In Our Power blog

We started our road trip by meeting Marc and Nancy from St Peter’s United in their newly renovated hall. Marc, who is the chair of Saint Peter’s Grand River, Loch Lomond Unified Board was eager to share their energy retrofit journey with us. From installing new rain gutters and new windows to heat pumps, the church hall was given a new life. They are now able to rent out the hall for other community activities like yoga and dance classes without having to worry about turning on the oil furnace.

“The hall was a drain on us but now we are breaking even, and the new programmable smart NEST thermostat is helping with keeping the heat on.”  

As we continued on our trip, we met with Daniel from Carman United Church in Sydney Mines. Daniel, the treasurer, came ready with the numbers. The installation of heat pumps has helped them reduce their heating costs by more than 50%. Similar to St Peter’s, they are now able to do a lot more activities in the hall than before and more people stay and socialize in the hall after the church service.

“People are warm and comfortable inside the church which makes them stay behind and socialize more after the service.” 

You can read more about the amazing work that Carman United Church did in one of our previous blog posts. 

The last church we went to on our trip was St John’s United located on Old Route 5 in Big Bras D’Or. The church is nestled between trees and a fire hall for neighbors. We met with Cynthia who is the chair of the board and was involved with the energy work done by the church in 2021. They have installed new energy efficient windows, removed the oil furnace and installed a central heat pump system which has significantly reduced their oil bill and kept the church doors open.

 “We would never have been able to keep the church open if we still had to pay the oil bill.” 

Completing the work was not easy, especially being in a rural area, but Cynthia mentioned that since most of the work was done during the pandemic, that helped with securing contractors. Now post-covid, they can give the church space for free to a line dancing group and the church volunteers do not have to go in person to turn the heat on  

The three churches all share the sentiment of hope and revival after being able to complete the energy efficiency and decarbonization work. Although getting the work done has had its challenges, having a strong building committee and a strong sense of community helped with staying focused on the work as well as the support received from the Faithful Footprints team. Moreover, with heat pumps in churches, the congregation members are also inquiring about heat pumps for their own homes, which showcases the importance of faith communities in pushing for environmental change. Participating in the Faithful Footprints program is not only good for the environment but also helps in reviving the church as community spaces.

The coalition has been steadfast in advocating for low-income energy efficiency programs, including Efficiency Nova Scotia’s Affordable Multifamily Housing and HomeWarming programs, as well as the Province of Nova Scotia’s Heating Assistance Rebate Program, or HARP. These support low-to-moderate-income Nova Scotians to help keep their power bills down, while keeping homes at a comfortable temperature. This reduces the likelihood that people will be forced to make impossible choices between necessities like food, medicine, and paying to keep their home livable.  

Most recently, the coalition pushed for the creation of the Energy Poverty Task Force, led by then chair Brian Gifford. This taskforce produced the seminal report A Way Forward: A Made-in-Nova Scotia Home Energy Affordability Program, written by energy poverty expert Roger Colton. This report recommends a Universal Service Program that includes on-bill supports, managing late bill payments, crisis intervention, and improved efficiency programming. This work builds on the recommendation the coalition has been making for nearly twenty years. 

With more than two decades of social, legal, and political advocacy taking place “behind the scenes”, the Affordable Energy Coalition is beyond excited to have a new platform to share its work with the public. The brand-new website will serve as a living history of the coalitions’ work and be a helpful resource and directory for similar work being done across Turtle Island.  

More than anything, we hope this new platform will invite more connection with other individuals and communities in the same fight, and spread our message of affordable, accessible, and reliable energy for all! 

Over the summer, The Ecology Action Centre, New Brunswick Lung, and the Conservation Council of New Brunswick gathered reports, scientific findings, and Canadian statistics. And we monitored air quality inside a school bus.

We compiled all this information into a 12-page report for parents, teachers, bus drivers, students and concerned community members, highlighting the numerous physical and mental effects that school bus emissions have on children’s health and the health of drivers. To accompany the report, we created a toolkit to help individuals learn more about electric school buses, their functionality, cost savings, and other benefits. The toolkit also includes resources for advocating for mandated adoption of electric school buses in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, following the lead of our counterparts in Prince Edward Island. 

To launch the report and gather support, we hosted an event on October 6th at NSCC’s Ivany Campus in Dartmouth. The event featured a Lion Electric School Bus, Electric Vehicle Test Rides from Next Ride, exhibitor booths from collaborating organizations, and presentations from health and environmental professionals.

Cathy Cervin, a retired family doctor and Dalhousie professor representing the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment Nova Scotia, discussed how these emissions affect our health. She was followed by Melanie Langille from New Brunswick Lung, who spoke about lung health and the impact of emission pollutants.

The final presentation was by Autumn Downey from the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, who addressed how electric buses can contribute to healthier, happier communities. Following the presentations, we held a panel discussion to allow for questions. 

While parents listened to our expert presenters, youth had the opportunity to engage with a presentation about electric school buses. The kids learned about the sources of carbon emissions, their effects on the environment, and how electric school buses can help mitigate these issues. 

It was a pleasure to host everyone and to hear fantastic questions from community members. The report and toolkit can be found on the EAC website under the ‘Reports and Resources’ tab. Click here to find a recording of the event. 

“I contacted a number of neighbours,” Gamberg recalls, “and asked if they were interested in getting together to talk about things we could do in our daily lives that would have a positive effect on the environment.” They began by watching a shortened version of Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth. Gore’s passionate and personal approach to the film, intermixed with the predicted catastrophic effects of doing nothing, inspired them to take a more critical look at their own lives and how they could take action. 

With the discussion that followed, Gamberg and her neighbours came up with a list of ideas to try. Some action items included: 

Water Conservation: Doing laundry in cold water, installing low-flow showerheads, and watering their gardens more efficiently with soaker hoses, only during the evening hours. 
Energy Efficiency: Transitioning to energy-efficient lighting such as LED light bulbs, turning off lights and appliances when not in use, and using a clothesline or indoor rack instead of a power-consuming dryer. They learned more about home energy audits and scheduled a tour of the Ecology Action Centre’s Fern Lane Office for inspiration.  
Going Solar: Exploring the potential of solar panels for sustainable energy generation. 
Transportation: Opting to walk or carpool, avoid unnecessary idling, and practice fuel-efficient driving methods such as maintaining proper tire pressure and lowering speeds on highways.  
Waste Reduction: Recycling and composting where possible, buying in bulk, and using reusable bags. Using old newspapers as wrapping paper.  
Join or Volunteer with an Environmental Organization 
Share These Ideas with Your Kids! 

After their first successful meeting, the group decided to meet monthly and discuss new ideas and challenges and share their achievements. This built a new sense of community. 

This neighbourhood collaboration introduced the group to new ideas, concepts, and information, and allowed members to share useful books, films, and 

organizations. As a unified group, they were also able to invite local experts and professionals to join their meetings and share the work being done around the community.

At one meeting, a representative from the Halifax Municipal Environmental Services Group provided information on the city’s waste management, and insights into best practices to follow.  “They gave us useful information about sorting compostables, recyclables and trash,” says Gamberg. 

The group grew with time. Gamberg says many of her neighbours adopted new sustainable practices, which they integrated into their lives. Families were able to teach their children valuable lessons in environmental awareness and sustainable practices, instilling these lessons in the next generation.   

“It was not uncommon for neighbours, those who had showed up for meetings as well as some others, to informally discuss their new habits, other related ideas, materials to read, how their kids would remind them to turn off the lights,” Gamberg says.  

It is not uncommon to sometimes feel helpless in addressing the climate crisis, but as with the case of Ruth Gamberg’s neighbourhood project, collective action can have a large and meaningful impact on our communities. Gamberg’s initiative to simply bring people together in a collective space demonstrates the importance of even small actions on building stronger and more resilient communities. 

In October 2023, I became a research assistant for disaster response and climate planning. I fell in love with environmental law and policy, environmental justice, climate disasters, and adaptation.  

My internship with Ecology Action Centre has opened this world up for me. At the beginning of my internship, the only thing I knew was that I would be working with the Energy Team. I had no clue what that meant and only had a slight idea of the project I would be working on.  

