Collingwood, ON – At its meeting held February 24, 2025, Council received a presentation on the Collingwood Community Climate Action Plan engagement roadmap. The Town’s consultants, Tamarack Institute, are facilitating a community engagement strategy to ensure community representation throughout the development of the Community Climate Action Plan.
The purpose of the Community Climate Action Plan is to identify and empower the community to take collective climate action. Community involvement in this process is key to ensuring we prioritize local needs and values.
“Ethical community engagement and consultation is foundational to how we work. It is more than a procedural step; it is a commitment to engaging with the community in a manner that is respectful, transparent, and inclusive,” says Lisa Attygalle, Consulting Director of Community Engagement at Tamarack Institute
Engagement Goals:
- Increase Awareness and Understanding: Enhance community understanding of climate issues and the importance of prioritizing climate strategies, fostering positive pressure for action.
- Develop Recommended Strategies: Collaborate with community members to create a comprehensive list of recommended strategies for the Collingwood Community Climate Action Plan.
- Assess Level of Community Support: Engage broadly to gauge the level of community support and ambition for the climate action plan, ensuring that it reflects the community’s aspirations.
“We are currently in Stage 2 of the Community Engagement Plan Timeline, which is recruitment,” says Nicole Yardy, Climate Change Specialist. “We are calling on Collingwood stakeholders, ages 16 and up, who are interested in participating in this process to submit an Expression of Interest.”
There will be multiple opportunities for the public to participate in the process including pop-up and online engagements in the coming months (April-June). Currently,.we’re focusing on recruiting subject matter experts and community members interested in climate action to participate in Focus Area Working groups or the Climate Action People’s Panel.
Opportunity 1: Focus Area Working Groups
The Focus Area Working Groups are designed to engage subject matter experts and community members with expertise in key sectors including:
- Buildings,
- Community Health and Resilience,
- Investment,
- Transportation, and
- Community Systems (essential services and infrastructure)
These sessions will provide a collaborative platform for experts to assess and develop actionable climate strategies tailored to the unique context of Collingwood. If you have relevant experience and a passion for driving meaningful climate action, we encourage you to express your interest in joining the Focus Area Working Sessions. Focus Area working Groups will be held the week of April 7, 2025. Your expertise will be instrumental in shaping effective strategies that address the challenges and opportunities related to climate action in our community.
Opportunity 2: People’s Panel
The People’s Panel will provide a platform for diverse voices to share their perspectives on climate action strategies. This panel will consist of individuals from all walks of life —no prior experience in climate science or policy is necessary.
If you are a member of the Collingwood community, age 16 and up, and have an interest in how climate action can impact our community, we encourage you to express your interest in joining the People’s Panel. This session will be held the week of May 5, 2025, and will be accompanied by online and print options for those who are unable to attend the scheduled session. Insights gained from the People’s Panel will play a crucial role in shaping a climate action strategy that reflects the values and priorities of our community.
More information and Expressions of Interest Forms for the Focus Area Working Groups and People’s Panel are available on the project website.
Please visit https://engage.collingwood.ca/climateaction, to learn more and subscribe for updates on the project.
