Mobilizing Alberta Climate Action Grant Program and Projects

About the project

An Îyârxe-Nakoda community member has partnered with a UCalgary faculty member who teaches International Indigenous Studies and a UCalgary International Indigenous Studies student to support Stoney-Nakoda youth involvement with the upcoming Mni Ki Wakan water summit. The goal is to hold the Mni Ki Wakan water summit in the Bow Valley in 2024.

The Mni Ki Wakan water summit will focus on the areas of:

• Water and Indigenous Knowledge
• Indigenous Water Justice
• Indigenous Water Governance
• Water Infrastructure
• Indigenous Water Innovations
• Water Sovereignty

Project leads

Information coming soon. 

About the project

The project aims to raise awareness about climate-change initiatives by engaging racialized refugee and immigrant youth and community members as changemakers to increase awareness of the vital role agriculture and the soil play in the carbon cycle of the planet. At our community urban farm called the Land of Dreams, we run workshops and educational programs based on our agroecological experiments. We will host storytelling forums to highlight both local and global Indigenous wisdom on building reciprocal relationships with the land. Many refugee and immigrant participants in this project are considered Indigenous in their homelands and have intergenerational wisdom and teachings to offer in working with the land. Through our project, we will mobilize global Indigenous wisdom toward climate actions that include fixing carbon in the soil and supporting ecosystem functioning such as water cycling and quality regulation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity.

Project leads

• Dr. Miwa Takeuchi, PhD, associate professor in Learning Sciences at the Werklund School of Education
• Rod Olson, project manager at Calgary Catholic Immigration Society for the Land of Dreams
• Dr. Tatenda Mambo, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape and an instructor in the Sustainability Studies Program
• Dr. Mathew Swallow, PhD, an associate professor in Environmental Science at Mount Royal University.  

About the project

This project brings together knowledge experts from academia, government, the charitable sector and the Piikani First Nation to strengthen the capacity of the Piikani Nation to respond to climate change by monitoring key climate indicators identified by the Nation — sweetgrass and bison. By using Blackfoot traditional ways of monitoring (the Winter Count) and Western science, this project will increase understanding of the role of sweetgrass as a nature-based solution to climate change and build the community's capabilities for integrating bison into adaptation planning.

Project leads

• Dr. Steven M. Vamosi, PhD, professor and scientific director of Biological Sciences, UCalgary
• Laura Lynes, president, The Resilience Institute;
• The Piikani First Nation

About the project

This project will increase participants’ understanding of how watersheds and water quality are impacted by and respond to climate change and increase support for community-based water initiatives that address climate change. As part of UCalgary's Bow River Ecosystem Health Assessment and accredited aquatic monitoring training program, this project will train, assist and support students, water-stewardship and Indigenous communities in sampling aquatic ecosystems to identify how they are impacted by climate change. Participants will be trained and certified in the CABIN aquatic monitoring technique. To provide a more holistic understanding of the Bow River Basin and the impacts of climate change, the project team will create collaborative ethical learning spaces with local Indigenous communities to offer students and Indigenous communities land-based experiential learning opportunities focused on aquatic health, the impacts of climate change and community-based climate solutions.

Project leads

• Dr. Kerry Black, PhD, assistant professor, Civil Engineering
• Dr. David Barrett, PhD, research associate, Biological Sciences
• Gwen Janz, biomonitoring program manager, Living Lakes Canada.

About the project

Project will result in the development and distribution of a colouring book, designed by an emerging Indigenous student artist, for children that will increase public awareness of initiatives taking place at The Red Pony Stands which is an Indigenous-operated and owned farm. The project will utilize an art-based storytelling approach to teach children about the historical and cultural importance of this Indigenous breed of horse and sustainable farming practices, and to model mutually beneficial helping relationship between humans and the land. The approach effectively disrupts the socially constituted separation between humans and more-than-humans by shifting the paradigm towards an open discourse in environmentalism regarding the ethical implications for the care and agency of animals, and the natural world. 