My experience with energy affordability and efficiency is limited but personal. While I grew up in a household that was not environmentally aware, we also could not afford power bills and gas. Power became not only a financial drain but also a limitation on housing. I knew I wanted to work in the environmental space but learning about energy efficiency and affordable housing appealed to those personal experiences.  

During my time with the Energy Team, I researched legal barriers and remedies to energy efficiency in affordable housing. I learned that a landlord looking to receive rebates through Efficiency Nova Scotia’s Affordable Multifamily Housing Program must agree to a 12-year term charging only the maximum rents set in the agreement.  

They must pass this covenant to the next owner if they decide to sell the property or lose the rebate. This protects the tenant but is a barrier for landlords.  

I learned that a direct remedy could take the form of a municipal bylaw, provincial legislation, or an administrative board. Indirect remedies like energy labelling and banning oil in rental housing could also help.  

Landlords are not incentivized to include the tenant’s power in rent because of a lack of funding. A government subsidy could encourage landlords to pay for power, thus incentivizing energy efficient retrofits. 

This internship provided me with more than knowledge about the legal climate of energy efficiency and housing. I got to facilitate a discussion at my first local conference. I gave an informational tour of the Ecology Action Centre office building to the Coady Institute. I made connections in spaces like Efficiency Nova Scotia and the Clean Energy and Equity Network.  

And I worked with a supportive and fun team that made me feel like a part of their world, even if it was only for eight weeks. I came to work each day excited and inspired. Thank you, Energy Team, for allowing me to explore those professional and personal experiences with you.

For years the congregation has been contemplating how to become more carbon friendly, and the anniversary seemed just the occasion to take the plunge into energy retrofits and get rid of two old oil boilers that heated the church, replacing them with highly efficient heat pumps. “We were fortunate in that we received a legacy last fall from a former parishioner,” Campbell-Dell says.  

There were simple instructions that came with the money: “Please do something that the church needs.” That was just the motivation needed to get started with an Expression of Interest for the Faithful Footprints funding program, which could cover up to $30,000 of the work.  
 
In hindsight, that part was easy. “Applying for a Faithful Footprints grant is the easiest part,” says Campbell-Dell. “Churches should definitely get in touch. If for no other reason just to listen to Stephen Collette [Building Audit Manager]. He is so articulate and funny and it’s a pleasure to sit and listen to him for a while.  
 
“They cover two-thirds, which is very generous. But you also need to know your own assets, so you can cover the other third. There is tremendous moral and financial support from Faithful Footprints. They made it easy.” 
 
Campbell-Dell says the paperwork was the most intimidating part of the process, but the accessible support from the Faithful Footprints staff made it easier. “Not painful at all,” says Campbell-Dell. They are still going through reporting requirements for a matching Hydro Quebec grant, but the work with Faithful Footprints has given them confidence they can do it.  
 
The single biggest challenge for this rural congregation was finding craftsmen who could do the work and were available. “It’s an informal attitude to things, like paperwork,” she says. “That was our first hurdle. And working in French can complicate things. 
  
“It’s been a journey but it’s been worth it.”  
 
The heat pumps went in (and the oil boilers out) in spring, so they have yet to see how people will find the winter, or what the bills will be like. For now, people love the efficient cooling system heat pumps provide. 
 
“It’s nice not to be sweltering in the summer,” Campbell-Dell says. “It used to be dangerously hot at events we’d hold. And we’re not pouring emissions into the atmosphere anymore.”  
 
Church members, after some disagreement over acceptable room temperature, agreed to set the heat pumps at 22 and leave blankets in every pew for those who like it warmer.  
 
The congregation isn’t finished retrofitting just yet. The experience has inspired them to find further funding to retrofit the manse as well. They have learned that there will always be setbacks, but to resist the urge to panic.

“When using church money it can be intimidating, like when the bill is higher than the estimate. But we manage. 
 
“On November 30 we will be having an official celebration. We are sincerely grateful for the support of the United Church throughout this program.”

“We were preparing for a church service (cleaning the building) when my partner and I smelled a strong odour. When I opened the sanctuary doors the porch was filled with smoke. I ran into the furnace room to see what was wrong only to discover the room was filled with thick smoke. So thick you couldn't see anything. I quickly turned the power off to the oil furnace and opened all the doors then called Eric Kinden, who is in charge of the building, in a panic.  

"We had been trying to save money to upgrade our electrical panel and install heat pumps but had all but given up when the oil furnace literally died on us.  

"After an emergency board meeting, I reached out to Faithful Footprints, and our ladies group began fundraising to meet the needs of the project. Our congregation was walking strictly on faith because we did not have the funds for this project. We will have a large increase in electricity costs because we are using infrared heaters to keep the church warm. It was a dire situation, and we did not see a way we would be able to achieve what seemed insurmountable odds to ever upgrade our church and free ourselves from dependency on oil as our primary and only heat source. 

"The church is a wood frame built in1910. There are 32 light fixtures and 1 outside light with old incandescent bulbs. No ceiling fan. No fridge. No kitchen. One bathroom with only cold water.  

"Our Goals: upgrade electrical system from a 60-amp fuse panel to a 200-amp breaker panel; replace oil furnace and oil tank with two 24,000 BTU heat pumps in the sanctuary; install blow-in insulation in the attic; and install electrical heaters in the bathroom and foyer. 

"With the assistance of this grant, we have been able to move completely away from heating with oil. Our first step was to upgrade our electrical from the 60-watt service to a 200-amp panel. This allowed us to have two heat pumps installed in our sanctuary, an electric heater (for insurance requirements), blow-in insulation in the church attic, a heater in our bathroom, and a heater in the foyer. 

"Once the work began our ladies group began working diligently to ensure we had the funds to meet our portion of the agreement. Through crafts and good sales we were able to achieve our goal. The energy this created in our church body was and is quite moving. 

"Through donations of church members, we installed two ceiling fans, and a small hot water on-demand system in our bathroom - no more cold hands! We also replaced the incandescent bulbs with all new LED lights, new electrical plugs, and new light switches.  

"The greatest sight to see was Mother’s Day when our church held our first service in the newly upgraded building. The heat pumps worked better than we could ever have imagined. It was so much nicer than the oil heat we had become accustomed to. 

"Knowing we are no longer dependent on oil as our primary heat source, and knowing we are making a difference in the world, even if it is a small one, is a true relief for us all. 

"From here, we will continue to upgrade our church as our attention turns to our building's basement. There is work there to be done as the basement is a crawl space and it requires some upgrades to continue making a difference to our heating costs. 

"As a direct result of this grant program, we will continue making a difference in our community and will be a shining example of the direct impact Faithful Footprints have made in our church lives and church family. 

With a grateful heart, 

Congregation of John Wesley United Church"

[Photo credits Della DeMoss & Eric Kinden. Drone shot photo credit Eric Kinden]

More than 70 people came together at the Captain William Spry Community Centre in Spryfield for the report's launch. The event kicked off with three speakers who all work at the frontlines of energy poverty and housing sharing their personal experiences with energy poverty and speaking to the escalation of the crisis in recent years.

Brian Gifford, chair of the Energy Poverty Tasked Force (which commissioned the report) then spoke to the social conditions and events that led to the formation of the Task Force and A Way Forward. Gifford presented some of the key findings of the report that showed how major fly-ups in fuel-oil prices, consistently low incomes in rural communities, and a lack of coordination between supports has contributed to such high rates of energy poverty for both low and moderate-income Nova Scotians.

Colton’s recommendations detailed a 4-pronged universal service program that would offer four key components:

1) a 50% reduction in energy bills for low-income households;

2) an arrears forgiveness program to alleviate energy debt;

3) improved crisis support funding; and

4) continued energy efficiency and home-retrofit programming targeted to low-income households.  

The question period was equally sharp and thoughtful, digging into Nova Scotia’s policy landscape as well as the everyday realities and barriers faced by those struggling with their energy bills. As an organizer, to see such a high level of audience engagement was all I could ask for.

There is still a lot of work to be done, but having so many people from so many different disciplines come together with the general consensus that a serious shift in our approach to energy poverty has been really encouraging.  

