Members present: Paul Johanis (chair), David McNicoll, Daniel Buckles, JP Unger, John Almstedt, Iola Price
Regrets: Jason Kania, Nicole DesRoches., Erwin Dreessen
Guests: Dan Wilcock
Special Guests: Youth Climate Ambassadors Jessica Tan, Kevin Mason, Shyanne Matone, Gabrielle Richards, Sarah Fox, Kate Strathlee and Tao Orion (remote access)
The meeting commenced at 7:15 pm.
The first part of the meeting was given over to a presentation and discussion on the workshop on Climate Solutions and the Official Plan, which we will be holding on November 15 and 16 with the help of the cohort of young people assigned to the Greenspace Alliance under Ecology Ottawa’s Youth Climate Ambassador program.
Paul gave an overview of the purpose of the workshop, the process leading up to it and the role of the YCAs. In the lead up to the workshop, the YCAs will participate in a series of outreach meetings with community associations in each of the four planning contexts identified for the new OP (rural, outer urban, inner urban, downtown core) to share with them the Key Climate action messages that have emerged from the People’s Official Plan process and obtain their feedback. The results of this consultation will then be fed as input to the mid-November workshop. Members present were invited to share their views on these messages and any other advice they had for the YCAs. While generally supportive of the messages presented, members identified opportunities for urban food production, adaptation measures to weather extremes and events, and energy production as additional topics of interest for consultation. The importance of narrative and storytelling was also highlighted as an important part of communications about climate action, not just technical language and targets.
The formal agenda was addressed starting at 8:15
- Adoption of the agenda
The proposed agenda was agreed upon, with item 3d) moved to be the first order of business.
- Administrative items
a. Minutes of the August 26 2019 meeting (for approval)
Moved by Iola, seconded by David. Carried.
b. Treasurer’s report
Paul submitted for reimbursement the first major expense under the MOU with Ecology Ottawa for the Youth Climate Ambassador program, a deposit for the rental of the venue for the November 15-16 workshop, in the amount of $762.16. Moved by Daniel, seconded by Iola.
c. Geodata report
Iola provided a report on the Ottawa Neighbourhood Study Greenspace mapping project online meeting of September 19.
d. Association reports
Paul reported on the Planning and Zoning Committee meeting of September 11, at which he solicited the help of the FCA to recruit community associations willing to meet with Youth Climate Ambassadors in advance of the November workshop on Climate Solutions and the Official Plan. This was supported by the Committee and will be added to the agenda of the September 18 general meeting of the FCA.