Project leads

Dr. Adela Kincaid, International and Indigenous Studies 

Angela McGinnis, Director The Red Pony Stands & International Indigenous Studies 

About the project

This project will train students, faculty and staff at UCalgary’s School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA), as well as community members in the performance sector on how to use established green tools to reduce the carbon emissions of the performing arts sector in southern Alberta and create new pathways forward to be a regenerative industry that implements sustainable productions.

Project leads

• Christine Brubaker, associate professor of drama; Dr. Bruce Barton, PhD, SCPA director
• Dr. Melanie Kloetzel, PhD, professor of dance
• Ian Garrett, associate professor of Ecological Design for Performance at York University in Toronto and co-founder and director of the  Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts. 

About the project

This program awarded 10, $2,000 climate action grants. Awardees participated in a climate leadership and networking program called Climate Partners where they received mentorship and support in developing their micro-climate action grant applications. Awardees were also connected to The Arusha Centre's broader climate action network in Calgary by participating in the climate events that Arusha hosts for the City of Calgary and public, and in climate events hosted in partnership with the University of Calgary. 

Project leads

• Gerald Wheatly, Manager The Arusha Centre and Adjunct Professor with the Faculty of Social Work 
• Mike Byerley, Director of The Regeneration Learning Society  

About the project

Accelerating Climate Action in the Bow Valley seeks to help the Bow Valley community accelerate its work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Led by a collective impact approach, action groups made up of community leaders and businesses influencers, not-for-profits, community, and municipal governments will create new, or enhance existing, community-based climate initiatives in the Bow Valley — from Lake Louise to Mînî Thnî. Students will join these action groups to provide research support that will give them the capacity to implement projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their respective industries.

Project leads

• Andrew Cotterell, communications and engagement strategist with the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley(BIBV)
• Gareth Thompson, executive director, BIBV
• Dr. Irene Herremans, PhD, Professor Emerita, Haskayne School of Business, UCalgary

About the project

This is a two-year project that aims to create a climate action podcast and radio series. The project brings together students and researchers with community members who are engaged in climate action initiatives in southern Alberta. The project brings together multiple partners including the Faculty of Social Work, CJSW 90.9 FM radio, Transforming the Field Education Landscape (TFEL) partnership, and the Social Work Field Education Program. The goal of this project is to increase awareness and promote public participation, and access to information on climate action. The project will create 10 podcast episodes.

Project leads

• Dr. Julie Drolet, PhD, professor in the Faculty of Social Work, UCalgary
• Dr. Saleema Salima, postdoctoral associate in the Faculty of Social Work, UCalgary
• Kamal Khatiwada, training and mentorship co-ordinator with TFEL, UCalgary
• Stephanie Grant, field educator with the Faculty of Social Work, UCalgary
• Mahad Choudhary, postdoctoral research associate at the Faculty of Social Work, UCalgary
• Kaamil Kareemi, podcast co-ordinator at CJSW

About the project

This project aims to increase climate focused awareness and action in Calgary's lower-income communities facing energy poverty. Energy poverty occurs when households are unable to afford adequate heating or cooling for their homes. Culturally appropriate education is offered through 20 workshops and will provide 200-250 households support on topics such as how to read utility bills, energy consumption in homes, and low- to no-cost methods of reducing bills. Importantly, these workshops serve as a crucial component of Create Climate Equity’s wraparound services for participants, easing their access to the Home Upgrades Program in Calgary. The Home Upgrades Program is Alberta’s first holistic upgrades program specifically designed using an equity lens to address energy poverty through no-cost deep energy upgrades for participants. Create Climate Equity’s fulsome approach ensures that households not only receive education and awareness, but also have a clear pathway to participate in the Home Upgrades Program.

Project leads

• Dr. Jennifer Winter, PhD, associate professor in the Department of Economics and School of Public Policy
• Dr. Erica Myers, PhD, associate professor of Economics
• Yasmin Abraham, director of Create Climate Equity.