Energy poverty is only one of many injustices that need to be addressed in a just transition. It’s my hope that this report contributes to the foundation of work being done to shift how we think about energy and continue to push decision makers towards energy policy that centres the needs of Nova Scotians and our environment.  

To act on energy poverty, visit our campaign page for tips and tools to call Premier Houston and your MLA. A Way Forward and additional resources on energy poverty can be found here. 

Energy audits are on a first come, first served basis. Within the program's capacity our goal is to accommodate a diversity of faiths and geographic locations across the province. 

Create a more comfortable space for faith members and the community while reducing overhead costs and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Participants receive a detailed energy report with recommendations & customized advice qualifying them to apply for Efficiency Nova Scotia rebates. 

Sign up now at https://ecologyaction.ca/form/energy-audits.

You can now read the full report at Energy Transition Deep Canvassing Pilot: Project Report. 

To navigate these difficult conversations, a deep canvasser does not need to be well-versed in the topic itself. Instead, they must develop the skills to investigate the deep-rooted reasons and conflicts people have over the subject. This is achieved through active listening and story sharing, deploying many well-proven communication strategies.  

Even if you do not plan to deep canvass anytime soon, learning the skills required can help all of us become more effective listeners and communicators. 

Building Rapport 

Having a good first interaction with someone is essential for building a connection. By being friendly, and actively listening, we can lay the foundations to creating an open and comfortable space for sharing.  

To do this, deep canvassers express genuine interest and curiosity in what a person is saying, observe details and make connections, share relatable stories when appropriate, discuss topics that the person may be familiar with, and reflect the persons tone and energy. 
 
Rapport-building questions can include: 

"What do you like about living here?"  
“How do you like to spend time outside?” 

Sharing Stories 

A long time ago, a famous detective character used to say, “Just the facts.” He was determined to get at the truth (and find out whodunnit).  
 
And in real life, it is also important to learn the facts. But the reality is humans make sense of the world through story. Story incorporates the many different truths we know into something comprehensive. 

Sharing stories, as opposed to only listing facts, is essential in deep canvassing. Facts alone (especially when argued back and forth) do not effectively move people.  

Stories allow for genuine human emotion and allow tellers and listeners to connect them to their own experiences. This connection aids in illustrating how working towards a specific cause, such as building a greener world, can benefit individuals, their families, and their communities. That can motivate, inspire, entertain, build commitment, and emotionally connect a person—sometimes all in one story! 

In deep canvassing work, stories should be based entirely on lived experience, without listing facts, or making explicit arguments. It is important to offer our own vulnerable and emotional stories to create a safe place to share openly.  

Sharing our stories opens the door for others to do the same. When they do, we can better understand the emotion and deep-rooted issues that matter to another person.  

In the context of climate work, we use climate-change stories to break down barriers and communicate the risks we personally face. Once we show our own vulnerability, people most often reciprocate by doing the same.  

In sharing our stories, we try to use vivid descriptions that allow the listener to visualize. We paint a picture of a lived experience, and how it affected or changed us, allowing the listener to experience what we have.  

It is important to clearly state how these experiences made us feel, and explain the reason for the emotion, why we felt the way we did.  

Active Listening and Compassionate Curiosity 

We use a "Cone of Curiosity" to elicit other people’s stories. We listen very carefully for any hint of a story, and when we hear it, we ask open-ended 5W questions:  

When was this?  
Where?  
Who was there?  
How did that come about?  
Then what happened?  
Why do think that was?   

This way, we can dig deeper into the emotional core of their story with further questions: How did that make you feel? And, Why did you feel that way? 

It is important to never assume we already know this. These questions allow us, and them, to process how and why they felt the way they did during the events of their story.  
 
Steering the Conversation 

It is hard when talking to someone with a differing opinion to avoid countering with fact-sharing. However, doing so can damage the trust you have built.  

We use the Affirm, Answer, Redirect (AAR) method to steer the conversation back to lived experiences and stories:  

• Affirm: We show we’re listening and acknowledge the person's concerns without necessarily agreeing. We say things like, “I hear you,” or we simply nod. 

• Answer: We address what the person is saying, setting the stage for redirection: “For me, I have experienced….” This is a good place to share a related and impactful story.  

• Redirect: We guide the conversation back to the purpose of deep canvassing by asking further open-ended questions about the person’s story or experience with the topic.  

Sometimes we interrupt and redirect the conversation back to the topic. Known as an “Honorable Interruption,” this is an important way to keep on topic by asking follow-up questions to something said earlier.    

Having these personal conversations and sharing vulnerable moments with strangers is hard emotional work. We try to check in with ourselves and our colleagues as we go.  

For more information about deep canvassing, and free online workshops, visit https://deepcanvass.org.  

Deep canvassing builds on important communication strategies that humans have used since the beginning: Storytelling, listening, and relationship building.  

A genesis occurred in California in 2008. With Proposition 8, 52 percent of Californians voted to eliminate the right to marry for same-sex couples. Organizers across the United States were struggling to grasp at why. Especially since surveys showed a majority of 60 percent support for marriage equality prior to the release of the proposition. 

Astonished as to why so many people voted for the devastating proposition, activists and organizers at the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s political advocacy division, Leadership Lab rallied a group to go door to door. Their goal was to speak with those who had voted for the proposition and to understand the reasons behind it.  

Instead of seeking out likeminded people, delivering a message using a script, and promoting quick and concise message delivery, they instead invoked active listening, compassionate curiosity, and reasoning. Organizers at Leadership Lab quickly came to observe the impact meaningful conversations could have on those who were conflicted. Working with canvassers and studying the recordings, they began formulating a structured-conversation approach that would become deep canvassing.  

It is important to know that decisions are not primarily made using logic or facts. More often they are the results of our emotions.  

Many studies have supported this finding. Antonio Damasio of the Department of Neurology at University of Iowa College of Medicine studied people with damaged ventromedial prefrontal cortexes. This is the part of the brain that regulates our responses to emotions. He found that people with this injury were impaired when it came to making even the simplest of everyday decisions. They needed emotional regulation to decide things.     

The Study of Deep Canvassing  

One of the earliest studies on deep canvassing was completed by University of California graduate student Michael LaCour and Professor Donald Green in 2014, engaging people with gay or straight canvassers to talk about same-sex marriage rights. The study showed that while canvassers who were part of the LGBTQ+ community made a longer lasting influence, all canvassers had some form of lasting impression. Additionally, there was evidence to suggest that this influence and change of opinion could spread to others in the participants’ household-and-social networks.  

A few years later, David Brockman and Joshua Kalla at University of California investigated the effects of deep canvassing by conducting in-person, phone, and video canvassing. Aside from confirming the effectiveness and impact deep canvassing can have on voters, they also came to find that the tactic is widely applicable, and can even be effective for average people in everyday conversations. The study concluded that although highly effective, this is a difficult tactic to implement, requiring large amounts of time and commitment to properly train and support canvassers. 

Many more organizations have since used the concept to help battle polarization and discrimination of marginalized people throughout the United States, igniting deeper understanding, acceptance, and justice-seeking.  

Deep Canvassing Leads to 100 Percent Renewables in Trail, BC 

In the late 2010s, the West Kootenay Ecosociety was working to develop campaigns and rally public support in communities in British Columbia for their municipal governments to declare a renewable energy transition goal by 2050. By rallying like-minded people together, using traditional community organization and mobilization tactics, the group was able to successfully push communities to declare this target. However, when they began work in the town of Trail, they quickly found themselves struggling to find people to rally and support their goal.   

 
Trail, British Columbia is a town of 8,000 people situated on the banks of the Columbia River. It is popular among outdoor enthusiasts for its spectacular access to the surrounding environment. A large proportion of its residents rely directly or indirectly on employment from Cominco’s Lead-Zinc Smelter, one of the largest lead-zinc smelters in the world.  

Residents were found to be closely connected to the operation, which many families had relied on for decades, as a source of income. Despite the smelter’s long legacy of negative environmental impacts, when the West Kootenay Ecosociety began campaigning they were not able to rally the number of people to take action as they needed.   

Thinking of new ways to build support, the organization turned to the deep canvassing work being completed in the United States. They soon found themselves partnering with organizations such as the New Conversation Initiative, Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the Montana Engagement Partnership, which had just completed a deep-canvassing project for conservation efforts.  

