she was feeling unwell. The group is still looking for input and ideas. Ann is planning to invite other team champions to offer ideas that they might want to contribute to the project. (Editor’s note: This planning group is meeting at Harbourside on Saturday, January 18 at 10 am until noon. All welcome.)

2) Treasurer’s Report – David

Because of his contribution to Sooke and Transition Sooke as a volunteer doing street cleaning, Moonfist was given funds to help him through a medical challenge recently. Two cheques for $200 were provided from the main Transition Sooke and Zero Waste Sooke accounts as approved in our last meeting.

Bank balances: Main TS Account: $4,939.11; Zero Waste Account: $1,197.51; Special Events Legacy Fund: $1,314.40

3) Webpage update -Alan

Thanks to Christina Schlattner for filling in while Alan was away. Recent growth in “membership” numbers amounts to 418 subscribers many of whom sign up on the website. They average over 40% opening of e-mails which is a high number. Alan explained about what’s involved in being on the active members list which allows more dialogue between active members. He also mentioned that he has set up a page for Climate Emergency that summarizes the 13 Action Team Initiatives. Internet security issues were raised and discussed.

4) Considering EngageBC and CleanBC – Moki

Moki and Susan pointed out some of the limitations of the CleanBC proposals for tackling climate disruption put forward by the NDP government.

To quote from an email from Susan and Diane: “The government wants a document to show that they are moving ahead with adaptation to climate change and it asks constituents to answer questions on how the government can help with the consequences of the very fossil fuels it is supporting”. It shows that this government is playing the very same game as the Liberals. Supporting and subsidizing the fossil fuel monster while promising to cut emissions in other ways. It is as if “they can have their cake and eat it.”

There is a seven-page article by staff lawyers Andrew Gage and Deborah Carlson entitled “Tell the BC government we need a REAL plan to prepare for climate change” put out by West Coast Environmental Law. Now this is more like what we really need! Go to their website: www.wcel.org

5) Climate Action Team reports:

Green Energy

Lily reported that this team had had three meetings and came up with 4 goals:

1] Advocate for a Green Energy vision for Sooke;

2] To develop an education and communications plan;

3] Watching brief to vet policy changes in Sooke working with Council;

4] Carry out the necessary research.

Members are: Lily, Sheryl, Andrew, Keiffer (Elliott) and Beth (Lange)

The team meets on the first Monday of every month. They found out that Sooke has a 2013 Community Energy and Emissions plan designed to get to zero emissions in the DOS operations by 2020! Fat chance! The DOS is doing an emissions inventory now and this team will look into this matter. Sheryl is also going to speak with Tony St. Pierre, chairperson of the Sooke Region Climate Action Committee, who told her to do more research on the case for reducing or banning the use of natural gas in new buildings. Once that is done, the next step is to prepare a policy to be vetted by the membership of Transition Sooke at a general meeting before presenting it to the DOS Council.

In discussion with Jeff Bateman, it was revealed that the DOS is looking at the B.C. Step Code with step 1 being education and awareness raising. Out of this idea came a proposal to work on building a collaborative relationship with the T’Sou-ke First Nation. It is proposed to have a Solar Panel Tour and Workshop (including an indigenous ceremony ) hosted by Andrew to take place on February 8. Maximum number of participants is 25. Sign-up sheet circulated.

Lily also mentioned that several NGOs and educational groups are collaborating on producing a handbook on how to create a sustainable community in the context of climate change. They have a Powerpoint program that they will be using for their presentation to the Life Long Learning (LLL) program at Seaparc. It will also be available for other showings – maybe even to a General Meeting! They are also working on a newspaper article about what they are doing.

Fossil Fuel Divestment – Susan C and Jo

The team is preparing to do a presentation for the LLL program. After that they will be meeting to develop a workshop.

Transportation – Susan Belford

The team (8 members at this point) meets on the first Monday of the month. They are also doing a presentation for the LLL program. They are planning to develop a display table set up for showing at community events dealing with transportation issues in our region. One person came to one of our meetings with well thought out ideas and designs for bicycle infrastructure on Highway 14 and Otter Point Road.

Rainwater Harvesting – Sue Lidster

Their team just delivered a presentation at the LLL program. They want to follow the example of the Nanaimo Regional District by encouraging citizens to take rainwater harvesting seriously to bring this idea to the Capital Regional District and the Juan de Fuca Electoral District. They want to get Tony St. Pierre on board as well as possibly the District Climate Change Action Committee.

Climate Angst and Healing Circle – Moki

The healing circle is due to start on January 14 and go for 4 sessions until February. 10 people are signed up. (Editor’s note: First session had to be postponed owing to inclement weather. We plan to go ahead on the 21).

Zero Waste Sooke

This group is proud to announce that the two grocery stores have stopped using plastic bags. A proud moment!

Diane Bernard requested support for Climate Change Action Committee as it appears before Sooke Council on January 13. (Editor’s Note: This request was withdrawn.)

BREAK

6) Some words from the President – Moki

He asked if anyone is interested and willing to facilitate these general meetings. Alan and Susan Belford would be good choices with their professional backgrounds. It was agreed that they try rotating the role with Alan, Susan and Moki and see how it works. He also announced that the AGM would beheld in late February. Moki spoke of the possibility of stepping down as President at that time. At the same time, he said he intends to continue to be involved in our mission together.

7) Lifelong Learning (LLL) collaboration – Chris

Chris gave a glowing report on how well the Lifelong Learning program is going with special mention of the series of presentations by our action group champions under the banner: “Toward a green economy – Climate Champions.”

He also talked about some of the other offerings. Moki mentioned the Transition Town presentation by Mary Coll who knew Rob Hopkins in Ireland in the early days of what became the Transition Town movement – that’s us folks.

8) Two-hour workshop on Volunteering Trends. Samantha will attend this workshop put on by the Sooke Region Volunteer Centre and report back.

9) Need to have access to a sandwich board. Moki put out a request for a sandwich board to be made by a willing person to be used for TS events. Chris Moss volunteered. Thanks Chris.

10) Seedy Saturday – February 29, 2020

There was good energy and enthusiasm to go ahead and have a table at Seedy Saturday on February 29. Yvonne and David will take this on with support by

others pitching in to do shifts.

Announcements:

Saturday January 11 – rally at the Legislature – Susan

Local Gov’t Interface Network – Susan

United Nations Interfaith Harmony event on 5 February at EMCS – Don

Next meeting set for Wednesday February 5, 2020 at Harbourside at 7 pm.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Sooke Transition Town Society Annual General Meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 26 at 7:30 pm in the great hall at Harbourside Cohousing when all Board members step down and a new Board is elected.