About the project

This project aims to empower Bangladeshi youth aged 18-29 in Calgary with knowledge and skills to understand climate change issues and inspire them through stories that reflect their unique perspectives to take climate action.  This research project will engage the youth in Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) on climate change, host a youth summit to increase awareness and action, and will collect and amplify personal culturally relevant stories using multimedia to share stories of resilience, community-led initiatives, and environmental justice victories. UCalgary post-secondary students will collaborate with faculty and community partners to design the youth engagement opportunities and mentor the youth in climate awareness and action. This project fosters positive connections, broadens conversations by addressing intersectionality of climate change impacts and on immigrants lived experiences status and underscores the importance of their perspectives and involvement in climate action.  

Project leads

• Tanvir Turin Chowdhury Professor, Family Medicine 
• Ruksana Rashid, Director, Foundation for the Voice of Immigrants in Canada for Empowerment 

About the project

Green Calgary’s Spill the Beans (STB) program is a dynamic, community-centered food education initiative that addresses food insecurity and the climate crisis through the principles of the circular economy. In collaboration with post-secondary students from COMS 477, we aim to expand the program’s reach and impact. These students will leverage their communication skills to develop educational tools and resources that address barriers to program access. Our key audiences include immigrants and newcomers to Calgary who may lack familiarity with local food systems and struggle with food security. This collaboration will not only enhance the STB program but also provide students with experiential learning opportunities. They will develop competencies in civic consciousness, social responsibility, communication, collaboration, and teamwork, preparing them for future careers while making a tangible difference in the community. 

Project leads

• Lisa Roxanne Stowe, Communications, Media and Film & Academic Lead, Office of Experiential Learning 
• Louise Bwandiga, Green Calgary  

About the project

The Microbial Fuel Cell Olympics (MFC Olympics) is an experiential educational program led by Justin and Aaron Tan, two high school students motivated to tackle eco-anxiety among youths, enhanced by partnering with Dr. Irene Herremans (Natures’ Ride) and Dr. Marc Strous (University of Calgary). Using a Microbial Fuel Cell to generate electricity from microbes present in ordinary garden soil, this program inspires Grade 1 to 9 students to learn about sustainability and renewable energy. It encourages youth to develop a sense of agency, advocating for collaborative and constructive actions that adopts proven scientific methodologies. Besides having fun and participating in friendly competitions, participants will be sharing their new knowledge with their local community too. Through the Mobilizing Alberta Climate Action Grant, the program is expanding and engaging University of Calgary students for multi-faceted operational activities like leading hands-on workshops, facilitating climate change discussions, financial management, and overall program marketing.  

Project leads

Aaron and Justin Tan, Youth Reps of Nature’s Ride 

Dr. Marc Strous, Professor of Faculty of Science and NSERC Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Geomicrobiology 

Dr. Irene Herremans, Executive Director of Nature’s Ride 

About the project

This biomimicry challenge is a collaborative, community-based design challenge that communities and K-12 schools can implement with the guidance of a nature-inspired design tool kit created by UCalgary students and the project team. The open-access tool kit will include guides and collaborative activities that will introduce southern Alberta’s species through diverse perspectives; teach what we can learn from these species; how we can apply this to sustainable city, material and process design; and share how participants can apply these learnings in their schools and neighbourhoods to advance climate action and sustainability. The black-capped chickadee is Calgary’s official bird and one of many species that thrive in southern Alberta. Chickadees and other local organisms can serve as models for how we can live more sustainably and design our cities to reverse climate change.