West Kootenay Ecosociety had ideal conditions for deploying deep canvassing: A relatively small town, citizens who had witnessed the damaging effects of climate change and pollution, yet a conflict due to a community identity built around an industry that pollutes and contributes significantly to climate change.  

 
Over the following year and half, the group worked tirelessly to adapt a deep-canvassing script for climate action and the unique characteristics of Trail. After 60 iterations, their script achieved a persuasion rate of 42 percent. With the help of 85 staff and volunteers, the group successfully engaged in nearly 1,200 conversations through in-person and phone canvassing.  

Moreover, they convinced more than 500 people to sign a petition of the municipal government to declare a 100 percent renewable energy target by 2050. In April 2022, city council unanimously passed that goal as policy.  

The project was the first deep-canvassing program in Canada and the first in the world to address issues related to climate and energy. The organization that led this deep-canvassing project now goes by the name Neighbours United and continues to work on deep-canvassing projects across Canada, helping other organizations successfully implement their own deep-canvassing projects.   
 
The idea has inspired the Ecology Action Centre to pilot their own project around building support for renewable energy with the goal of assessing and learning the process so that it may be used for future campaigns in the organization.

Our aim was to better understand people’s concerns and barriers about the transition to 100 percent clean electricity, while also learning the deep canvassing process, so we can use it effectively in future campaigns.  

The project involved research, consultations, training staff and volunteers, and script development. The first in-person canvassing happened in Stellarton in March. In June, we shifted our focus to Eastern Passage for the summer. To make the project accessible to more volunteers, phone canvassing was introduced in August using a platform called CallHub. We followed with a second round of recruitment and an updated training program. Canvassing continued in October before finally concluding in early December. 

The goal of these in-depth conversations was to prompt individuals to acknowledge and reassess their hidden biases and assumptions on a specific subject, thereby enabling them to become more receptive to alternative viewpoints, achieving greater understanding of the complexities of the issue. We also aim to foster empathy, respect, and comprehension, while addressing vital community issues. By cultivating these robust connections, we can inspire positive change and collaborate toward a more sustainable and harmonious future. 

Our staff and volunteers learned a ton from the deep canvassing experience. First, deep canvassing is an effective and impactful tool, a meaningful way to address people’s conflicts over political, social justice, and environmental issues. Building on communication tactics, scientific research, and a wide variety of trial projects, deep canvassing can be an instrumental part of future campaigns and community work.   

Deep canvassing is also time and resource intensive. Our project team recommended that deep canvassing should not be the first tactic used in a campaign and instead be deployed when the correct conditions are met. This view is shared by other organizations that have completed deep canvassing campaigns and arises from the large amounts of time, capital, and resources needed for such a project.   

Deep canvassing is growing in popularity among campaigners in the last five years. This growth has caused an explosion in research data and our shared understanding of the topics under discussion. As a result, campaigners are adapting this tool to use for more and more issues. These results are reason for hope. 

People want change and fear what will happen if society doesn’t make that change. Our project team was pleasantly surprised by how often we came across people who shared our concern for the future impacts of climate change, and our sense of the urgency that government take action to reduce Nova Scotia’s greenhouse gas emissions. This provided us all with hope that collective change is coming!  

There is a future for deep canvassing at the Ecology Action Centre. Because deep canvassing is based in sharing lived experiences through storytelling and active listening, you do not need to be an expert in a particular issue to be able to build support for it through deep canvassing. Deep canvassing is highly adaptable and can be deployed across multiple disciplines.  

Through the deep canvassing experience, we learned many valuable lessons around how people viewed climate change and the renewable energy transition. Even more so, we learned valuable lessons about the process of deep canvassing itself, and how it can be adapted to Nova Scotia and for future campaigns.  

These lessons in community engagement and climate change communications will help guide our work with the public and us to better address climate and energy issues.  

Participation was broad and diverse, and included representatives from several Catholic churches, the Ummah Mosque, Development and Peace—Caritas Canada, the Universalist Unitarian Church of Halifax, several United churches, the Shambhala Centre, Touching the Earth Collective, a Jewish Rabbi, KAIROS Halifax, and the United Eco-Justice Group. 

“It is very exciting," said Jim Abraham of the interfaith event. Abraham is a Catholic meteorologist who sits on both the Good Shepherd Pastoral Council and the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society’s Multifaith Project. 

"[It's very positive] to have the opportunity for a number of Faiths and or Spiritual organizations to work together on priority environmental initiatives that are aligned with all of our beliefs and responsibilities to care for our common home."

Excitement was the vibe in the room, in part because many were new to Halifax's Hindu Temple, which has been in pace for five decades. Mrs. Raj Verma, Chairperson of the Vedanta Ashram Society, welcomed the group to the space, and gave a brief history of the building and organization. She noted that the coalition's goals were also the temple's goals, including sustainability and accepting everybody.

Lunch was catered by a friend of the community, a delicious South Indian vegetarian biryani. At each of these gatherings those in attendance have agreed on the importance of breaking bread together to build community among one another.

The day consisted of large and small-group discussions, during which some decisions were made as to the name and structure of the group. It will meet three times per year, work to establish shared positions on environmental policy matters, share resources on greenhouse gas reduction initiatives (for example, installing electric vehicle charging stations in faith building parking lots), as well as working to educate the public on the importance of environmentally responsible behaviour.

“My personal highlight of the gathering was hearing the passion the group expressed for taking action on important issues,” said Hannah Minzloff, an Energy Efficiency Coordinator for Ecology Action Centre. “In our small group discussion, we quickly landed on the one topic everyone agreed was most important to act on immediately: the Nova Scotia Government scrapping the Coastal Protection Act.”

Minzloff also presented on Ecology Action Centre's new work with Clean Foundation, Faith & the Common Good, and Efficiency Nova Scotia to provide free energy audits for faith buildings across Nova Scotia. This program is made possible by generous financial support from the Low Carbon Communities fund. 

“It was amazing to see a small disparate group of folks come together from different faiths, traditions and spiritual expressions," said Stephen Law, who facilitated the group discussion, "to commit to taking action in Nova Scotia on climate change and responding to the climate crisis of our times.”

Our journey on the way to having a more sustainable future for our church began at our annual meeting in June 2022. We had been out of our physical building since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. The majority of our services had been held online although, beginning at Christmas 2021, we had begun to worship in our local firehall. It was proposed at our annual meeting that we give up our physical building and continue to worship in the firehall.

Moving to the firehall would have been an easy solution in many ways; however, what would we then do with our existing building? Selling it did not seem likely considering the economically depressed area in which we are situated. Leaving it to stand empty seemed like no solution at all.

The regional representative for our congregation had heard of the Faithful Footprints grant and explained it to the congregation at the meeting. After much discussion, it was agreed we would apply for the grant and use the money to buy heat pumps so we would no longer have to rely on oil.

​We received a large donation from a member of our congregation that enabled us to begin the work with no delay. We did no extra fundraising for this project.

The result of our upgrades has been quite wonderful. We are no longer constantly fundraising to pay the oil bill. We have a warm building for our meetings and rehearsals. We have been able to host dinners, including a Christmas dinner for the international students. 

The heat pumps were installed early in January 2023. We have completed the information for our annual report, and are very pleased to report that in  2023, with heat pumps, we spent about $5,400 LESS than the year before for overall heating costs. 

These savings will allow us to purchase an industrial dishwasher for our kitchen, allowing us to do more outreach for our community, like the Christmas dinner we hosted for International Students, as mentioned above. The students never had a Turkey meal before attending this event. 

One of our plans for the future is to install solar panels. Our area is very prone to hurricanes and our town currently has no warming centre. We would like to be able to offer hot food and a place to stay if we are without power for an extended period.

SCANS has completed their final workshops in their course on Energy Efficiency for Active Citizens. The series introduced energy efficiency as a key element of climate action and the clean energy transition.

The fourth installment of the SCANS workshop series featured a captivating presentation on GBC Zero Carbon Building Standards by William Marshall, a Professional Engineer with expertise in process and project management within commercial, residential, and industrial sectors.

