This week in the Activist Agenda (Edmonton):

• October 15th, Sunday – All Out for Palestine
• October 15th, Sunday – October Potluck
• October 16th, Monday – World Food Day
• October 16th, Monday – Zoning Bylaw Council Meeting and Public Hearing
• October 16th, Monday – The Role of Culture and the Arts in the Climate Emergency
• October 18th, Wednesday – RBC: Stop Funding the Climate Crisis
• October 19th, Thursday – Curbing Traffic: Building happier, healthier, more human-sized cities for everyone
• October 19th, Thursday – Learning about community-campus collaborations from Dr. Seuss and Machiavelli
• October 20th, Friday – Climate Strike
• October 20th, Friday – Coffee Outside
• October 20th – 22nd – COMING HOME TO OURSELVES: PRACTICING COLLECTIVE GRIEF, JOY AND LIBERATION WHILE THE WORLD UNRAVELS
• October 20th, Friday – Peacefull Protest for Palestine
• October 21st, Saturday – How To Festival: How to Grow a Thousand-Year-Old Tree
• October 21st, Saturday – Rise Against Hate Rally – Counter-Protest 1MillionMarch4Children
• October 21st, Saturday – Stop SOGI 123 (Info purposes only)
• October 21st, Saturday – Vegan Outreach Workshop: Inspiring Behaviour Change
• October 21st, Saturday – Screening of Love in a Time of Fentanyl
• October 22nd, Sunday – Gather for Peace
• October 23rd, Monday – Edmonton Die-In for Gaza
• October 25th, Wednesday – MMIWG2S Calls for Justice Reading Circle
• October 26th, Thursday – The Colonial Urge to Commodify the Climate Crisis: Unpacking False Solutions
• October 27th, Friday – Climate Strike
• October 27th, Friday – Coffee Outside
• October 27th, Friday – Edmonton Critical Mass Ride
• October 28, Saturday – Walk a Mile in a Ribbon Skirt
• October 28, Saturday – Climate Emergency: Building a Healthy Planetary Future
• November 2nd, Thursday – Negotiating the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive: Promoting the sustainable transport fuels of the future” by Geert Decock, Electricity and Energy, European Union, Brussels
• November 3rd and 4th- United Conservative Party Annual General Meeting (UCP)
• November 4th, Saturday – Power Up for Climate Solutions
• November 5th, Sunday – Truck Trudeau Rally (Info purposes Only)
• November 8th, Wednesday – Night Out on the North Saskatchewan

I will be posting some items that are for information purposes only. These are in case anyone reading this would like to show up as a counter-protest to the actions, learn about how groups like Take Back Alberta are mobilizing, etc. They are better organized in many cases. I have highlighted these items with a gray background as exemplified by this paragraph.
This article in the National Observer shows some of their tactics. This is not only about climate change and 15-minute cities but many of our social tenants are being pushed to align more to the far-right ideology complete with the religious overtones.
Check out this video by Take Back Alberta lead spokesperson David Parke to hear what they envision for Alberta.

I have put up several pages of information to help people get involved in the activist scene in Edmonton. Check out the menu above to see a current list of resources and information (it is a work in progress).
The idea of the Activist Agenda is to be a central hub of information to help people access that information so that they can become involved. It is focused on activism and community in Edmonton and area.

Issues presently posted on this website. Easy access to groups and information to get involved – getting active (with more to come):

• Animal Rights/Welfare/Diet
• Climate Crisis – Climate Justice
• Environment – General
• Food
• Housing/Homelessness/Houselessness
• Media
• Peace
• Petitions
• Racism
• Social Justice
• Transportation/Mobility
• Waste/Littering/Plastic Pollution

Video of the Week

October 1st – 31st – Drawdown Ecochallenge: “This October 1-31st, we’re partnering with Project Drawdown for our *new* Drawdown Ecochallenge! Join us as we connect Project Drawdown’s Solutions with our Actions to work towards reversing climate change, together. Register as a Team Captain TODAY and stay tuned for more exciting announcements about our partnership!”
Though this campaign focuses on the individual ‘carbon footprint’ aspect I think it is worthwhile for people to understand where we as individuals can reduce our personal impact but be aware that the changes that really need to happen at the government and corporate level.

October 15th, Sunday – All Out for Palestine: Free Palestine YEG is hosting another event. They are looking to form a human chain.
Time: 4pm
Location: 97th street and 167th avenue (odd location).

October 15th, Sunday – October Potluck: “Bring your own plates, cutlery, beverage and serving plus a vegan potluck dish to serve at least 6 people (per adult attending). And bring your friends. Everyone is welcome!”
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: Riverdale Community League 9231 100 Ave
Cost: $5 or $3 for members to cover rental cost
URL: Alberta Vegans

October 15th, Sunday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 5 pm MT
Location: online
Registation: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

October 16th, Monday – World Food Day: “Water is essential to life on Earth. It covers the majority of the Earth’s surface, makes up over 50% of our bodies, produces our food, and supports livelihoods.  
But this precious resource is not infinite and we need to stop taking it for granted. What we eat, and how that food is produced all affect water. 
Together, we can take water action for food and be the change.”
Climate Change will impact food security.

