Mobilizing Burnaby kids (and their grown-ups) to take climate action

For the last few years, I’ve been working with an amazing group of parents and kids (For Our Kids Burnaby) to bring attention to climate issues in our community and create opportunities for people to engage with the environment. We’ve hosted creek clean-ups, native species plantings, art builds and nature walks. We’ve also partnered with other environmental advocacy groups in opposing the TMX pipeline expansion and urging Burnaby to join the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.

We recently celebrated a big win when the Burnaby City Council voted to join the Sue Big Oil class action lawsuit, which will hold the world’s largest fossil fuel companies accountable for their fair share of the costs for climate damages. To make our voices heard, our grade 3 and 4 students spearheaded a letter-writing campaign that emphasized the unfairness of kids and ordinary people living with the consequences of climate change, and being stuck with the bill, while big oil corporations rake in billions in profits. West Coast Environmental Law, which launched the campaign, has been urging towns and cities across BC to join the lawsuit, and we’re grateful for their support in moving it forward in Burnaby.

For all our community stewardship efforts, the City of Burnaby awarded our group a 2024 Environmental Star Award!