William has been a driving force in the design and implementation of sustainable buildings, energy efficiency initiatives, and high-performance mechanical systems. His valuable experience includes serving as the Environmental Manager for Michelin North America and as the lead Faculty in the Nova Scotia Community College's Energy Sustainability Engineering Technology Program (ESET). Currently, Marshall is an active faculty member with both the Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET) and the Canada Green Building Council (CAGBC).

During the presentation, Marshall delved into the intricacies of GBC Zero Carbon Building Standards. Representatives from Clean Foundation's Next Ride program also joined the session to give a 101 on Electric Vehicles, and even came prepared with a Chevy Bolt for people to test drive.

The fifth and final seminar featured Kevin Boutilier, Manager of Community Energy with the Halifax Regional Municipality. Kevin’s journey in the renewable energy industry began in 2013 when he received his Bachelor of Engineering degree. Over the years, he became involved with solar energy system design, feasibility, installation, and operation. In his current role, Boutilier oversees the successful delivery of the Solar City program, a new Retrofit Pilot program, and the Municipal Electric Vehicle Strategy.

At the heart of his responsibilities is his technical support in implementating HalifACT, the Halifax Regional Municipality’s ambitious climate action plan. HalifACT aims to reduce community-wide emissions by 75% over 2016 levels, be fully net-zero by 2050, and achieve net-zero municipal operations (e.g. community centres, fire stations, transit.) by 2030.

The success of this seminar series underscores the Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia's commitment to fostering a culture of continuous learning and promoting sustainable practices. As SCANS continues to organize workshops and seminars, it remains a pillar of educational excellence for seniors in Nova Scotia, empowering them to navigate the complexities of our ever-evolving community.

Watch William Marshall's presentation on Zero Carbon Building Standards:

Watch Kevin Boutilier's presentation on HalifACT:

Molly Foster is a Building Efficiency Intern for Ecology Action Centre's Energy & Climate team.

During the latest SCANS session on energy efficiency, Chris Benjamin, Energy Coordinator for the Ecology Action Centre, talked about recent changes to Nova Scotia building codes and why they matter when it comes to securing long-term energy efficiency. He also covered the meaning of Net-Zero Energy Ready construction and how this new building standard could influence individual homeowners.

In addition, guest presenters Adam Read and Connor Wallace from Zzap Architecture and Planning delved into HRM’s planning policies and discussed the regulations and challenges when designing energy-efficient buildings.

For those who are interested in learning more, a recording is available on the official SCANS YouTube channel. Watch the video below.

Astrid Zhang is a Volunteer with Ecology Action Centre’s Energy & Climate team.

The Interfaith Roundtable Discussion on Climate Change aimed to create an inclusive platform for individuals of diverse faith backgrounds to engage in meaningful discussions about climate action, build connections, and inspire collective efforts to address the pressing issue of climate change.

The event began with a prayer from Elder Albert Marshall, reminding attendees of the deep connection between land and faith. He emphasized the power of faith in driving positive change and motivating people to care for the Earth. Attendees later participated in a guided tour of the land around the Tatamagouche Centre, encouraging participants to connect with the beauty of the natural world and reflect on the importance of preserving it.

The theme of interconnectedness continued throughout the day, as participants discussed how their respective communities were already working to combat climate change, and shared stories of how their beliefs inspired them to become environmental stewards. Through a combination of small group sessions and larger roundtable discussions, the event allowed for open and honest conversations about the challenges that each community faced, and offered space to contemplate solutions together.

Recognizing that their collective efforts could lead to a more significant impact, the event concluded with the formation of a network of faith leaders. This Interfaith Coalition for Climate Change is actively seeking the participation of more faith leaders who share their commitment to protecting the environment. For more information on how to join, please email molly.foster@ecologyaction.ca.

The Interfaith Roundtable Discussion on climate change was a remarkable event that showcased the unifying power of faith and spirituality in the face of environmental challenges. By bringing together people of different faiths, this gathering set the stage for a cooperative and compassionate approach to fighting climate change. As the Interfaith Coalition for Climate Change grows and takes shape, it offers a glimpse of a future where faith communities join forces to support climate action initiatives.

Molly Foster is a Building Efficiency Intern with Ecology Action Centre's Energy & Climate team. 

On October 27th, the Seniors College Association of Nova Scotia hosted the second seminar in their weekly course on Energy Efficiency for Active Citizens. Led by expert speakers, these classes introduce energy efficiency as a key element of climate action and offer insight on the clean energy transition.

In last week's seminar, guest speaker, Barry Walker, talked about where Nova Scotian energy comes from and how our energy landscape is changing. He also highlighted various Efficiency NS programs and rebates available to home and business owners. This information not only benefits seniors, but also contributes to the broader goal of forging a more sustainable and energy-efficient Nova Scotia.

Growing up near Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Barry began his education at Acadia University in the Faculty of Science and Engineering, graduating in 1977, subsequently attending the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute and graduating in 1979. Barry's energy career began in 1980 at the Nova Scotia Power Commission, where he worked as an Energy Advisor. In 1982, he joined Efficiency Nova Scotia as a Public Outreach and Education Coordinator, working his way to his current position as Manager of Business Development for the Residential Sector. Barry also served with the Canadian Armed Forces from 1982 until his retirement in 2015.

For those keen on learning about potential energy savings, a recording of Barry's talk is available on the official SCANS YouTube channel. Watch the video below.

Molly Foster is a Building Efficiency Intern with Ecology Action Centre's Energy & Climate team. 

On October 10th, the Ecology Action Centre and SCANS partnered to develop an energy efficiency workshop for seniors. The event attracted an impressive turnout, with 110 attendees participating both in-person and online.

Presenters covered various topics, from understanding the energy landscape to navigating potential savings and rebates, and shedding light on the challenges builders face when striving for better energy efficiency.

For those who missed the seminar or wish to revisit the insightful discussions, a recording is available on the official SCANS YouTube channel. Watch the video below.

SCANS is a community-driven organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for seniors. They believe in lifelong learning, personal growth, and community engagement. This event was funded with the help of Efficiency Nova Scotia, an organization committed to helping Nova Scotians save energy, money, and the environment.

As we navigate an ever-changing energy landscape, events like this are crucial in paving the way for a more sustainable future. We applaud SCANS for their commitment to seniors' education and thank Efficiency Nova Scotia for their support in making the event possible.

Molly Foster is a Building Efficiency Intern with Ecology Action Centre's Energy & Climate team. 

Industry experts were on hand to demystify Electric Vehicle (EV) technology and answer questions from members of the public. This proved to be an informative experience for all attendees. 

For those who've been contemplating  switching to an electric vehicle, Electric Avenue offered the perfect opportunity to learn more. Diverse EVs, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Mazda MX-30, Tesla and even e-bikes, were on display and available for free test drives. Attendees had the chance to experience the quiet power and eco-friendliness of electric transportation firsthand.

Nearly 250 people participated in more than 200 test drives, including current EV owners, prospective buyers, and skeptics, all discovering the allure of electric mobility. I was there too, talking about EAC's electric school bus initiative. I spoke with parents and the public, rallying support for this crucial initiative to replace old diesel, gasoline and propane-fueled school buses with electric, highlighting the importance of sustainable transportation not only for today but for future generations.

Electric Avenue 2023 left attendees charged with enthusiasm for electric vehicles, showcasing the potential for a sustainable driving future in Atlantic Canada.

Nikita Popli is a Community Engagement Officer with Ecology Action Centre's Energy & Climate team. 

The Ecology Action Centre and Nova Scotia Community College International partnered to hold four Green Jobs for All program sessions in 2022 and 2023. These gatherings of employers and job seekers from around the worl provided valuable information and supports.  

As an international student myself, my primary aspiration at these events was to connect with individuals who were also navigating the green sector. Students engaged in small group discussions, sharing their observations and experiences in job seeking with peers facing similar challenges. These interactions provided insights and brought the community closer together. 

The gatherings attracted a diverse group. Attendees included business students ready to explore green sector. We learned that green jobs focus on any work contributing to sustainability and equality, making it rich in opportunities across various fields. 

Participants told stories of experiencing biased hiring practices they felt prevent newcomers from reaching their full potential in Canada. Structural and systematic changes promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities are needed.  