October 16th, Monday – City of Edmonton Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative: Zoning is one of those things that goes on without much attention by the average citizen – until you want to make some changes to your house, business, etc. It affects the types and sizes of buildings and businesses that can be built/operated in certain areas of our city.
The current bylaw has not had a good overhaul since the 60s.
The proposed zoning changes will allow more densification, a greater mix in neighbourhoods (small apartment blocks, multi-family dwellings, etc in traditional ‘single family home’ neighbourhoods), etc.
This has made for some bitter battles happening in the Edmonton community. People that do not want intrusion of these changes into their neighbourhoods because they want the area to stay the same, urbanists that want more densification and climate friendlier/15-minute cities/etc, developers that want to put more buildings into a smaller area thus increasing their profits, etc.
It is not pretty but this is what a democracy looks like.
This is the proposed new bylaw
Taproot Edmonton has written a good informative article and Grow Together Edmonton has put together a guide to help you register to speak and some pointers.
Time: starting at 9:30 am (but if you register to speak it could be any time after that or even on a different day).
Location: Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
More Information: City of Edmonton – there are two changes that the council will be voting on and you will have to figure out if you are going to speak to one or both of them since the form to speak will ask you to list the
Register to speak: City of Edmonton

Monday, October 16th – The Role of Culture and the Arts in the Climate Emergency: “In the climate emergency context (or more appropriately, the ‘adaptation emergency’ since the window to adapt to catastrophic climate impacts is rapidly closing), it has become starkly apparent that the challenges climate change poses are far more severe and complex than anticipated, with existing systems and ways of thinking poorly equipped to manage. Without the luxury of time, there is an urgency in finding new ways to collaborate, experiment, plan and shift the paradigm of climate emergency engagement and disaster resilience.
The lecture will explore how creative methodologies and Indigenous pedagogies offer valuable insights in how we prepare for a future impacted by climate change. It will draw upon the experiences and lessons learned through Art House’s REFUGE project (2016-2022) – a multi-year transdisciplinary project – where artists, emergency service providers, local government and communities work together to rehearse climate-related emergencies and explore the impact of creativity in disaster preparedness in alignment with the United Nations Sustainability Goals on climate change and inclusion.”
Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Central Academic Building – CAB 269 (and online), Univerity of Alberta
Online Resistration: You need to fill out this form to get the Zoom link

Wednesday, October 18th – RBC: Stop Funding the Climate Crisis: “RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) is the largest funder of fossil fuel projects in Canada. These include the CoastGas Link pipeline and the TMX Pipeline).
The world needs to transition away from burning fossil fuels. Building pipelines locks in money and resources allocated to perpetuate the fossil fuel industry. We need to transition away from fuel fuels as the basis of our economy and society.
We need to do this as soon as possible.
This action is to highlight to the general public how RBC funds climate chaos and ignores indigenous rights.
It is our intention to do this every week and at a variety of RBC locations around Edmonton. Please consider joining us for this one hour of action.
This will happen at the RBC branch on Whyte Avenue just east of 109th street. We will be on the west side of the bus shelter/stop.
Funders are the foundation of this industry.
Signs will be available for people to use.
Time: 12 noon to 1 pm
Location: 10843 – Whyte Avenue
Facebook: Edmonton Climate Strike

October 19th, Thursday – Curbing Traffic: Building happier, healthier, more human-sized cities for everyone: “We’re excited to welcome half of Melissa & Chris Bruntlett thanks to the Dutch Cycling Embassy, Ualberta SURP, Paths for People, Bike Edmonton, and the Alberta Professional Planners Institute. Save the date and official registration is below.
Melissa and Chris Bruntlett are Canadian authors and urban mobility advocates who strive to communicate the benefits of sustainable transport and inspire happier, healthier, more human-scale cities. Their first book, Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality, explored the urban and transport planning decisions that established the Netherlands as a bicycle paradise, and how North American communities are translating these ideas to build their own cycling cities.”
Chris will be talking on a number of topics such as:

·       Quick wins – proven successes of low-cost, low-effort measures to increase cycling

·       Pop-up to permanent – Light, fast construction methods, materials, practices

·       Bikenomics – how the the (local) economy benefits from cycling

·       Touristic & recreational routes – how to include cycling into tourism & recreation

·       Parking – Learning best practice when it comes to secure, convenient parking

·       Communication and storytelling – Winning “hearts and minds” with stakeholders

Time: 6 pm to 9 pm
Location: University of Alberta – more exact details forthcoming
More details: Facebook
Cost: 15$ – Michael Janz is offering a coupon (cost is 15$) on his website for this event and I understand that Taproot is also being used as a coupon code.
Register and more information: Michael Janz

