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Welcome to the WE-CAN Climate News Roundup
Your Primary Source for CLIMATE NEWS
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Stay Connected. Be Inspired. Get Involved.
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Top Story
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Sebastian Sajda - Farewell, Sweet Prince
From WE-CAN: It is with much grief that we have to tell you that our much-loved friend and fellow volunteer Sebastian Sajda has died suddenly. The cause of death has not been shared. Out of the blue - and so young.
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Seb jumped in to help with WE-CAN on the day we began, five years ago, and he gave so much of his skill, knowledge and experience to help build WE-CAN into the network it has become.
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He organized and led Force of Nature when it transitioned from being a fully-staffed to a volunteer-led organization. He led the campaign to save Bear Creek Park in Surrey, and its salmon-bearing stream, from being lost to road construction. He ran for Council with Surrey Connect. For the past two years, he worked full-time for Organizing for Change. He was always working to save what can be saved, to bring more kindness to the world.
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We have created an online Google Doc where anyone who knew Seb is invited to share. You can contribute to it here.
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On Thursday, April 9th, at 5 pm, we are inviting people to an open Zoom session - A Gathering of Remembrance - where people who knew Sebastian can meet and grieve together. You can register here.
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We also encourage people to send a card to his mother, Barbara Sajda, to let her know how much we appreciate and love her son. If you mail your card to WE-CAN, 13561 Barney Road, Ladysmith V9G 1E9, we will ensure that it is delivered to her.
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Join the Movement. Fuel the Change. The climate crisis won’t wait — and neither can we. At the West Coast Climate Action Network, we connect with and support nearly 300 climate organizations across BC. Together, we amplify impact, share resources, and drive urgent change.
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But we can’t do it without you!
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By becoming a monthly donor, you provide steady and reliable support that sustains the climate movement throughout the year. Your contributions fund vital coordination, advocacy, events, and tools — empowering people and organizations across BC to fight for a livable future. Monthly giving also makes it easier for you to stay connected to the cause, while helping us plan and grow with confidence
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Whether it’s $5 or $50 a month, your donation directly strengthens climate action in BC — and every dollar adds up.
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Be the spark. Join our growing community of monthly donors today.
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Thank you for standing with us in this decisive decade.
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Action Now!
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📌 LNG – Not in our National Interest – National Week of Action
From Stand.earth: We’re so thrilled to be launching a national Week of Action April 13 - 18 with events in communities across Canada. This is our opportunity to send a clear message to decision-makers: No more public money for LNG. Yes to investing in a clean energy future. Join an event in your community during the Week of Action. All the events and details are here.
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📌 Expedited Environmental Assessment – Please Respond! (By Monday, April 13)
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From OfC, Ecojustice and WCEL: The BC government is fast-tracking stakeholder and public engagement on a fast-tracking tool under the Infrastructure Projects Act, a provincial law that was rushed through the Legislature last year despite pushback from municipalities, First Nations, and environmental groups. Projects designated as “provincially significant” will be eligible to access these tools to get it developed faster. One tool is an expedited environmental assessment, which could allow a major project like a mine to bypass a thorough assessment. We have launched this resource to help you navigate the survey, which is being rushed through. The information from the EAO is pretty opaque, so we're hoping our guide will make things a bit more accessible. It’s here: https://www.organizingforchange.org/xea
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📌 The Next Provincial BC Budget (Sign up by Friday April 10)
