Thank you to all the speakers, panelists, community organizations and, of course, our wonderful NCC25 attendees. Together, we created a successful catalyzing climate action event!
Thank you to Jenni Ottilie Kepler for this generous creation, which beautifully captures the themes and content from the event.
Seth Klein, Opening Keynote
Seth is the Team Lead and Director of Strategy with the Climate Emergency Unit. Prior to that, he served for 22 years as the founding director of the British Columbia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), a social justice think tank. He is now a freelance policy consultant, speaker, researcher and writer, and author of A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency.
Seth is a regular columnist with Canada’s National Observer, an adjunct professor with Simon Fraser University’s Urban Studies program, and serves on the board of the BC Society for Policy Solutions.
Seth’s keynote address can be viewed below:
Andrew Gage, Featured Speaker
Andrew was an environmental activist before he was an environmental lawyer: he was accepted into law school shortly after being arrested for protesting logging in Clayoquot Sound, on Vancouver Island’s West Coast. During law school Andrew helped found the University of Victoria’s Environmental Law Centre. Andrew is currently project lead for West Coast's Climate Change program. Under his direction the program has focused on the legal and professional consequences – to industry, government and professionals – of failing to address climate change.
Andrew’s talk “Why and how we should make polluters pay?” can be viewed below.
Presenter Line-Up:
Geraldine Manson, Guest of Honour
In her role as a VIU Elder-in-Residence, Geraldine shares her Traditional Knowledge, working directly with students and Faculty/Professors in Health and Human Services programs at VIU and the Shq’apthut/Gathering Place. Geraldine is a member of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and is married to Earl Manson. She has worked for her community since 1980 and credits her cultural wisdom and education to her Elders, present, and Elders who have passed on. As the Elders’ Coordinator for Snuneymuxw First Nation, she carries many other responsibilities that relate to culture and traditions in the community. Geraldine served 12 years as an elected council-member and continues to be mentored in the traditional cultural practices of the Snuneymuxw people.
Laura Lynch, Closing Keynote
Laura Lynch is an award-winning journalist and is the host of CBC’s What On Earth. In the course of her career, she has reported from across Canada and around the world. In the 1990’s she covered the Supreme Court of Canada as it broke new ground with precedent setting Charter of Rights rulings. She has also covered Parliament Hill, covering everything from gun control, to abortion to international trade. Internationally, Laura was based in Washington D.C. during and after the attacks of September 11, 2001, then was posted to London for 9 tumultuous years that featured political turmoil and violent attacks blamed on terrorism. She reported from many other nations and conflicts too numerous to list. After many years abroad, Laura is back where she started in Vancouver using her years of experience to tell Canadians what they need to know about climate change, its challenges and solutions.
Crystal Starr Lewis, Breakout Session Speaker
At just 19 and 24 years old, Crystal ran in two Squamish Nation Council elections, centering her campaign on sustainability, wellness, transparency, and affordable housing. In 2019, she was invited by the North Vancouver NDP to run in the federal election but respectfully declined following the profound personal loss of her mother, sister, and uncle that same year. Shortly after, Crystal was selected as one of only five individuals across Canada to work on Parliament Hill, supporting MP Mumilaaq Qaqqaq and contributing to the development of GreenPAC’s Indigenous Youth Parliamentary Internship Stream—an initiative aimed at creating safer, more inclusive spaces for Indigenous youth in politics.
Crystal later helped shape Canada’s first-ever Youth Policy, amplifying youth voices through national policy roundtables and her work with the Prime Minister’s Youth Council. She remains deeply engaged in youth advocacy and policy development through various forums, boards, and advisory roles, including with We Matter, BC AFN Youth Forums, and other youth-led initiatives.
Chloë Fraser, Breakout Session Speaker
Chloë Fraser is a storyteller, communications strategist, and facilitator committed to driving impactful community action across Canada, and currently works in communications at the Pacific Salmon Foundation, where she translates critical fish and climate science into stories that resonate with diverse audiences. Chloë has taught an accredited storytelling course at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and led dozens of workshops on climate communications. Chloë was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Under 25 Environmental Leaders and was featured among the National Observer’s climate leaders column. She holds a BA in Economics, Law, and Ethics from Sciences Po Paris and a degree in International Relations and Creative Writing from UBC.
Kevin Good, Breakout Session Speaker
A proud member of the Snuneymuxw and Tseshaht First Nations, Kevin’s career began by completing Craft Worker Level 1 at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Over time, Kevin transitioned from labour positions into advocacy and leadership roles. His passion for mental health and community empowerment led him to participate in the We Matter program in Winnipeg, where he was selected as a National Ambassador of Hope. At the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) Youth Summit on Environment and Climate Action, Kevin collaborated with other Indigenous youth to develop and present climate policy recommendations to government leaders. Kevin has since brought his advocacy to both provincial and international stages—working in B.C.’s wildfire sector and raising Indigenous voices on environmental and social issues at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Teddy Kellam, Breakout Session Speaker
Teddy is a therapist and group facilitator, who works at the intersection of climate & mental health. As a faculty member of the Climate Emotional Resilience Institute, Teddy offers workshops on Wise Parenting in Uncertain Times, Navigating the Emotional Impact of Climate Change with Students, and Resilience for Wild Times: Building Your Inner Resources. Her strength is in supporting the supporters - parents, educators, climate advocates, caring professionals, therapists and changemakers who wish to sustain their good work in the world. She blends climate psychology, somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, guided reflection, social justice themes and emotional processing into heart-centered and enjoyable experiences that inspire and foster resilience-building.
David Quigg, Breakout Session Speaker
In his Organizer role at Sierra Club B.C., David invites all to consider their role in this all-hands-on-deck moment for life and the multi-generational responsibilities we have to each other and the more than human world. He believes that our only limit is our imagination, and he works closely with SCBC Local Leaders to re-imagine a better world designed for healing, climate-cooling, and growing deeper roots of inter-connection with all life. As a settler, he recognizes his responsibility to listen and learn from the Indigenous peoples of these lands and waters. He acknowledges that the roots of the climate and biodiversity crises are planted in colonization and solutions lie in decolonization and supporting Indigenous-led pathways.
Elise Boulanger, Musical Guest
Elise Boulanger is a sweet darkness wrapped in orchestral instrumentation. Hailing from Nanaimo, this Chamber-Folk-Pop artist completely captivates audiences with her haunting avalanche of a voice. Boulanger is a bilingual multi-instrumentalist and composer that creates cinematic dreamscapes. Her lyrics are poetic, evocative and questioning. Her style is built upon her classical training and influences from both nature and artists such as Regina Spektor, Patrick Watson, Franz Schubert and Radiohead. We are excited to have Elise bring her musical gifts to our Friday night Climate Cafe!
Community Fair Exhibitors
Nanaimo Climate Connections 2025 is possible thanks to generous support from the City of Nanaimo’s Environmental Sustainability Community Project Grant and the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions.
Thank you to these sponsors for their support.
Come visit our sponsors in the Community Fair!
