It’s December already? Again? My gosh, how did that happen?!?

I love writing this year-end summary, because it’s really rewarding to look back on our (your!) accomplishments. When we are immersed in one project after the other, it often feels like we’re just spinning our wheels, but when we look back, it’s clear that we―together with you―are making a difference.

Here are some 2024 highlights from the various groups, events, and action teams we’re supporting in the community:

• We started off in January with the amazing energy boost of Climate Action Fest 2.0. Our partners, the Kamloops Food Policy Council and the Kamloops Naturalist Club, joined forces with us again for a fast-paced day of brainstorming and team-building. The ripples from these one-day whirlwinds continue to spread outward all year. Did you see the 1-minute video about Climate Action Fest that we showed as part of the Kamloops Film Festival? We also presented on the climate action program at the Livable Cities, Collaborative Communities conference at TRU this spring.

• The Repair Cafe team is becoming increasingly recognized in Kamloops as the go-to place to bring items that aren’t working properly anymore, but might have more life left in them with the help of a skilled fixer. The pop-up events they’ve been hosting quarterly (or more!) for the past several years have developed a loyal following and continue to attract wonderful volunteers with skills in repairing everything from chairs to coffeemakers to coat zippers. The Repair Cafe team thanks the City of Kamloops for the Climate Action Grant that supports their work.

• Propel Us Carshare Co-op is currently working on putting in place a pilot hub for two cars along the Tranquille corridor. They hope to have this hub operational within the first quarter of 2025―stay tuned! Propel Us got some fine coverage in The Wren―did you see it?

• There were four clothing exchanges held in various locations on the North and South Shores this year! Such a great way to reduce the impacts of fast fashion, while improving social equity. Watch for more swaps next spring and fall.

• The Green Burial working group had a lot of time in the community this year including at the Farmers Market, presenting to City Council, at the Kamloops Adult Learners Society, and two members hosting a cemetery storytelling event at the Pleasant Street Cemetery. They have created a brochure to hand out which includes a link to sign up for more information about green burial in Kamloops. After an inquiry at City Council, staff was directed to explore the option of making a bylaw change to allow green burial in City cemeteries, so we hope to see progress on this option in 2025. In the meantime, the group has found promising enthusiasm for a separate green burial site among landowners in the Kamloops area. It has been an exciting year of tapping into each other’s expertise, enthusiasm, and knowledge, and there’s much to look ahead to in 2025. Our friends at The Wren also did an in-depth piece on the green burial team and their goals―gotta love our local media!

• Another eco-songwriting workshop guided by professional musicians was held, and participants performed the fruits of their labours at local events. I caught a lovely song at the Walk for Peace, Social Justice and the Environment on Earth Day―so inspiring!

• We supported two Films for Change events in partnership with the TRU Office of Sustainability.
  • Propolis Cooperative Housing Society sponsored PUSH, a thought-provoking documentary on the increasing financialization of housing and the consequences for our communities. It sparked some great discussion and highlighted the need for housing coops right here in town. Propolis is currently in the pre-development stage for its first net zero, affordable cooperative housing project at 422/424 Tranquille Rd. The property was purchased using an innovative community-led financing solution that has been making the news across the country. 
  • We also hosted a screening of the Australian documentary 2040, a wide-ranging look at the impacts of climate change over the next twenty years, and the technologies and systems changes that will help us to weather the storms (literally, in some cases!) These events are always a great way to reconnect with “our people” in the community, provide a venue to discuss current initiatives, and spark some new ideas.

• We hosted Green Drinks almost every month this year, another great way to connect in a more casual atmosphere. The biggest one was in partnership with TRU as part of the Sustainable Development Goals month―now that was fun!

• The Imagine Kamloops team organized an excellent workshop with some wonderful folks from the Heffley Creek neighbourhood association, identifying several small-scale projects that they wanted to implement themselves to make their area more connected and resilient.

• The Nature Friendly Yards group continues to share learnings and opportunities via their Facebook group. (Not a TK initiative, but there’s also a new xeriscape initiative starting up―would you like to help form an association for our region?)

• The Citizens for Climate Action team was thrilled when the BC Utilities Commission, in its March 2024 decision, agreed with so many of you who wrote letters in the fall of 2023 asking that they reject a key FortisBC proposal which would have encouraged the further expansion of fossil gas infrastructure in our province. That was a climate win, for sure!

• Working with  community partners, we added a couple more stops to the Sustainability Stories audio tours this spring. Watch for these signs around town and scan the QR codes for walkable tours that connect the past, present and future of our city, exploring the way we live on this land.

• In collaboration with CPAWS-BC, we hosted an All-Candidates Forum on the Environment in advance of the provincial election this fall. It was attended by all candidates from both Kamloops ridings (except the one who was a no-show!). About 120 members of the public were able to hear their views on environmental policies and practices in our province, and what actions candidates might prioritize.

• We put a lot of energy into encouraging folks to provide input into City engagement processes all year long, because we know that working together towards system change can have far more impact than individual actions. Most recently, we sent a representative to one of the virtual workshops on updating the City’s Parks Plan in November. We and others spoke on the importance of retaining Nature in the city―related to Big Move #8 of the City’s Climate Action Plan.

• On a similar note, we were really thrilled with how many of you chose to attend the Community + Council Conversations that the City hosted in all the neighbourhoods around Kamloops―many of you used the tip sheet we shared at the events, and posted lots of supportive comments on City’s Let’s Talk website.  

• The advocacy work is never over, so we’re encouraging you to speak up again right now (fill out the survey before December 6) to encourage Council to stick to the plan on the Climate Action Levy. (They certainly heard from us when they cut it last year!) It’s in the Provisional budget for now, but is vulnerable to being cut in February. Check out the details here. 

For the Transition Kamloops core group, it has been a year of capacity-building and distributing leadership. We’re working to make our own organization more sustainable over the long run: sharing responsibilities, doing cross-training and keeping an eye on self-care. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a talented, committed, and fun team! 

But I know that the efforts of our tiny organizing team wouldn’t amount to a hill of beans without the active support of you: our community. Our power to build a healthier and more resilient Kamloops depends on all of us working together to put our values into action. Numbers matter when we’re working to create change, so please help us spread the word and continue to grow our influence. 

Wishing all of you a most joyful season, however you choose to celebrate this special time of year. Enjoy the coziness of warm places with family and friends amid the snowy landscape of December. We’ll be back in January―and we hope you will be too!

Gisela

Photo: Transition Kamloops’ organizing team includes (L to R) Julien, Shelley, Nancy, Gisela, George, and Tam. Missing from the photo are Elwira, Jennifer, Chloe, and Francesca.