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From BC Government: British Columbians wishing to present to the Committee in-person or virtually are asked to complete a presentation request form by Friday, April 10 at 2pm. The Parliamentary Committees Office will follow up with interested participants in May. The Committee will be holding public hearings in June and will be a mix of virtual meetings and in-person meetings in Burnaby, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Kamloops, Kelowna, Mission, Nanaimo, Prince George, Smithers, Vancouver and Victoria. Participate here
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📌 Protect Peachland's Old Growth & Primary Forests from all Commercial Logging & Partial Clearcuts
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From Peachland Watershed Protection Alliance: We need your support to protect the watershed that supports our entire community. BC Timber Sales plans to allow logging in three new cut blocks. The Peachland watershed holds some of the rarest, at-risk old-growth and primary forests left in the BC interior. The stands BC Timber Sales wants to log may be the last certified old growth in the entire Okanagan that has not been clearcut! Add your name here. Write to– Leanne.Jennings@gov.bc.ca
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Climate Solutions
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Carney Government Recommits to Conserving 30% of Land by 2030
From National Observer: The new nature strategy will invest $3.8 billion to get Canada almost all the way to its global conservation commitments by 2030. The government will add an additional 16% of land conservation by 2030, to achieve its goal to conserve 30% by 2030. The plan will fall short of the 30% marine conservation, reaching just 28%. The new strategy involves protecting and conserving a land area 1.7 times the size of BC, and a marine area almost the size of Alberta. Read more
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Why Thousands of New Yorkers Swap Gas for Induction Stoves in Clean Energy Push: ‘It Makes Sense’
From The Guardian: US states from California to Georgia are promoting induction stoves for climate, health and cost benefits. Over two days last month, people in 15 co-op apartments in Manhattan who have had to rely on portable hot plates and microwaves for meal preparation were fitted with new induction stoves via a scheme supported by state and city governments, along with non-profit groups. Read more
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Ho Chi Minh City Adds 169 Electric Buses
From Vietnam Express: The move supports the city’s transition to greener public transport, targeting 100% green public transport by 2030. Read more
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'One of the Harshest Places on Earth': The 1960s Green 'Utopia' that Tried to Reinvent the World
From BBC: In an extreme environmental and political climate in the Colombian savannah, one maverick village has relied on its homegrown inventions to survive, down to adapting children's see-saws to draw water for the community. None of the village's inventions are patented, but they have nonetheless made their mark on the wider world. Read more
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The Untapped Value of Retrofit Investments
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From Pembina Institute: A stronger roof prevents damage from hail. A tighter building envelope reduces heat loss and keeps out wildfire smoke. Better ventilation and filtration improve the air people breathe indoors. These measures rarely show up in real estate listings or property appraisals. But they quietly protect people, reduce risk and improve how buildings perform over time. And yet, much of that value is unaccounted for. Read more
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Climate Image of the Week
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WE-CAN Friends and Allies
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VICTORY! New West passes Canada’s First-Ever Maximum Heat Bylaw!
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From ACORN: After years of relentless organizing, ACORN and the City of New Westminster have made history—again! New Westminster has officially become the first city in Canada to pass a maximum heat bylaw, proving once again that when tenants organize, they WIN! This week, City Council passed a ground-breaking amendment to its landlord licensing bylaw. The new rules are clear: It is now the landlord’s legal responsibility to ensure that at least one room in every rental unit is kept at or under 26 degrees Celsius between 8pm and 8am. Read more
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Wednesday, April 15, 1-4 pm Vancouver Action - LNG: Not in the National Interest!
From Stand.earth: Expect music, banners, placards, and powerful voices. Bring your friends, family, and energy as we rally for a just, LNG-free future. Meet at the Export Development Centre Office, 1230 Government St, Victoria. Details here
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Saturday, April 18, 11:45 am-1:15 pm Victoria Action - LNG: Not in the National Interest!