Students found solace in having their barriers acknowledged by influential organizations, and peers validating their struggles. The sense of understanding and acceptance eased the anxiety of participants.  

The impact of these workshops was evident in the follow-up survey results, which I compiled as an intern with Ecology Action Centre, via Dalhousie University. Most attendees recognized the essential role networking plays in the green sector.  

They also recognized the importance of gaining insights from people already working in the environmental sector. For example, someone noted at Session 2 in February that the green sector is undeniably fast paced. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, they emphasized the importance of maintaining a realistic outlook and focusing on achievable goals. A positive mentality goes a long way. This is sound advice for those approaching environmental work in Nova Scotia for the first time. 

Another takeaway from the discussions is the significance of not being intimidated by hiring criteria. Candidates often disqualify themselves before applying for a position, feeling they don’t have a chance. But the reality is that there is rarely a perfect candidate for a job, and the key is to show how your skills will enable you to provide value to the organization in a given role.  

As we look towards the future, experiences of event like Green Jobs for All can help shape an inclusive and sustainable workforce in Nova Scotia. By connecting with like-minded individuals and discovering valuable resources and mentorship, we can take meaningful steps toward a greener future.  

Astrid Zhang is a recent Environmental Science graduate from Dalhousie University, and an energy efficiency intern at Ecology Action Centre. 

“[There are] countless challenges for a newcomer, including language skills, understanding policies, projects, and [various people involved with the] green transition” says David Neira, a newcomer and an energy coordinator at Ecology Action Centre.  

Nova Scotia, as a province with a significant immigrant workforce, needs new principles and policies to guide us through an inclusive transition. This is the conclusion of the Ecology Action Centre’s Green Jobs for All program, launched in 2021 by Noreen Mabiza, a newcomer from Zimbabwe herself, who now works for the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change.  

The first Green Jobs event for Nova Scotia Community College international students was held online in February of 2022, and it was followed by three well-attended events at Ivany Campus in 2023. The project identified considerable barriers faced by newcomers, offered support in the form of information, networking opportunities, and guidance.  

The goal of these events was to work toward a more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable workforce where no one is left behind. A key learning has been how essential collaboration is in the green transition, bringing individuals together with diverse insights on the challenges we face.  

Neira says that the ‘green sector’ is fast paced and can easily overwhelm even the most experienced professionals. “But newcomers can be overcome this by attending events, researching on resources, and inquiring about supports from institutions.” 

Environmental employers (including nonprofits, government departments, and private companies) have a crucial part to play in accommodating and supporting newcomers as their need for workers grows. That means proactively equipping job seekers with knowledge about their work, thus cultivating a skilled workforce, and introducing more accessibility to opportunities and training programs. 

“Offering good benefits is also essential,” Neira adds. “Green employers must evolve to find the best ways. EAC offers the 4-day work week for example.” Creating a better work-life balance for employees, so they can do the difficult work of changing the world with energy and joy, also creates a more mutually supportive environmental community. 

Employers in the green sector also face their own barriers when it comes to integrating newcomers from diverse backgrounds. It’s important for employers to build inclusive hiring practices, recognize skills (acquired locally or outside Canada), and create supportive working environments.  

It’s also important to foster co-supports and collaboration among newcomers. Haruka Aoyama, a newcomer and clean energy strategist working for the province, took the initiative to create a LinkedIn group where newcomers in Nova Scotia can connect and share valuable resources and opportunities.  

This resource encourages newcomers to seek help from those immigrants who have more experience in navigating barriers and job-hunting challenges. By networking and advocating, newcomers have a more powerful voice for policy changes with provincial and federal governments.  

Astrid Zhang is a recent Environmental Science graduate from Dalhousie University, and an energy efficiency intern at Ecology Action Centre. 

The new Mi'kmaq Centre for Healing and Resilience serves as an example of how we can prioritize intersectional sustainability to build safe spaces for our communities. Indigenous consultation, landscape design and green architecture all play a role in making it happen. Zabrina Whitman is the founder of Young Soaring Eagle Consulting and works with Jordan Willet of Solterre Design and Sue Sirrs of Outside! Landscape Architects to provide an overview of the new centre and explain the values that drive the initiative. The concept of Netukulimk is unpacked and presenters showcase how the centre goes beyond sustainability to deliver valuable services to its visitors. 

To find out more about upcoming webinars and view past presentations, visit the Better Buildings Speaker Series webpage, and subscribe to the Culture of Efficiency Newsletter to get notified about upcoming events.

The Better Buildings Speaker Series is sponsored by Efficiency Nova Scotia.

Prominent attendees at our Electric School Bus showcase included provincial and municipal decision makers, transportation managers from various school boards, and eager drivers who got the opportunity to take these eco-friendly buses for a test drive. The unanimous consensus was that the electric school buses were not only quiet, but also remarkably comfortable to ride in.

The star of the show was a Lion Electric Type C Electric School Bus brought all the way from Prince Edward Island, a province which already boasts an impressive fleet of 82 ESBs. Attendees had a chance to inspect the bus's battery and engage in insightful discussions regarding charging, operations, and maintenance. It was heartening to witness the enthusiasm of the drivers, who expressed a strong desire to operate these buses if they were deployed in the province.

This showcase not only shed light on the untapped potential of electric school buses but also provided valuable insights to decision-makers and transportation managers. The event served as a significant stepping stone towards creating a greener and more sustainable future for the students and communities of Nova Scotia.

Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of electrifying school transportation in our region!

The event provided a forum to unpack climate anxieties, connect and empower parents concerned about a changing climate and discuss where parents could have the biggest impact. Participants had the opportunity to enjoy snack and a free meal, with access to childcare provided by a registered nurse (RN). Local organizer Darius Mirshahi helped to facilitate, drawing out key insights on how to take action in conversation with 16 participants.  

Regular meetings of this group will continue, with additional support provided by For Our Kids. Those interested in participating in monthly meetings should reach out to Sakura at sakura.saunders@gmail.com 

This is something that can be done, and that Canada must do to meet its climate commitments, do its fair share to reduce emissions and remain competitive in a decarbonizing world. Global leaders are calling on all developing countries to make and stick to this commitment. 

 We had a fun rally. There were great chants, posters, and empowering speeches. However, there were also sombre moments, such as the spoken-word poem delivered by Olivia Onuk, an Ottawa-based artist and storyteller.  
 
The Ecology Action Centre, together with eight other organizations, supported 40,000 Canadians in sending letters to Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault showing their support for the Clean Electricity Recommendation. Minister Guilbeault addressed the crowd, highlighting the government’s commitment to getting to net-zero in the electricity sector by 2035.  
 
"We committed during last election campaign to have a carbon-neutral grid by 2035 because it is the backbone of fighting climate change in Canada,” he said. "If you want to decarbonize the transportation sector, if you want to decarbonize our buildings, if you want to decarbonize our industry it has to start with electricity!”  
 
Guilbeault was excited to receive the letters from across Canada, including many from Nova Scotians.  The Minister came directly from a press conference about wildfires, which were burning across Canada, already the worst wildfire season Canada has ever seen in only the first week of June.

I arrived from Halifax the day before, where the wildfire smoke had finally started to lift. In Ottawa the streetlights came on at noon because the sky was so hazy.  
 
Now is the time to put strong climate policies like the Clean Electricity Regulation in place. There is no time left to waste. This regulation can send a strong and lasting signal to phase out coal and gas on our electricity grids, transitioning to clean, affordable and reliable electricity for all.  
 
The Clean Electricity Regulation will be tabled within months. It is important to let your representatives know you support a strong Clean Electricity Regulation as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for further opportunities throughout this summer to take action!  

​
Alexander Sandy MacKay is the chair of trustees for Breadelbane Central Trinity United Church, which is located in an agrarian community of 170 souls in central Prince Edward Island. A very small community in Canada’s smallest province, Breadelbane and its United Church have a long history together.

“The church has been there over a hundred years,” MacKay says.

It is not only a place of worship. Central Trinity hosts a number of community groups, including the 4H Club. It is home to a soup kitchen. And it regularly hosts gatherings and other events.