October 19th, Thursday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 3:30 pm MT
Location: online
Registation: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

October 19th, Thursday – Learning about community-campus collaborations from Dr. Seuss and Machiavelli: Presented by David Phipps, Assistant Vice President of Research Strategy and Impact at York University and also the Network Director for Research Impact Canada and serves on knowledge mobilization committees around the world.
David will discuss how universities can best facilitate engagement with local community organizations, value lived experiences and community expertise and encourage meaningful and productive collaborations. He will talk about how his community and campus partners shaped a unique program where funder investments targeted community priorities and strengths rather than needs or deficits.
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. MDT
Location: Edmonton City Hall
Registration: Community-University Partnership for the Study of Children Youth and Families

October 20th, Friday – Weekly Climate Strike: A weekly reminder to Edmontonians that we are in a Climate Emergency.
We are restarting the weekly morning climate strikes.
Extra signs will be available for people to use – or bring your own.
Time: 8 am to 9 am
Location: 109thstreet and 88th Avenue
Facebook: Edmonton Climate Strike

October 20th, Friday – Weekly Coffee Outside: “Edmonton’s outdoor coffee club. We meet every Friday, rain, snow or shine between 7 & 9 am at Ezio Faraone Park.”
Time: 7 to 9 am
Location: Ezio Faraone Park, Edmonton
Twitter: YEG Coffee Outside

October 20th to October 22nd – COMING HOME TO OURSELVES: PRACTICING COLLECTIVE GRIEF, JOY AND LIBERATION WHILE THE WORLD UNRAVELS: “Many of us are grappling with the reality of an unraveling world. Author Stephen Jenkinson, says “Whatever spiritual awakening might have meant in past times and places, if you awaken in our time, you awaken with a sob.” We are living through a period of unprecedented climate emergencies, mass extinction, colonial violence, rising fascism, accelerated extractive capitalism, and a pervasive sense of disbelonging. The scale of problems we face as a species is immense, and the issues are intertwined. 
Often, we shoulder these collective truths alone – oscillating between overwhelm and numbness, leading to further disconnection in the very places where we could share and honour the experience of living in a world that is both precious and precarious. But what if we allowed our broken hearts to reconnect us to Earth and each other? What if these times of crisis and uncertainty are opportunities to bring forward essential gifts and new ways of being in the world? Can practices of collective mourning, love, and belonging help to ground us while the world unravels?”
Time: Friday, October 20; 7:00pm – Sunday, October 22; 12:30 pm
Location: Refugia Retreat Centre, Water Valley, Alberta
Website: Refugia Retreats

October 20th, Friday – Weekly Climate Strike: A weekly reminder to Edmontonians that we are in a Climate Emergency.
We are restarting the weekly morning climate strikes.
Extra signs will be available for people to use – or bring your own.
Time: 8 am to 9 am
Location: 109thstreet and 88th Avenue
Facebook: Edmonton Climate Strike

October 20-22nd – Climate Leadership Program: “We are now accepting applications for our Climate Leadership Program’s October Cohort! This online training, offered Friday, October 20 – Sunday, October 22, 2023, via Zoom, is for self-identifying Indigenous people and communities living in so-called Canada with a desire to create positive change in their community. Our Climate Leadership Program aims to equip you with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to become effective climate leaders in your communities and beyond.
Learn more and apply through the link in our bio! Questions? Email: climateleadership@indigenousclimateaction.com”
NOTE: This is for self-identifying Indigenous people

October 20th, Friday – Peacefull Protest for Palestine:
Time: 3pm
Location: Faculty of Education, University of Alberta

October 21st, Saturday – How To Festival: How to Grow a Thousand-Year-Old Tree: “Imagine living in a city filled with thousand-year-old trees. Imagine a future that’s greener than the present. Join designer and master gardener Dustin Bajer to learn about an initiative to grow thousand-year-old trees across Edmonton. Learn about trees that can live for thousands of years, the methods and locations for planting them, ways to ensure their safety, and why cultivating a greener future is essential today.
This is an online program. To receive a link and passcode to the online class, please register and instructions will be sent to you within 24 hours of the session. Zoom, a third-party app, will be used for this virtual session. By joining, you acknowledge that EPL does not take responsibility for Zoom’s privacy policies and practices.
Dustin Bajer is an educator, master gardener, writer, beekeeper, and founder of Shrubscriber. Shrubscriber brings together gardeners, schools, and climate-conscious organizations with community workshops, seeds, and step-by-step propagation instructions, so that we can distribute thousands of trees and grow a food-secure, biodiverse, and climate-adapted Edmonton. Learn more and join at Shrubscriber.com.
Time: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Online event – virtual
Registration: Edmonton Public Library

