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City of Vancouver Increases Local Climate Leadership with Women4Climate Mentorship Program
City of VancouverVANCOUVER - Recognizing the significant role leaders from all sectors play advancing climate action, members of City Council and City staff gathered last night to celebrate Vancouver’s fourth Women4Climate Mentorship cohort; a group of 22 women who recently completed the 10-month program that empowers the next generation of women climate leaders and strengthens climate action in Vancouver.
“Our commitment to the W4C program is deeply rooted in our city’s values of sustainability, innovation and leadership,” says Mayor Ken Sim. “The dedication, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future from each of the mentors and mentees is an inspiration for us all. Together, we're not only taking steps to change the climate game, but we're setting a global standard for what's possible when women lead.”
“Vancouver is recognized as a hub of climate innovation and ambition across organizations, business, tech and industry,” said Doug Smith, Deputy General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability. “Through participating in C40’s Women4Climate Program, the City engages and supports women leading local climate initiatives, and benefits from their research, ideas and transformative initiatives.”
In 2019, Vancouver became the eighth city to launch a Women4Climate Mentorship Program in collaboration with C40 Cities and in partnership with the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. Since launching, Vancouver’s program has supported 43 of the over 500 global mentees, selecting local participants whose initiatives align with the City’s climate and equity goals.
A full list of participants and projects can be found here https://vancouver.ca/w4c
Original post
“Our commitment to the W4C program is deeply rooted in our city’s values of sustainability, innovation and leadership,” says Mayor Ken Sim. “The dedication, brilliance, and unwavering commitment to a sustainable future from each of the mentors and mentees is an inspiration for us all. Together, we're not only taking steps to change the climate game, but we're setting a global standard for what's possible when women lead.”
“Vancouver is recognized as a hub of climate innovation and ambition across organizations, business, tech and industry,” said Doug Smith, Deputy General Manager of Planning, Urban Design and Sustainability. “Through participating in C40’s Women4Climate Program, the City engages and supports women leading local climate initiatives, and benefits from their research, ideas and transformative initiatives.”
In 2019, Vancouver became the eighth city to launch a Women4Climate Mentorship Program in collaboration with C40 Cities and in partnership with the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre. Since launching, Vancouver’s program has supported 43 of the over 500 global mentees, selecting local participants whose initiatives align with the City’s climate and equity goals.
Highlighted projects
- Melissa Hamer’s role at BCIT’s Zero Energy/Emissions Buildings Learning Centre focuses on Net Zero Energy and Carbon design and construction training for designers, builders, contractors, trades, and policymakers. Her work involves partnering with Indigenous communities on Net Zero training, integrated solar electrical design, and embodied carbon courses.
- Working as part of a Praxis Spinal Cord Institute team, Arushi Raina’s project focuses on climate adaptation measures for people living with spinal cord injuries and other physical disabilities. With support from BC Hydro and Technology for Living, she distributed cooling devices to over 110 people in BC and recipients reported improved safety and quality of life during heatwaves.
- Darla Simpson, a building retrofit program manager with the Zero Emissions Innovation Centre is leading a project supporting strata-owned multi-family residential buildings to decarbonize their buildings at the time of end-of-life renewals. Making up 24 per cent of the provincial housing stock, this project brings information, resources, incentives, and financing programs together to retrofit these buildings.
A full list of participants and projects can be found here https://vancouver.ca/w4c
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