Project leads

• Dr. Marjan Eggermont, PhD, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
• Dr. Mindi Summers, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Dr. Kerry Black, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
• Celia Lee, Executive Director, Sustainable Calgary

About the project

Students with the Schulich School of Engineering and the Calgary Climate Hub (CCH) will empower younger generations through programming, visualization tools, and workshops to learn about climate change issues and solutions in Southern Alberta. CCH will educate youth on benefits of tiny forests, water conservation and sustainable agriculture. The post-secondary students will facilitate an 8-week software engineering program to educate the youth on how to create digital education tools to share this knowledge with other youth and broader communities.  

Project leads

• Dr. Gouri Deshpande Ginde, Associate Prof, Electrical and Software Engineering 
• Jared Blustein, Executive Director Calgary Climate Hub 

About the project

This project is a five-day experiential learning course that educates UCalgary students on the critical role the grasslands contribute to carbon sequestration and combatting the impacts of climate change. The students will learn about the vital importance of grassland ecosystems from multiple knowledge systems by engaging with Indigenous, local, and scientific community members. As part of the experiential learning course, the students will create digital stories to share their reflections and learnings through CPAWS’ Change Makers website to local and national audiences to help increase support for protecting grasslands.

Project leads

• Dr. Sabrina Perić Faculty of Anthropology and Archaeology 
• Vanessa Bilan, Outreach Manager CPAWS 

About the project

This project focused on researching and raising awareness to the impact of climate change on birds in Alberta. This project consisted of analysing data collected by AIWC from 2014, collecting and analyzing field data this season, rehabilitating affected birds, designing a future research project for AWIC related to climate change and the impact it has on birds in AB. The trends indicate that heat waves and the changing climate has impacted bird nesting and survival.

Project leads

• Dr. Adela Kincaid, International and Indigenous Studies 
• Holly Lillie, Director, Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (AIWC)

About the project

This project supports the Rural Routes to Climate Solutions social innovation lab that is building supportive infrastructure necessary to accelerate adoption rates of regenerative agriculture in Alberta to advance climate action, support regenerative-practice uptake, and build long-term resilience in and for Alberta communities. The Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL) is a community-based collaborative platform allowing actors both up and downstream in the food/agriculture value chain to incubate, test, and explore ideas, policies and programs that support the transition to a more regenerative agriculture sector and food system. As RAL moves into Phase 3 of this multi-year project, its team will work with a UCalgary research student to engage RAL participants in co-creating a research project focused on exploring and understanding the business case for regenerative agriculture, with a view to spotlighting the economic outcomes of this system. 

Project leads

• Houston Peschl, associate professor, Haskayne School of Business, Entrepreneurship Innovation and Sustainable Development
• Derek Leahy, director and podcast Host, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions
• Shelley Seed, project manager, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions.

About the project

The purpose of this project is to build seed stock that can thrive and adapt to climate change and that is freely available to all. Climate change impacts the growing conditions in southern Alberta, and seed libraries are an important community-based strategy for climate action because they contain local genetic diversity that is often adapted to prevailing climate conditions including biotic stresses. This project will collaborate with community groups to exchange knowledge on this topic, empower diverse communities to contribute to food and seed sovereignty to advance climate action, and support community wellness through inclusive and regenerative community-building practices.  

Project leads

• Joe Kadi, Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies, Department of Philosophy; 
• Shelby Montgomery, Founder, Calgary Seed Library

About the project

This project aims to provide a platform to highlight the sustainability practices of the Southern Alberta agriculture industry. Working alongside Dr. Ed Pajor from UCalgarys Veterinary School and UCalgary Students from various departments we will co-create videos highlighting Agricultural practices in Southern Alberta. The Leading sustainable agriculture practices we are going to highlight are reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing more resilient ecosystems that can adapt to a changing climate. We will then co-create learning materials and lesson plans to accompany these videos which will be utilized in the Stampede Education programs and the WA Ranch Education Program. UCalgary Students will play a key role in the development of this project and will learn the multidisciplinary skills required to develop a multimedia product for the general public and educational context. 

Project lead

• Dr. Ed Pajor, Professor Faculty of Vet Medicine 
• Austin Lang, Manager Calgary Stampede