Keyword Infrastructure

Winter is central to the Canadian prairie identity. It’s the defining season for a people whose common enemy is also their strength. The long cold snowy winter is also important to economies and ecosystems. And that winter is changing. Set to the backdrop of the Nestaweya River Trail, one of Canada’s longest skating trails, resilient settlers and newcomers alike talk about adapting to a world where the joys of the season are shrinking and what that will mean for future generations.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2024). Snowball effect: Warmer winters mean changing identities. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/snowball-effect

Wind-swept, remote, and jaw-droppingly beautiful. These are Quebec’s Îles-de-la-Madeleine. A narrow archipelago, surrounded on all sides by the unpredictable waters of the Gulf of St Lawrence, the islands are home to just under 13,000 souls who live mainly from fishing and tourism. Like many small islands around the globe, the consequences of climate change are altering life here dramatically. Islanders are coming together to grapple with this reality and find local solutions, and are asking hard questions about the future.

The Métis village of Green Lake may seem small, but they have big ambitions. The community started a solar energy project and installed 96 solar panels on their community hall. As Mayor Ric Richardson describes, Métis people have “used the sun for generations,” so the opportunity for renewable energy development was warmly welcomed by community members. Through this Métis leadership, Green Lake generates cheaper and more reliable power, which creates connection to the land, educational opportunities for the community, and is a source of both clean energy and cultural pride.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). First Métis community-owned solar project in Canada: Renewables, culture, and community pride. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/first-metis-community-owned-solar-project-canada

“It’s been nothing but positive,” says Chief Cadmus Delorme about the Cowessess First Nation wind-battery project, located just outside of Regina. In this video, community members describe the project’s significance for environmental responsibility, community pride, and local sustainable economies. The community has now developed a 320KW solar farm on the site, making the first known wind-solar battery storage project in the country, and Chief Delorme says they’re “hungry for more.”   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). Wind Power on the Prairies: Groundbreaking wind-battery storage. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/wind-power-prairies

The Lubicon Cree Nation of northern Alberta are leading the low-carbon energy transition. Community member Melina Laboucan-Massimo witnessed the changing landscape from industrial development in her territory, and she decided to take action. As part of her Masters Thesis, she fundraised and coordinated the construction of 20KW solar energy system. Melina calls the project “a beacon of what is possible in our communities” and her perspective shows how renewable energy aligns with Indigenous philosophies of reciprocity, relationship, and reconnection with the land.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2019). Renewables in the Heart of the Tar Sands: Lubicon Cree leading the energy transition. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/renewables-heart-tar-sands

The Reep House for Sustainable Living is a 100-year old house in Waterloo, Ontario that has been retrofitted to be maximally energy efficient. This demonstration project shows how older housing stock can be an effective part of the climate change solution through a combination of cutting edge technology and simple upgrades.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2018). Reep House for Sustainable Living, Waterloo: Demonstrating the benefits of energy efficiency. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/reep-house-waterloo

Toronto understands the importance of climate action. In recent years it has been hit by extreme weather that has adversely affected services, infrastructure and economic activities. The human impact of climate change is front and centre as the city works to increase its climate resilience, increase awareness about climate change, and to make urban life better.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2018). Toronto and Climate Change: Building Resilience and Cutting Emissions. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/toronto-and-climate-change

Many citizens of Thunder Bay have an important connection with Lake Superior, which will be impacted by climate change. To mitigate these effects, the local non-profit EcoSuperior and the City of Thunder Bay are encouraging active transportation, local food production, and waste reduction. Citizens are also working together to build resiliency in their neighbourhoods.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2018). Thunder Bay and Climate Change: Supporting mitigation to protect Lake Superior. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/thunder-bay-and-climate-change

In 2009, Vancouver announced that it wanted to become the “Greenest City in the World by 2020”. Their action plan hopes to wean the city off fossil fuels and prioritizes pedestrians, bikes and transit when planning neighborhoods. As a result, Vancouver now has the lowest carbon emissions of any city in North America.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2018). Vancouver: "Greenest City in the World by 2020”. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/vancouver

Charlie Clark, the Mayor of Saskatoon, speaks about the changing nature of cities, living in an era of global warming, and how the next generation of young people are demanding action. Despite being a “cold prairie city”, Clark believes Saskatoon’s sense of community will allow them to move quickly to “show leadership on environmental change”.   Recommended Video Citation Climate Atlas of Canada. (2018). Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon: Prairie cities are part of the solution. Prairie Climate Centre. https://climateatlas.ca/video/charlie-clark-mayor-saskatoon