Championing Climate Action in Colwood

The municipality of Colwood has so much to offer its residents, in so many ways. Colwood’s 22,225 residents often take the opportunity to enjoy its 227 acres of parkland – 69 parks, 7.6 acres of oceanfront, 16 km of bike lanes, a national migratory bird sanctuary, and 3 National Historic Sites. But this is just a smattering of what makes Colwood amazing. There is so much more, and the strong sense of community is a large part of it.

We like to think that new residents moving to Colwood will begin enjoying many of the natural outdoor activities, but we also like to think they will be looking for ways to contribute to sustainability.

Take a moment to picture two imaginary new residents, Arthur and Maggie. We find Arthur sitting at his computer after attending a Zoom cross-country climate action meeting, his notepad filled with hurriedly scribbled notes about biodiversity, conservation, and environmental sustainability.

Maggie says thoughtfully, “With our passion for climate action, how about joining an active climate group in the area? I even have one in mind! They host speakers, they work on environmental projects, and they do advocacy on various issues. I have just read an article about their activities in our local paper.”

As Arthur scrolls through the article, he begins to get a sense of the organization—its purpose, its community role, and the kinds of initiatives it’s involved in. His overview reflects what he discovers about CENIC.

CITIZEN’S ENVIRONMENT NETWORK IN COLWOOD

The Citizens’ Environment Network in Colwood (CENIC) was founded in 2020 as a volunteer-based environmental advocacy group, focused on climate action and sustainability initiatives in the community.

Over the past five years, CENIC has supported many of Colwood’s climate goals, with advocacy around active transportation, land development, urban parks, energy-efficient retrofits, urban tree and plant protection, and more.

“By focusing on environmental issues,” says Carol Brown, CENIC’s Chair, “we are sometimes asked to take on a role as stakeholders, and review documents that are still in the draft stage. We appreciate this opportunity, while remaining independent.”

She explains that CENIC was created by local people to fill a gap in Colwood’s environmental advocacy. “We often follow what’s happening at council, offer suggestions, and work to ensure that community voices are heard.”

PROMOTING NATIVE PLANTS AND TREE COVER

“This year,” she continues, “our focus has been on native plants, encouraging their use in the city, and increasing the urban tree canopy. We have supported the start-up of a community garden, and initiated a small native garden by the front entrance of City Hall. New parkland is always a goal, and we are constantly looking for opportunities to encourage this.”

WORK ON THE ZERO CARBON STEP CODE

CENIC’s work includes advocating for the Zero Carbon Step Code in building bylaws, to reduce climate pollution from Colwood’s buildings.

“We have had the Zero Carbon Step Code for a few years now, and were pleased to be present at a Langford Council meeting when staff presented it, and Council unanimously approved the motion. CENIC was very pleased to see Langford join the majority of municipalities that have the Zero Carbon Step Code,” she noted.

CENIC SPEAKER SERIES AND AWARDS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Every year, CENIC runs a four-part speaker series.
“This year we began with a screening of an environment-themed movie suitable for children, which attracted many families,” she says. “In addition, we held two Zoom sessions on environmental education that highlighted current City initiatives, encouraging community participation. We finished by joining a ‘Connect Fest‘ of local volunteer organizations. Throughout the year, CENIC has participated in many community events, often hosting a table to discuss the work we do.”