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From Stand.earth: Join us for an afternoon of art and community to pressure federal Minister Gregor Robertson not to give any more taxpayer dollars to LNG. Join us in person at 3150 East 54th Avenue, Vancouver. Register here
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Wednesday, April 22, 12 Noon Quatsino First Nation’s Renewable Energy Projects
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From WE-CAN: Join us to learn about a groundbreaking project led by Kara Wilson, harnessing wind, solar and potentially tidal energy on the traditional lands of the Three Nations of the North Island. The project serves as a model for neighboring regions, encouraging collaboration and inspiring the next generation of Indigenous clean energy leaders. Join us to explore how it is shaping a resilient, clean energy future rooted in Indigenous knowledge and leadership. Register here
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Tuesday, April 28, 6 pm Launch of the Public Transit Alliance of BC
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From WE-CAN: Please join us for the launch of the new Public Transit Alliance of BC, a coalition of 18 advocacy groups from all across BC. This is BIG. For the first time, BC will have a strong group that is arguing for better transit all across BC, from Atlin to Zeballos. Better in our towns and cities, and better across BC’s rural and remote areas, where public transit is effectively non-existent. There will be speakers, presentations, and a lively beginning to this new adventure. Register Here
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Saturday, May 9, 10 am-12 WE-CAN AGM: Climate Action, Past, Present, Future
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From WE-CAN: We invite you to join us for our Annual General Meeting, when we will elect new directors, share what we have been up to, and look to the future. Register here
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Climate Politics and Action
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How ‘The Charles Koch of Canada’ Created a $9.5 Million Influence Machine
From Desmog: Former fracking magnate Gwyn Morgan has funnelled millions to right-wing media and think tanks. Since 2007, he has used his foundation to channel over $9.5 million into a sprawling network of libertarian think tanks, right-wing media outlets, and conservative organizations, amplifying variants of a similar message: that governments need to cut taxes, slash red tape, and allow the fossil fuel industry to grow without restraint. Read more
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‘A System Rigged’: Untaxed Wealth of Richest 0.1% Is More Than Assets of World’s Poorest Half
From Common Dreams: A decade after the Panama Papers, the global rich are still hiding more than $2.8 trillion in tax havens. Just a fraction of that money could end extreme hunger and provide clean water to everyone on Earth. Oxfam estimates that $3.55 trillion in untaxed wealth was stashed offshore in tax havens and unreported accounts in 2024. This is more than twice the combined GDP of the world’s 44 least developed countries. The richest 0.1 percent holds approximately 80% of all untaxed offshore wealth. Within this tiny group, the ultra-wealthiest 0.01% holds roughly half. Read more
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Human Rights Advocate Stephen Lewis Fought to Alleviate Suffering in Africa
From Globe & Mail Obituary: In a life devoted to public service, he served as an eloquent and charismatic leader of Ontario’s NDP, and spent the latter part of his career in international roles working to end apartheid, curtail the spread of AIDS and investigate the causes of the Rwandan genocide. Read more
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Stephen Lewis: Farewell to One of Canada’s Greatest Social Justice Champions
From Seth Klein, Substack: We have lost a giant, and a hero to countless social justice activists across Canada and around the world. I first heard Stephen Lewis give a speech at a peace conference in Montreal when I was 16 years old. I am 57 today, but I can still clearly see and hear it in my mind. I was spellbound. His command of the English language was unlike anything I had ever heard. Read more
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Change is in the Air: The NDP Convention in Winnipeg
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From Seth Klein, Substack: I have just returned from the NDP convention in Winnipeg, my first in 31 years. It was, in a word, thrilling. Suffice it to say: it was great seeing and meeting some of you subscribers there; the energy and enthusiasm was palpable; and I am both elated and fiercely proud that Avi Lewis was decisively elected on a single ballot as the new federal NDP leader. He emerges with a clear and robust mandate to advance bold ideas “as big as the crises we face.” Read more Subscribe to Seth’s Substack here
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Resistance and Movement Building
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Toxic Trivia - Gather your friends!
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From 350.org: Gather your friends, and play Toxic Trivia together! Many questions, many answers. How does Canada’s carbon emissions per capita compare with the global average? A: Equal to the average B: 3 times the average C: 1.5 times the average D: Half the average. How many times did oil and gas lobbyists meet with the federal government in 2025? A: Less than 50 B: 100 C: 500 D: Almost 1000. You can find the Q&As here. Read more
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You Can Take Action! Events, Protests and Rallies
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*PLEASE NOTE* If your climate organization is a WE-CAN member, click “Post your Event” under ‘Calendar’, and it will be added following approval.
