Be a Climate Champion in Oak Bay!
The Oak Bay Coolkit program is a joint initiative between the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculty of Forestry and the District. It is designed to engage residents in climate change solutions within the community.
The Coolkit is intended to mobilize individuals and neighborhoods to take climate action through participation in a series of fun and interactive engagement activities. These activities begin with neighborhood conversations, continue to local asset and climate vulnerability mapping, carbon footprint calculators, household and block sustainability ratings, visioning exercises, and the development of localized climate action plans. The ultimate goal of the Coolkit Program is to reduce carbon footprints and help create climate-proof, resilient neighborhoods.
How can I get involved in the Coolkit program?
The Oak Bay Coolkit program is an ongoing process that includes workshops hosted by the District and UBC to engage, inform, and empower Oak Bay Climate Champions in developing collective climate action projects in their neighborhoods, using Coolkit exercises. Participants typically engage in fun indoor/outdoor exercises to envision their own future and develop neighborhood climate action plans.
A monthly series of meetings and workshops is provided to inform interested residents about key climate issues and practical solutions, such as tree planting, home energy improvements, active transportation, and electric vehicles. These sessions also connect people with other local climate champions, where you can meet Year 1 and Year 2 Oak Bay Climate Champions and share tips on what worked for them. Residents are encouraged to organize their own Coolkit activities and engage neighborhoods, family, and friends in developing local climate action plans and sharing family targets for reducing their carbon footprints.
Be a climate champion and get a free tree for your property/boulevard.
Coolkit Results
Champion groups and individuals are now active in most Oak Bay neighborhoods.
Over 200 Coolkit trees have been planted/committed across Oak Bay from 2021 to 2024.
Year One Results [PDF – 1.5MB]
Achievements
- An accessible and attractive Coolkit package was customized for Oak Bay, available as a DIY resource free to all residents on the Oak Bay website, with a high media profile across the community.
- District staff from various departments were trained in the Coolkit process and engaged in community workshops as co-facilitators and advisors to champions.
- The program was promoted through tree-planting events attended by Council members, staff, and Coolkit champions. Support was received from the Oak Bay Neighbourhood Association, with media coverage from CBC, local media, and a presentation/workshop at ICLEI’s national Livable Cities Forum in Victoria in 2022.
- Well-attended weekend workshops and climate walks saw collaboration within and between neighbourhood groups, resulting in a network of trained Oak Bay Coolkit champions and multiple local climate action plans.
Who participated?
A total of 46 participants registered for the Oak Bay Coolkit program, representing most Oak Bay neighbourhoods, with 23-25 people attending each of the 3 Workshops (plus District staff, Council members, and other observers). A range of participants took the program, including:
- Several skilled community leaders and organizers with varying levels of experience
- Participants included: those inclined towards greener lifestyles, individuals with prior volunteer experience, neighbors and family of other participants, and members of community organizations.
What Participants Learned
- Enhanced understanding of local climate action initiatives aligned with the Oak Bay Climate Action Working Group recommendations.
- Increased awareness of individual carbon footprints.
- Recognized the importance of collective climate action at a local level.
- Developed skills in understanding local climate impacts and engaging others through creative events and workshops.
- Strengthened community bonds through engaging activities.
- Empowered to drive changes and collaborate with Oak Bay District on climate solutions.
- Champions gained valuable insights into residents’ views on climate action.
Participant Feedback
- Participants expressed enthusiasm for the Coolkit Champion program and the collaborative approach to developing local climate action plans.
- They also received strong support and advice from established community organizations, such as the Community Association of Oak Bay.