By Dr. Carole Christopher, SPEC President Ballots will arrive in October for the referendum on Proportional Representation (PR.) It’s an opportunity to express your point of view on whether to change our electoral system from first-past-the-post (FPTP) to proportional representation (PR). Both Systems have their proponents and their critics. Under FPTP, “the winner takes all,” […]
Preparing to Vote on Proportional Representation Read More »
By SPEC President, Dr. Carole Christopher Fireworks. I found myself consciously not watching the fireworks this year. A couple of decades ago in the early years of this annual event, I went with friends to Vanier Park to see the fireworks. I was hoping to reconnect with an awesome experience in 1976 in Riverside Park,
An inside look on how Emily Carr Elementary completely revamped their waste system and diverted 800 pounds of recyclables from the landfill. Teacher Cadine (left) with the team of student volunteers that sort classroom waste and recycling. Emily Carr Elementary School is on a mission. Two years ago, the school took the Zero Waste Challenge
Met the Zero Waste Champions from Emily Carr Elementary Read More »
Members’ Corner is a new, monthly blog series where SPEC members share our favourite sustainability-related resources. You should watch: Merchants of Doubt Amarita Pooni, Westside Community Food Market Coordinator A documentary that looks at pundits-for-hire who present themselves as scientific authorities as they speak about topics like toxic chemicals, pharmaceuticals and climate change. It is really
July Members Corner Read More »
We recently posted a blog post by SPEC’s President, Dr. Carole Christopher, on creating dialogue and building solidarity across differences. While the post mentions the Kinder Morgan Pipeline issue that seems to be at the forefront of everyone’s minds these days, the arguments raised in the blog post are just as relevant for the fight against Site
The Fight Against Site C is Still On! Read More »
By Robin Hadac and Nikoo Boroumand At the Farm to School BC Spring Celebration, one of the schools SPEC works with, John Norquay Elementary, was awarded the highest award for a school garden. The Farm to School BC Pollinator Award recognizes Farm to School programs and school teams that act as pollinators within their community:
John Norquay: The School Garden Buzzing with Excitement Read More »
By Olga Lansdorp, Tara Moreau, and Robin Hadac Today, there is a group of individuals representing educational institutions, non-profit organizations, cooperatives, and other groups with a focus on small-scale, diversified agriculture, who are all aware of what the other organizations strive to accomplish over the next five years. They are also aware of the funding
Catalyzing Collaboration Across Small-Scale, Diversified Agriculture Organizations Read More »
By Dr. Carole Christopher, SPEC President & Elder Image: Kinder Morgan Trans-Mountain Expansion construction. From Burnaby Now. SPEC opposes the local pipeline expansion on the basis of environmental risk. But we also believe that the deeply polarized public discourse around this and similar projects is a major factor stalling efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate
Building Solidarity Across Differences Read More »
By Magali Vander Vorst, SPEC Board Member Image: Regan in the Tupper Secondary School’s Teaching Kitchen Patricia Regan is the chef and teacher at the Tupper Secondary School’s Teaching Kitchen, where they serve 120 to 140 meals a day and barely use any single-use plastic. Regan is a passionate educator who brings her sustainability values to
Is There Another Option? How Tupper Secondary School Reduced Waste by 600% Read More »
Members’ Corner is a new, monthly list of recommendations on our favourite sustainability-related resources. You Should Read: How To Have a Zero Waste Kitchen, by Tony Naylor at The Guardian Ruth Briggs, member of SPEC’s Board and Energy and Transportation Committee Are you sure you can’t eat that? Food waste is a huge problem globally, and
Members’ Corner – June Edition Read More »