October 21st, Saturday – Stop the Hate Counter-Rally: [This is a rally to counter the ‘hate-march’ listed just below this entry. This assembly will be edgier that most and more confrontational than you might be used to. You can still support their efforts by either being a supporter ‘in the back’ or observer – with cameras and such]. “Attention! Hate is officially on the march in *our neighborhood* and we ain’t giving them an inch!
There is an upcoming march targeting “SOGI” *(sexual orientation & gender identity) education on **Saturday the 21 of October**. The fascists will be targetting Whyte Avenue.
We will be meeting early at **11 AM** at **Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre Park** (8331 104 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 4E9) in preparation to confront and throw back this hateful movement.
I need queer folks and allies on FULL ALERT! Organize with your **friends and family**, spread the word however you can and get people marching!
*Ways to spread the word:*
-Contact your circles via social media
-Contact faculty associations, clubs, etc.
-Contact local churches, trade unions, neighborhood associations, etc
We’re through with this bullshit. It’s high time we stand up for our queer siblings and don’t let these assholes in our neighborhood!!
Notes:
-Be prepared for harassment and confrontation. These people are homophobes and transphobes, they are not nice people.
-Come with a buddy or a friend if you can
-Wear black and cover your face
-Do not bring children or pets
Time: 11 am
Location: Dr. Wilbert Mcintyre Park (Gazebo Park), 8331 104 St NW
Facebook event page: Stop the Hate

October 21st, Saturday – STOP SOGI 123 Rally: SOGI (Sexual Orientation Gender Identity) is an issue that many people are rallying around. We are seeing an intersection between Muslims and Christian rallying against this program in many schools across Canada and the USA.
Time: 1 pm to 4 pm
Location: 82nd avenue and 103rd Street.
Caveat – I am presently unsure why this event is happening at this location and why the above United for Change event is happening downtown. I am waiting to hear back from United for Change for confirmation.

October 21st, Saturday – Vegan Outreach Workshop: Inspiring Behaviour Change: “This training is ideal for those who advocate on behalf of nonhuman animals to friends, family, and strangers. In this training you will learn:

– How to avoid debates and arguments
– How to reduce defensiveness in others
– How to manage other people’s egos
– How to help people explore their values (what questions to ask)
– How to help people align their actions with their values

The training will be approximately 2 hours followed by a Q and A session.
Time: this is a global event so it is best to figure out the time when you register.
Location: Virtual
Event Page: Facebook
Registration: Form

October 21st, Saturday – Screening of Love in a Time of Fentanyl: “You are invited to join us for an afternoon that will bring together Chinatown shapers and harm reduction advocates. A 60-minute screener of “Love in the Time of Fentanyl” and a special cut of “A Portrait of Chinatown” will be shown to ground our conversations. We aim to build relationships and learn from one another to better understand our shared community and the work we are doing.”
Time: Doors open at 1:30 and the event will start at 2 pm and go until 4:30 pm
Location: Co*Lab, 9641 – 102a Avenue

October 22nd, Sunday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 5 pm MT
Location: online
Registation: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

October 22nd, Sunday – Gather for Peace: A silent gathering of Edmontonians to call for peace and end armed conflict. Peace starts with a ceasefire.
We don’t take sides. We are not looking for one side to win and another to lose. We want peace to win so that everyone wins.
We will stand in silence for one-hour with our candles of hope.
Time: 7:00 pm to 8 pm
Location: South Plaza, Edmonton City Hall
Facebook: Gather for Peace

October 23rd, Monday – Edmonton Die-In for Gaza: “A die-in is a form of protest where participants lie down on the ground and pretend to be dead. The goal is to draw attention of pedestrians to the genocide in Gaza.”
Dress all in black
Bring a blanket to lie down on (you could also use cardboard or a camping sleeping pad
Dress according to the weather
A Palestinian flag if you wish to cover yourself with one
Time: 5pm
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square
Instagram: Free Palestine YEG

October 23rd – 27th – Calgary Climate Symposium: [NOTE: in Calgary] “

The Calgary Climate Symposium continues the conversation about climate change, shares how it affects Calgarians, what we can do together, and why we need to talk about it.
The Calgary Climate Symposium explores:

• how Calgary can position itself for a low carbon future and leverage economic opportunities
• how Calgary can strengthen communities to be resilient to climate change impacts and hazards
• how we ensure no one is left behind as we look to the future

Time: 5 day event
Location: in-person and online
Registration: I am unsure how to register – perhaps it is closed
Website: City of Calgary

October 23rd to 25th – Electricity Transformation Canada Conference: “Discover the anticipated and tailor-made agenda for Electricity Transformation Canada (ETC) 2023! Explore the upcoming sessions and discussions focused on advancing Canada’s clean energy plan and accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy system.”
Renewable Energy conference – I wonder how they feel with the moratorium that she put on this industry this year.
Note that Danielle Smith is ging a 10 minute opening keynote address at 5:30 pm on Monday, October 23rd.
Time: See the website for daily times
Location: BMO Centre Calgary
Website: Electricity Transformation Canada