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The calendar is a great networking tool, helping you connect and share events with the broader climate movement. Check it out and start posting your events today!
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Wednesday, April 8, 10 am Gas Stove Emissions: Indoor Air Quality & Health Effects
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From Collaborative for Health and the Environment: Combustion of so-called natural gas creates many toxic air pollutants, including nitrogen oxides, benzene, and carbon monoxide. NO2 is a respiratory irritant linked with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Benzene is a known carcinogen with no safe level of exposure. Unburned gas leaks from household stoves even when they are not in use. Scientists have shown that gas stove pollution travels around the home. Register here
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Wednesday, April 8, 3:30 pm Here Comes the Sun: Driving a Renewable Energy Revolution
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From Seniors for Climate: We are proud to host a timely discussion with climate author and activist Bill McKibben, who will answer important questions, and speak about his book, Here Comes the Sun, exploring why renewable energy is poised to transform the world. Q&A, update on our 2026 campaign, 'Break Through the Climate Silence.' Register here
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Wednesday, April 15, 2-3 pm The Changing Climate of Work: Green Jobs, Skills, and Sector Transitions
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From CASC: Scott Lundy, Jim Stanford and Ben Simoni will discuss emerging green jobs, evolving skill demands, and the roles of unions, employers, and educational institutions in supporting workers through rapid sector transitions. Register here
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Wednesday, April 15, 6-9 pm Neighbourhoods in the 21st Century (In Vancouver)
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From GTEC: Join us for an evening with Miranda Massie, Founding Director of the New York Climate Museum. Our fundraising dinner brings together community members and climate supporters to champion our Neighbourhood in the 21st Century exhibit—a dynamic arts and culture initiative designed to spark creativity, hope, and climate adaptation in local communities. Museum of Vancouver, 1100 Chestnut St. Read more
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Thursday, April 16, 5 pm Forests Frayed to Forests Renewed: The Case for Rezoning BC’s Public Lands
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From BC Policy Solutions: Ben Parfitt has covered forestry since the 1980s as a journalist and with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. He is currently a reporter with The Tyee, where he covers the forestry and oil and gas impacts on critical natural resources. Limited capacity. Will not be recorded. $20. At UVic. Register here
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Wednesday, April 22, 7-8 pm Climate Resilience for People with Intellectual + Developmental Disabilities
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From Down Syndrome Resource Syndrome: Climate change poses escalating physical, social, and financial risks, especially for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities like Down syndrome. This Earth Day, join us as we explore how we can improve our climate resilience, with our Sustainability Ambassador Nika Zondag, and a presentation by Dr. Sébastien Jodoin, who is researching the role of disability rights in addressing complex environmental and health issues and challenges. Read more
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Monday, April 27, 9 am-4:30 pm BCSEA Energy Connections 2026 (Vancouver)
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From BCSEA: We’re excited to invite you to BC's premier clean energy networking and knowledge-sharing event, in Vancouver. It brings together leaders from industry, government, utilities, Indigenous partners, innovators, and investors for a full day of insights, collaboration, and connection. Our Keynote Speaker is the Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront, Vancouver. Register here to attend in person ($50 to $380) or here to attend by Zoom ($35 to $260)
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Grants, Job Vacancies and More!
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WE-CAN is Seeking New Board Members
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From WE-CAN: Do you want to join our Board? There are several positions up for election, including Treasurer. We meet twice a month, and most Board members are active on one or more of our working teams. Our purpose is to serve, support, amplify and promote the work of our 270+ member organizations, and to take whatever other actions we feel are needed to help end the global climate emergency. We strive to work with a culture of kindness, respect, and inclusivity. Read more
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Environment Funders
Their list of members is here - a useful source of thinking when it comes to fundraising
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WE-CAN’s Fundraising Toolkit for Climate Action Groups is here
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From all of us in the West Coast Climate Action Network
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We honour the title and rights of the Indigenous peoples on whose ancestral lands we live and work.
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