Be a Climate Champion with the Oak Bay Coolkit
The Oak Bay Coolkit program started as a joint initiative between the Collaborative for Advanced Landscape Planning (CALP) at the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Faculty of Forestry and the District. The program engages residents in climate change solutions in their community.
The Coolkit is intended to mobilize individuals and neighborhoods to take climate action through participation in a series of fun and interactive engagement activities, including:
- Neighbourhood conversations
- Local asset and climate vulnerability mapping
- Carbon footprint calculators
- Visioning exercises
- and more!
Coolkit Goals
Achieve 40% tree canopy by 2045
Reduce carbon emissions 50% by 2030
Mobilize individual and collective climate action through tools like the Oak Bay Coolkit
Coolkit Results
The Oak Bay Coolkit program continues to grow stronger with community climate champions independently leading initiatives and engagement, building on the program’s foundation.
As of the third anniversary of the Oak Bay Coolkit (2024), over 60 climate champions had been trained and 183 Coolkit trees planted, including 66 iconic Garry Oaks.
How can I get involved in the Coolkit program?
The Oak Bay Coolkit program is an ongoing grassroots process that includes workshops that engage, inform, and empower Oak Bay Climate Champions in developing collective climate action projects in their neighborhoods, using Coolkit exercises. Participants typically engage in fun indoor/outdoor exercises to envision their own future and develop neighborhood climate action plans.
A monthly series of meetings and workshops were provided to inform interested residents about key climate issues and practical solutions, such as tree planting, home energy improvements, active transportation, and electric vehicles. These sessions connected people with other local climate champions, where you can meet Year 1 and Year 2 Oak Bay Climate Champions and share tips on what worked for them. Residents are encouraged to organize their own Coolkit activities and engage neighborhoods, family, and friends in developing local climate action plans and sharing family targets for reducing their carbon footprints.
Achievements
- An accessible and attractive Coolkit package was customized for Oak Bay, available as a DIY resource free to all residents on the Oak Bay website, with a high media profile across the community.
- District staff from various departments were trained in the Coolkit process and engaged in community workshops as co-facilitators and advisors to champions.
- The program was promoted through tree-planting events attended by Council members, staff, and Coolkit champions. Support was received from the Oak Bay Neighbourhood Association, with media coverage from CBC, local media, and a presentation/workshop at ICLEI’s national Livable Cities Forum in Victoria in 2022.
- Well-attended weekend workshops and climate walks saw collaboration within and between neighbourhood groups, resulting in a network of trained Oak Bay Coolkit champions and multiple local climate action plans.
Who participated?
The program has seen over 60 climate champions from diverse backgrounds to help form:
- 12 collection action groups, representing 20% of Oak Bay’s residential blocks
- Facilitated the planting of 183 Coolkit trees, including 66 iconic Garry Oaks to help enhance the community’s green infrastructure.
What Participants Learned
- Enhanced understanding of local climate action initiatives aligned with the Oak Bay Climate Action Working Group recommendations.
- Increased awareness of individual carbon footprints.
- Recognized the importance of collective climate action at a local level.
- Developed skills in understanding local climate impacts and engaging others through creative events and workshops.
- Strengthened community bonds through engaging activities.
- Empowered to drive changes and collaborate with Oak Bay District on climate solutions.
- Champions gained valuable insights into residents’ views on climate action.
Participant Feedback
- Participants expressed enthusiasm for the Coolkit Champion program and the collaborative approach to developing local climate action plans.
- They also received strong support and advice from established community organizations, such as the Community Association of Oak Bay.
Information and Resources
Learn more about the Oak Bay Coolkit Program by visiting the Coolkit page on Connect Oak Bay. There, you’ll find information including the Coolkit, sample climate action plans for neighbourhoods and an interactive map showing various projects.