October 24th, Tuesday – Climate Justice Edmonton Online Intaking Meeting: Want to get invovled in Climate Justice? Attend this session and learn about effective group’s work in Edmonton.
Time: 6:30-7:30
Location: Online or in-person – Room __ at the Stanley Milner Library [it seems they don’t ahve a room identified yet
Register: Zoom 

October 25th, Wednesday – MMIWG2S Calls for Justice Reading Circle: “Join a group of caring community members for a reading circle of Reclaiming Power and Place: the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Executive Summary. In this circle, we will be taking turns reading sections and will have time to discuss, share stories, and smudge together.”
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: PÎYÊSÎW WÂSKÂHIKAN, First Floor, Stanley A. Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square Centennial Plaza
More information: Edmonton Public Library
Registration: Edmonton Public Library

October 26th, Thursday – The Colonial Urge to Commodify the Climate Crisis: Unpacking False Solutions: “Indigenous Climate Action is dedicated to raising awareness about the impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities and advocating for sustainable solutions that respect Indigenous sovereignty, knowledge, and cultural practices. As we navigate the complexities posed by this climate crisis, it is vital to address not only genuine solutions but also the false solutions that can perpetuate more environmental harm and social injustices. The aim of this webinar series is to facilitate open and informative discussions that shed light on various false solutions that are often presented as viable approaches to combat the climate crisis and counteract them with real, Indigenous-led solutions.
Part 1: Unpacking False Solutions
Panel highlighting false solutions with a short recap of UNFCCC COP27. This webinar discussion will cover questions like:

• How can we begin to identify when a solution is false? What are false solutions?
• How can false solutions impact Indigenous communities? How can we resist?
• How are false solutions being presented at the UNFCCC COP? How might this impact communities?

Time: 2 pm MT
Location: Zoom – Virtual
Registration: Indigenous Climate Action

October 26th, Thursday – 2023 Alberta Climate Summit: [NOTE – this is in Calgary] “The Alberta Climate Summit brings thought leaders from industry, government, civil society groups, Indigenous governments and rural communities together to learn from success stories, identify opportunities and challenges, and explore solutions related to Alberta’s clean energy future. The full-day event showcases innovation already underway in Alberta, informs and connects decision makers, and inspires participants to play an active role in the province’s energy transition.”
Time: 8:00am – 6:00pm MDT
Location: Hudson Event Complex, 200 8 Ave SW, 6th floor, Calgary
Cost: Whew! Corporate & Government: $600/Non-Profit & Academia: $400
Registration: Pembina Institute

October 26th, Thursday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 3:30 pm MT
Location: online
Registation: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

October 27th, Friday – Weekly Climate Strike: A weekly reminder to Edmontonians that we are in a Climate Emergency.
We are restarting the weekly morning climate strikes.
Extra signs will be available for people to use – or bring your own.
Time: 8 am to 9 am
Location: 109thstreet and 88th Avenue
Facebook: Edmonton Climate Strike

October 27th, Friday – Weekly Coffee Outside: “Edmonton’s outdoor coffee club. We meet every Friday, rain, snow or shine between 7 & 9 am at Ezio Faraone Park.”
Time: 7 to 9 am
Location: Ezio Faraone Park, Edmonton
Twitter: YEG Coffee Outside

October 27th, Friday – Edmonton Critical Mass Ride – Halloween Theme: Across the world critical mass rides are traditionally held on the last Friday of the month to raise awareness about bicycling safety, the number of people using bicycles and other human-powered devices, infrastructure, government policies, etc.
This is a slow ride. We will be covering about 8+kms as we weave through Edmonton downtown and over to the southside across the High Level Bridge. We will terminate the ride in Old Strathcona. There could be a social after the ride.
This ride will be Halloween themed since the roads can be quite a scary place – and it shouldn’t be!
Sign up to Edmonton Critical Mass for updates.
This is a monthly event.
Time: 5 pm
Location: Sir Winston Churchill Square (look for the cyclists between the city hall and the square on 102a Avenue between 99th Street and 100th Street.
Facebook: Edmonton Critical Mass
Hashtag: #yegbike #yegCriticalMass #EdmontonCriticalMass

October 28, Saturday – Walk a Mile in a Ribbon Skirt: “Walk a Mile in a Ribbon Skirt is an annual event intended to teach and share the rich history behind the ribbon skirt as a symbol of strength, feminism, and survival. Each year, the event invites people to learn about, understand, and help stop the prejudices Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people face when they wear them in urban places.”
Time: noon to 3 pm
Location: City Room, Edmonton City Hall, 1 Sir Winston Churchill Square
Cost: Free

