Heather Baitz, Vice-Chair

Heather Baitz is a founding member of the Nanaimo Climate Action Hub, and has been a climate activist since 2018. She works as a Clinical Psychologist, and has a passion for food forest gardening. Ask Heather about the role of local governments in climate action.

"It's not easy to do this work when we are facing such enormous barriers, but every kilogram of emissions we avoid means the outlook for our future is a little less dire."

Deanna Fourt, Director 

Deanna Fourt is a Climate Action Leadership graduate student who previously held senior sustainability roles over a 15-year career with Island Health. Deanna is interested in how climate change affects nature and how nature can help mitigate its effects and protect us from its impacts. Ask Deanna about community & citizen climate action.

"I am excited to talk to people about the ways they can reduce their environmental impact and increase their resilience to extreme climatic events.”

Laurie Friske, Secretary

Laurie Friskie is a retired Student Advisor, a keen gardener and climate activist. Frustrated by laggard politicians who ignore our rising emissions, she finds joy in working with other Nanaimo Climate Action Hub members to influence and support real climate action at the local level. Ask Laurie about the Sue Big Oil campaign.

“I believe a group of likeminded people with the common goal of supporting concrete action can make a difference.”

Don Giberson, Treasurer

Don Giberson is a professional business coach and founder of Transition Nanaimo Society. In 2023, he started Van Isle Vertical Farms which provides fresh, local, aeroponically-grown produce to area customers. Don also hosts Climate911, a weekly radio show on Nanaimo’s CHLY which explores solutions to the climate emergency. Ask Don about emerging, innovative climate solutions.

“The first step to building a better world is to believe that it is possible.”

Kathryn Jane (K.J.) Hazel, Director

Kathryn Hazel has been an environmental campaigner for five decades. But, as she says, “the personal is political, so I try to live sustainably, too." Her first environmental campaign was in 1974 – to save a stand of old-growth forest at Sproat Lake. She’s participated in several others since then, lobbying all three levels of government to take action on the climate. Kathryn’s background is in communications, so ask her about greenwashing.

“Action feels better than anxiety.”  (Dr. Courtney Howard)

Aragorn Klockars, Director

Aragorn (son of Jim) has been a Nanaimo resident for about 50 years. In high school, he founded an anti-nuclear club and was part of a musically inclined Ventures troupe which inspired his love for nature. Aragorn joined Western Canada Wilderness Committee and the Council of Canadians. He protested at Clayoquot Sound and has worked on crews building Hobbit Hovels from cob. A life-altering traumatic brain injury and deep concern for the environment, keep Aragorn fervently cycling around Nanaimo. Ask Aragorn about cycling infrastructure.