One might assume a church as old as that might be set in its ways, but MacKay says the tradition here is progressive, meaning as farmers they understand that their own survival—feeding their families—is linked to that of “Mother Earth.”

And in the case of an old church building, that meant decarbonizing. It all made perfect sense and was an easy sell, as it turned out.

The work started, as it often does, with a bad oil furnace needing replaced.

"As a person who has converted to solar and electric heat pumps, I was eager to help move our church to becoming carbon neutral," he says. Through word of mouth, via Bedeque United Church twenty minutes west, MacKay learned about the Faithful Footprints program. He filled out some paperwork, talked to staff, and went to his congregation with a proposal and some options.

“Either spend $10,000 and still be on oil; or spend $10,000 and be carbon neutral.”

Easy decision, especially if Faithful Footprints could help, which it could if Central Trinity could find matching funding.

That matching funding was made easy too, thanks to PEI’s new Heat Pump Initiative, via the Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action and the Department of Fisheries, Tourism, Sport and Culture. It is part of the province’s Net Zero Initiative and provides places of worship that host community events with free heat-pump installation up to a value of $20,000. 

“The initiative started with residential buildings,” says Derek Ellis, who is the director of sustainability with PEI’s Environment, Energy and Climate Action Department. “Community centres and communities told us they also needed support, and less than a year later we extended the program to revitalize rural community centres, including faith buildings.”  

That extension included a ramping up of sorts, recognizing that larger heat pumps and more financial support are needed for larger spaces.

“Clients can still do structural upgrades outside of that, which leaves room for envelope upgrades. This is part of our rural community revitalization program.” It recognizes that, just like Central Trinity, faith buildings on PEI are hubs of activity for many rural areas—they are heartbeats of community life.

Ellis says his department has tried to keep the process as straightforward as possible. There is an application form requiring basic information. An energy audit is encouraged, but not required. He says this program is a result of “strong political will” to move the province to net zero.

“Our minister, Steven Myers, travelled to Samsø, which is a net- zero island of 1,500 people in Denmark, much smaller than us. After that, I think he had a renewed confidence in our ability to get to that point. And Prince Edward Islanders understand the impact of climate change, we see the impact happening here. We saw it with Hurricane Fiona, for example.”

For program end users like Alexander Sandy MacKay of Central Trinity, that means more focus on creating a good plan for their old church building, with technical assistance from experts. Central Trinity decided to replace old lighting with high-efficiency LED, install a new commercial fan (which makes for more efficient climate control in all seasons), new EnerStar appliances, motion-sensor lights, a new hot water heater, and a new heat pump in the basement.

The total cost of the retrofit project was $60,000. Most of that is be covered by the provincial grant and Faithful Footprints funding.

"The impacts are easy to see," MacKay says. "We no longer have to worry about oil prices." 

The heat pumps are connected to wifi. That means he also saves gas driving to and from the church to warm it up for community groups.

But Central Trinity isn’t finished yet. They are soon to sign a contract for solar panel installation, which they hope will eliminate the electrical bill altogether. 

MacKay encourages other congregations to follow their Faithful Footprints path. He says that “many people in our congregation have already switched to heat pumps” as a result of the work done. “They see the benefits.”

Chris Benjamin: This book is poetic, beautiful and powerful. Can you tell me a bit about how it came to be? 

Elder Albert Marshall: Apparently this is the reason why it was written: How much Aboriginal students have been disconnected from nature. How much we are connected with nature. How much we are dependent on nature. Without that connection, you can’t feel something for it.  

Hopefully this book will make that connection at a younger age. We have a lot of land-based training in the curriculum; this will be an introduction. Showing not just appreciation, respect, but protection of nature. Looking at the current state of our environment, in which cleansing capacity has been exhausted. Nature needs humans now for some form of intervention, using science to mitigate the damage. 

At that tender age, how young Aboriginal people learn, you’re much more interested in visuals rather than text. The book has limited text. That allows for visual storytelling. Children are great at extracting story from visuals. And Aboriginal people tend to be visual learners. 

I hope this will trigger something in them. 

Benjamin: Can you talk a bit about Two-Eyed Seeing and this book for children? 

Elder Marshall: The reason the phrase Two-Eyed Seeing was coined is that every creature has two eyes. I see everything from an Aboriginal lens. My culture and customs. With that perception, I know I was never meant to be alone. Two-Eyed Seeing enriches perspective. Now I have another perspective. This is a much more whole-istic way—whole as in w-h-o-l-e.  

One eye limits what we see. Geographically, wherever we may be, we may become intimately connected with the environment. But it’s a global issue. The more connected we become, the better chance we have.  

Benjamin: Ecology Action Centre has been working with Faith and the Common Good, connecting people from different faiths who want to act to protect the environment. People often seem motived by their sense of spiritual love, or even obligation. It seems the ways Indigenous people experience spirituality can be quite different from settlers. Do you have any thoughts on how spirituality relates to Two-Eyed Seeing? 

Elder Marshall: As a Mi’kmaq person, before I feel completely well, my physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual realms all must be well. The spiritual connection has to be there.  

If you are not fulfilling your inherent responsibilities, Great Creator gave us a cognitive mind. If we compromise ecological integrity, we can use the cognitive mind to repair it. We solely depend on Her. Our efforts should benefit all. If she’s not healthy, how can we be?  
 
Netukulimk, in Mi’kmaw. Sustainability. We have the privilege to use gifts of Creator. We don’t have the right to compromise the ecological integrity of the area. We cannot compromise the Earth’s cleansing capacity.  

Benjamin: Walking Together emphasizes the importance of stories. I’ve always liked Leslie Marmon Silko’s statement that stories are “all we have to fight off illness and death.” And I feel that’s true. But in this book you’re showing stories aren’t only a defence mechanism, that through them we “receive gifts of Mother Earth.” Can you talk about those gifts? 

Elder Marshall: Bedtime stories Aboriginal children used to hear, in all of those stories, there was never a human form in it. They were always based on other lifeforms. A squirrel or a rabbit or some other creature.  

How much we are interconnected. Everything and anything we are involved with comes from the story.  

If the story is told enough times, it becomes reality. It should guide us to our responsibilities.  

I have to bear in mind, this generation and the next seven must benefit from my efforts. It is time to put our differences aside and start another narrative. Of hope. In which no one is allowed to start a project that damages ecological integrity.  

Benjamin: I love the line in the book, “Sing the Lands and Waters awake after a deep rest.” That spirit of renewal seems really important right now as people become worried about the future of humanity on earth. Does Two-Eyed Seeing also offer us a means of having hope in protecting the nonhuman world? (And therefore humans too?) 

Elder Marshall: It should become a fundamental principle of how we go through life while here. Actions must be in harmony with nature. Any project not ecologically sustainable, we must come up with an alternative.  

Benjamin: A lot of planning right now, by governments, has to do with technological change. And I do think that matters, but what do you think they can learn about “the languages of the Land.” 

Elder Marshall: I don’t believe the government is very much interested in preserving the environment for the future. The onus is on the people to tell them from here on in, we cannot continue with business as usual.   

Benjamin: I so appreciate the reverence in the book. The words are poetic but it’s a very straightforward, teaching kind of poetic. And the artwork is stunning. Have you given much thought to the role of creativity and art in storytelling, in helping humans better care for the Earth? 

Elder Marshall: The more you know about something … somehow it will connect us to this notion of compassion, responsibility, respect, the seeds of knowledge will be planted with as many people as possible, and there is hope.  

“Nature has rights, humans have responsibilities.” Always be mindful and cognizant, every action you take must be sustainable.  

Benjamin: Wela’lin. 

We love this video about New Brunswick's first Electric School Bus driver, the pride she and her passengers take in being part of the green energy transition, its clean quietness.

But, unlike New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia currently has no electric school buses on the roads! You can help change this by joining our campaign for Electric School Buses in Nova Scotia, to create a cleaner, healthier future for our kids.  

In 2022, the board of management of Centennial United Church in Roberts Arm, Newfoundland and Labrador, discussed how we could reduce our carbon footprint and do our part in saving our planet from climate change disasters. The obvious choice was to stop burning fossil fuel as our heat source and switch to clean electric source by using efficient heat pumps.  