October 28, Saturday – Polluter Pay Garbage Day in Edmonton: “It’s time for the oil and gas companies in Alberta to clean up their messes. Orphaned wells and toxic tailings are damaging people and animals and the land and water. Industry continually kicks these problems down the road, maximizing profits as the orphaned wells multiply and the tailings expand. Compliant governments and their agencies do as little as possible to enforce cleanup. Worse, they propose using taxpayer money to clean up the orphaned wells and allowing companies to dump partially treated tailings water into the Athabasca River.
With The Fall Sitting of the Alberta Legislative Assembly opening the following Monday, it is a good time to show Albertans and our politicians that the health of our land, water, people, and animals matter, and that it is time for industry to clean up its messes.
Bring a bag of garbage to the legislature. We will deposit the garbage on the Legislature Plaza and demand that industry clean up its own garbage.
Unlike industry, however, we are responsible and will clean up our garbage at the end of the event. Like good campers, we’ll leave the Legislature steps at least as clean as we found them.”
Time: 3:00 pm
Location:  Violet King Henry Plaza, 99 Avenue & 108 Street
Registration and Website: Council of Candians

October 28, Saturday – Climate Emergency: Building a Healthy Planetary Future: “The climate crisis is at our doorstep. As health professionals, we can help build a healthy planetary future together. 
On Saturday Oct. 28th, hear from experts in their fields who have initiated projects at a local level. Be inspired at this annual conference presented by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, with lots of opportunities for participants to engage with the speakers and with each other. This conference is open to all health professionals, but everybody is welcome to attend. We hope you leave this event motivated to engage in projects of your own to help sustain the health of our planet.”
“Our speakers include Bill McKibben, a founder of the climate movement and author of ‘Eaarth’, Dr. Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, who leads the Climate Change and Health Unit at the World Health Organization, CAPE President Dr. Melissa Lem who will share what’s new in nature prescribing, and Dr. Kathleen Ross who will discuss initiatives being undertaken by the Canadian Medical Association to sustain a healthy medical society.”
Time:
Location: Online Conference
Registration: Portal
Cost: variable
Website: Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE)

October 29th, Sunday- Counter-Protest 1MillionMarch4Children: On September 20th, 2023, 1MillionMarch4Children (they seem to have changed the link. Here is one for the lead organizers – Hands Off Our Kids) held a protest outside the Alberta Teachers Association building in Edmonton. This was part of a cross-country (Canada) day of action.
In response, there were counter-protests. On October 21st, 1MillionMarch4Children will be hosting another protest and United for Change Facebook will be hosting a counter-protest event.
This event was originally scheduled for October 21st, 2023 but has now been postoned to October 29th.
Time: 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Location: Violet King Henry Plaza, 108th Street and 99th Avenue
Event Webpage: United for Change Facebook

October 29th, Sunday – Online Intro Talk: Stop Canada Burning Down. Hear the Plan and How You Can Help: (weekly online talk by On2Ottawa. I put this here so that people in Edmonton can understand what other groups are doing) “Canada is burning and life as we know it is falling apart. Extreme weather events and mass species extinction cover the globe. And government has failed to implement the radical change we need.
In this talk, we will tell the truth about the state of the climate – including the hard truths that people in power don’t want you to know.
And most importantly, we will talk about the social science of radical change and how YOU can make it happen! There is a long history of movements that have forced those in power to make change – through bottom-up people power.
You will get the chance to connect with people who are involved in the movement. People who have been arrested, have done hunger strikes, and have risked a lot to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience – following in the footsteps of movements of the past, like the civil rights movement and movements for the right to vote.
Come learn about what YOU can do – and what we all MUST do – to avoid the worst effects of climate breakdown and create a livable future.”
Time: 5 pm MT
Location: online
Registation: Zoom
More information: On2Ottawa

November 2nd, Thursday – Talk: “Negotiating the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive: Promoting the sustainable transport fuels of the future” by Geert Decock, Electricity and Energy, European Union, Brussels: “Bio: Geert joined T&E in July 2019 after a decade in advocacy roles in Brussels for organisations representing civil society and industry. Geert has been deeply involved in the European Union’s negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive, promoting renewable electricity as a transport fuel as a sustainable alternatives to biofuels. He leads T&E’s work on green hydrogen and e-fuels and how such synthetic fuels can help to decarbonise planes and ships. In his previous positions Geert worked on a host of environmental and energy dossiers, ranging from the EU’s Clean Energy Package negotiations to Ecodesign and Energy Labelling policies to a campaign to ban fracking for shale gas.”
Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm MDT
Location: Tory 12-15, Universit of Alberta

November 20th, Monday – Tar Sands Songbook – Edmonton Workshop Presentation: “You’re invited to an intimate workshop showing of the TAR SANDS SONGBOOK before it heads out on a tour along the Trans-Mountain Pipeline. The performance will begin at 5pm, followed by an informal feedback discussion.
About the performance: Created by musician, author and activist Tanya Kalmanovitch, TAR SANDS SONGBOOK is an 80-minute solo performance that combines field recordings, storytelling, personal history, and live violin and fiddle music to investigate our invisible relationships to oil.”
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM MST
Location: Star of the North Retreat Centre, 3 A Saint Vital Avenue St. Albert
Tickets: Eventbrite
Cost: Free

November 22nd, Wednesday – Housing– Who is it for?: “Tens of thousands of people lack decent affordable housing in Edmonton. Learn more about why this is getting even worse for renters.”
Time:  7:00 PM MST
Location: Metro Cinema8712 109 Street Northwest Edmonton
Tickets: Eventbrite
Cost: 15$
Facebook: Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness (ECOHH) – this is their new Facebook page

November 3rd and 4th- United Conservative Party Annual General Meeting (UCP): The UCP party (the present party that has formed the government in Alberta) is holding their AGM in Calgary. They will be voting on 30 resolutions – see the above video for a good overview of the resolutions (along with colour commentary).
Location: BMO Centre Calgary
AGM Website: United Conservative Party

November 4th, Saturday – Power Up for Climate Solutions: “350.org and partners are holding a global day of action to stand together against the fossil fuel industry’s greed and lift up our vision for a just future powered by the sun and the wind.
There are already over a hundred Power Up actions planned worldwide, including quite a few in Canada. Check out this Canadian map to find an action near you. If there isn’t one yet, sign up to host your own. You can also check out the global Power Up! website here.” There is one happening in Edmonton so stay tuned.

November 5th, Sunday – Truck Trudeau Rally: for information purposes only.
Time: 1pm
Location: Edmonton Capital Plaza (Actually it is called Violet King Henry – named after ALberta’s first Black lawyer) and they may find that trucks aren’t allowed into the plaza.

November 8th, Wednesday – Night Out on the North Saskatchewan: “Dark Night Skies! Join us for three perspectives on our dark night sky. Come learn from the chair of the Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Geoff Holroyd, about light pollution and other impacts to the saw-whet owl, once thought to be rare in the Edmonton River Valley. Elder Francis Alexis will talk about astronomy and star stories from an Indigenous perspective, and Robert Dick, who helped get Dark-Sky Preserves on the map, will be joining us from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. There will be time for questions and a panel discussion. We’ll also shake things up part way through with an ecologically-themed live auction! Come join us for a virtual night out on the river!”
Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM MST
Location: Virtual – online
Registration: Eventbrite
Cost: Donation
Organizer: Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition

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Start Planning for the Future

There are global days of action happening throughout the world. Edmonton can participate in these actions – all it takes is you.

• November 17th-19th – Parkland Conference – “Alberta at the Crossroads: Building the World We Want”: “Alberta is at a crossroads. The status quo is not sustainable politically, economically, or ecologically. The decisions we make from now on will determine whether we join a worldwide movement towards building a more just future or if we go backward. This conference is about ensuring Alberta moves forward. It is about dreaming big and making things happen. It is about how we push for change and envision a province that is just, equitable, and sustainable. It is about how we look to what others outside our borders have been doing, while also finding ways to support and expand the work that many among us have already been doing to build a more just province and world.
  By bringing together thinkers, writers, and activists from Alberta and beyond, “At the Crossroads” will be a space where we can learn from each other and begin shaping the Alberta we want for us and for future generations.”
• November 30 until December 12, 2023 – COP28 – The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, will be the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held from November 30 until December 12, 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai. Wikipedia. I suspect that the local Edmonton Climate Justice groups will do something in solidarity with the worldwide activities that will be happening. That it is being hosted by a petrostate, headed by an oil executive, and in a state that will be very unsympathetic to protesters is going to make this COP very interesting.
• December 1st – 10th – Ignite Change Global Convention: 75th Anniversary United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights hosted by the John Humphrey Centre in Edmonton.
• February 5th – 9th – International Week at the University of Alberta: “A warming globe, increasing numbers of refugees and displaced persons, gender disparity, economic inequalities, freshwater shortages, famine, war… We are bombarded with these issues and many others facing the planet and its inhabitants daily. 
  To address these issues, the UN established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. The Goals, adopted in 2015, call on governments and civil society worldwide to address the world’s most pressing issues, from poverty and education to health and the environment.
  I-Week is a chance to hear international and local perspectives on global issues. On February 5-9, 2024, International Week speakers connected their work to the SDGs. 
  U of A’s annual International Week is an incubator of ideas and a source of inspiration for us to work together for a better world. Stay tuned for updates on I-Week 2024.
• 2024 YEG Winter Cycling Congress is happening in Edmonton this year: “Join us in February 2024 [22nd to 24th] for an unforgettable multi-day event filled with informative sessions, bicycle excursions, and a community of passionate winter cyclists. Discover new possibilities while exploring the cycling-friendly city of Edmonton. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts and learn from experts in the field.” [I think the “cycling -friendly” is a bit of a stretch – Michael].
  You can register here. Early bird rate is only until September 30th, 2023 so if you want to save a bit of money because the 450$ could be a bit of a deterrent. Mind you, if you go as a representative of a non-profit group the cost is only 200$. Good time to step up as your Community League cycling advocate and representative.

Youth Climate Corps

“Climate mobilization in Canada has yet to feel like a grand societal undertaking. The Youth Climate Corps is an invitation to the country’s youth to mobilize to confront today’s gravest threat: the climate emergency. We are past overdue on a real plan that acts fast to transform the country away from its current trajectory to growing emissions and climate disaster. A Youth Climate Corps would put thousands of young people to work in rapidly curbing emissions, preparing our infrastructure for its coming impacts, and responding to the emergencies we’re locking in.”
You can support the call for a Youth Climate Corps through the Climate Emergency Unit website.

Heat Pumps

The National Observer issued a good article on heat pumps – let’s call it Heat Pumps 101 and it includes a link to an online calculator so that we can do a rough estimate of the savings that could be garnered by switching to a heat pump.
If you are buying a new home or upgrading your heating system, please consider a heat pump system.
ALL new housing should be electric heat pumps.

Information and Suggestions

There is a housing crisis in the world. Everywhere across Canada there is a housing crisis. The causes are numerous and the effects devastating. Not enough options for people, land speculation, landlords increasing rents beyond reasonable, conversion to condominiums, AirBnB and their ilk, etc.
If you are a renter feeling the squeeze you might be interested in a workshop/training being put on by Tenant Union. Yes – this is for the Toronto area but much of the skills and knowledge that a person would learn could be transferable to the Edmonton area.

If you are on Facebook, check out the Edmonton Activist Calendar page.

Please share information with me so that I can populate this with more details and information. I intend to eventually get it so that it is emailed out to people and has a better site but for now, this is what I have to offer you.

Edmonton Tool Library – a great resource for sharing tools and resources within our community. Check them out. They are also looking for volunteers to join their team.

Petitions/Letter writing

See the Petition page under resources for more information on how to create your own.
Petitions can be an effective way to raise awareness of an issue, get the ball rolling, and sometimes they even work. Here is a list of present ongoing petitions in Canada that I wish to highlight:

• Grassy Lakes Coal Mine – Canadian Parks and Wilderness (CPAWS) have initiated a letter writing campaign to the provincial government to shut down the application process for this mine to open in the Crowsnest Pass area of the Rocky Mountains.
• The NDP is looking for people to participate in a simple survey – one question.
  “Should Alberta leave the Canada Pension Plan?” Please consider participating in this survey. https://www.albertasfuture.ca/event-registration/pension-survey
• Save Our Canada Pension Plan – It appears that Public Interest Alberta has a letter-writing campaign and petition to the UCP government to express citizens’ opposition to their expressed intention to withdraw from the CPP and establish an Alberta Pension Plan. Check it out here.
• Efficiency Canada has launched a letter writing campaign to petition the federal government to invest in energy efficiency programs for low-income households.
• Let’s Get Indigenous Communities Safe, Clean Drinking Water Now. FFS.
• Plant Based Treaty – this portal will help you send a letter to your city councillors
• Ban on advertising – a comprehensive ban on advertising, sponsorship, and promotion of fossil fuel companies, products, and services (including gasoline, gas utilities, and internal combustion engine vehicles) to protect public health – Federal petition (e-4469). Open until September 28th, 2023
• Make Mental Health Accessible To All Canadians Through Our Universal Health Care System
• No raises for public servants until the minimum wage is a living wage! – every segment of the workforce will tend to stand up for what they will benefit from taking action. We need a living wage/universal basic income right across our country.
• STOP BIG OIL FROM POLLUTING OUR CLIMATE
• Sink the fossil fuel industry’s plan!
• Reject forest biomass as a false climate solution
• Stop toxic tailings pollution
• Stop Executions of Activists in Iran
• RESPECT INDIGENOUS RIGHTS ON WET’SUWET’EN TERRITORY

Volunteering

Volunteers are needed for the 2SLGBTQIA+ rally happening on October 21st (See above for rally details for October 21). They are looking for Security and Peacekeepers and chanting leads.

Casino Volunteering – most charities, non-profit groups (NGOs), and other organizations conduct casinos to help them out with their funding. I recently read this in a newsletter: “It was calculated that each volunteer hour generated $640 in funding to Argyll”. (This is a sizable amount of money – I used to say that each volunteer shift provided the NGO with about 2,000$. Great return on time for the volunteer’s time.)What can you legally do that could bring in this kind of funds for a group that you support or what to see stay solvent?
Your community league, your child’s school/kindergarten, your church, community league, etc are always looking for volunteers. The local environmental group, the groups that feed people on the streets, etc also need your participation in casinos (if they do them).

Courses/Workshops

The University of Alberta has several courses on climate change and related subjects. You can find a list of them on the Climate Action at the University of Alberta website.

Employment

If you are looking to get a ‘green job’ you might want to check the GoodWorks website

Apply: See Indigenous Climate Action for details how to apply to this Director of Operations position

Please send things that should be on this list to michael.kalmanovitch@gmail.com

Disclaimer – the Activist Agenda tries to ensure that the information contained within it is accurate but mistakes do happen. Please double-check events and information that are relevant to you to make sure you have the correct date, time, location, and any other relevant information.

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