We then discussed how we could accomplish this process and have a warm comfortable building for our church congregation during weekly services and business meetings which were held in the church hall in the basement of the church. It was decided that heat pumps would be the solution to accomplish our goal.  

The next challenge was to get an expert to recommend the number of heat pumps required to heat the building, and estimate the cost of buying and installing them. After doing our research, we learned the most suitable heat pumps for our needs were the Mitsubishi brand. They were a moderately expensive brand but carried a ten-year warranty, and had great reviews.

We consulted experts in selling and installing this brand to give us a quote on the required number to satisfy our heating requirements. They recommended four heat pumps, 18,000 BTUs—three upstairs and one in the church hall, in the basement, at a total cost of $26,841.  

Where could we get this vast amount of money with such a small congregation? We decided to have a Memorial Hymn Sing on the third Sunday in June, which was Father’s Day, to see how well our congregation, their family and friends would support our plan. We were astonished with the response, which was a very important lesson learned. “You never know what you can accomplish unless you try.”  

We raised $8,300, which was a third of the cost. Where could we get the other two-thirds?  

Our minister suggested we contact Faithful Footprints, which gave a grant to his former church in New Brunswick. I made an internet inquiry, followed by a telephone conversation, lasting more than an hour, with Stephen Collette, the building audit manager for Faith and Common Good, which administrates the Faithful Footprints program. He gave me a very positive response and encouraged us to make an application. The final steps were to gather the information required for the application, fill out the forms online, and click send.  

A short time later we received the astounding news that our application was approved. We ordered the heat pumps and in three weeks they were installed, on April 3, 2023. The heat pumps were dedicated on Earth Sunday, April 16, to let all our supporters know we have accomplished our goal of reducing our carbon footprint, to help the greening of the earth.  

We will use the remaining funds to install LED light bulbs in all light fixtures in the church, new door seals to prevent heat loss, and purchase insulation for the attic, as well as removing and disposing of the old oil furnace.  

Tony Duke, who is on the property committee of Windsor United, recalls a moment when it hit them all, just how much oil they were saving. "One of our property members, " he says, "was there when the oil truck pulled up. The guy puts the nozzle in the pipe, flicks it on. Stops. 

"He pulls it out, looks down, sticks it back in. Did it all again. And finally he said to our member, 'I haven't been able to put any oil in for the last two visits.' 

"And we had been nervous about heat pumps being able to keep up with winter." 

Admittedly, it's been a mild winter in Nova Scotia. Windsor United uses their heat pumps except on days below -8 degrees Celsius, which has been a rarity. But they were able to replace one furnace and use the other only for backup. 

As is the case with any good energy retrofit, it's not just the source energy. One of the buildings biggest challenges was insulation, foam that had been installed in the 1970s--fifty years ago. It has since dissolved into a powder, Duke says. "So no insulation." 

The formaldehyde foam used to insulate the attic in the 1970s had deteriorated to a powder that the team had to vacuum out before they had the sanctuary ceilings insulated with high density foam. Then, in 2023, they insulated all the exterior walls and the ceiling over the annex with high density cellulose.

The property committee--six people at the time, most of them in their seventies--was dedicated. Each day two or three would show up and help with the work, leading insulators up into the attic, crawling over ancient wooden beams. "I really admire the insulators for hauling hose up there to blow it in," Duke says.

The price associated with buying and installing enough heat pumps for the space was a larger deterrent, but the church trustees were also committed to the cause. One had installed solar panels on his own house and felt compelled to reduce impact on the environment. But Duke credits funding from Faithful Footprints, a funding program from the United Church Canada aimed at reducing the Church's carbon footprint 80 percent by 2030, and small-business rebates from Efficiency Nova Scotia, for swinging the balance. In all, the church invested $111,000 in energy retrofits. The majority, $69,000, was covered by the two programs. 

The heat pumps have not only been sufficient for the winter, they've created a more comfortable climate in the office--where it used to get far too warm--and in meetings rooms and an assembly room. "Everybody has been amazed with the heat pumps," Duke says. "We're keeping them at a steady, comfortable temperature. Everyone is very pleased."

The next step is to replace all the lighting with LEDs, which will further improve efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For Duke, the greatest reward is knowing their impact on the climate has been reduced. That's important for such a pillar of the community.

"The value is sustainability," he says, for the church and the planet. "We do a lot of outreach in community. We help the food bank. We do community activities like theatrical productions. Schools have concerts. A local AA group meets here. We’re not going to close the church."  

Now, he hopes they can inspire other congregations. Windsor United is holding an open house on Earth Day, April 22, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. It is part of the national Faithful Footprints Retrofit Tours Earth Week Series.

"We want to bring congregations in surrounding communities in, and give them some positive reasons for going green.  I strongly encourage other churches to take advantage of FF and other programs to reduce or even eliminate their carbon footprints."

Efficiency Nova Scotia Spring Rebate Campaign

Investing in a larger appliance for your home? From March 31 to May 20, 2023 Efficiency Nova Scotia is running their Spring Instant Savings Campaign. During this time, additional products will be added to a list of instant in-store product rebates that you can access automatically when you visit a participating location. You can save up to $400 at the checkout and collect savings over time with your energy efficient upgrades. Find rebates near you!

Better Building Speaker Series

Join EAC and three organizations collaborating to build the new Mi'kmaq Centre for Healing and Resilience which will be run by the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Women’s Association. Young Soaring Eagle, Outside! Landscape Architects and Solterre Design will discuss how the Resilience Centre prioritizes intersectional sustainability to build a safe space for the community. The webinar will be held on May 30 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Register now!

Tell your MP to Take a Stand for Energy Poverty

The 2023 Federal Budget will be released next week on March 28 in the House of Commons.  We don't know what to expect, but we hope the budget will include the government's plan to invest in and implement a low-income energy efficiency strategy that will extend support to the millions of Canadians who are currently excluded from home energy efficiency programs and who are struggling to meet their home energy needs.  Although the budget is largely crafted at this stage, you can still encourage your MP to take a stand for energy poverty when it is tabled on the 28th.   There is likely still more work to be done to ensure that energy efficiency reaches and benefits all Canadians.  Email your MP now!

Heating Assistance Rebate Program

The Heating Assistance Rebate Program is now open to help low-and moderate-income Nova Scotians with the cost of home heating. Rebates are $1,000 (instead of $100 to $200) for qualified households. Eligibility criteria and certain supporting documents are needed. It should take around 8 weeks to get your rebate. There is no cost to apply for the rebate, you can apply online until March 31, 2023. Check your eligibility.

EV Charging Rebates for Multi-Unit Residential Buildings

Apartment or condo owners can apply for one of two rebates that make electric vehicle chargers more accessible. 

• The EV Ready Approach  

• The Standalone EV Charger  

Both rebates are an option for new construction and existing buildings. Learn more about the rebates and how to apply by visiting Efficiency Nova Scotia's website. Learn more about the rebate!

Open Letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Citizens for Public Justice has an open letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and are looking for signatories from the faith community.  

• The political asks of the letter include 

• Increasing Canada's greenhouse gas reductions target 

• Support for climate adaptation 

• Please sign the letter today and invite others to as well. 

• Creating a national strategy on Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice (Bill C-226) 

• Improving Canadian corporate accountability internationally, particularly on resource extraction issues (Bill C-262 and C-263) 

Sign the letter here.

LinkedIn Group for Newcomers

A new LinkedIn group has been created to help Newcomers looking to work in the green jobs sector! The group is intended to help newcomers connect and support one-another with career development. Follow the link below to join! Go to LinkedIn and join.

New Ice Project Accelerator

Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) recently announced the launch of the Bringing It Home Project Accelerator! The Project Accelerator is a new program designed to support the start-up and development of Indigenous energy efficiency housing projects. Applications are open from March 8, to May 19, 2023. Apply today to become a Project Steward! Learn more and apply.

Please watch this video for information about how to access rebates for new technology like heat pumps, HVAC systems and light sensors and timers, and how to maintain equipment for maximum performance and to save money. Thank you to the Millbrook First Nation Housing Department for hosting the event and to our partners: Efficiency Nova Scotia, the Union of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq and the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq.