Thematic Engagement

Thematic Engagement is designed to inspire and mobilize citizens through focused, theme-based learning and collaboration.

This program area involves structuring learning and action initiatives around specific climate-related themes. Each theme serves as a focal point for educational activities, community discussions, and collaborative projects. This approach allows participants to dive deep into particular aspects of climate resilience, promoting a comprehensive understanding and targeted actions.

Thematic Engagement aims to transform passive awareness into active participation. This approach not only enhances individual and community resilience, but also fosters a culture of proactive, collaborative problem-solving.

Piikani Nation Stories of Resilience

This program brings people together in dialogue and creativity on what makes us resilient in the context of climate change. Often incorporated as part of broader initiatives, Stories of Resilience uplifts our work on climate adaptation.

Fire & Ice in the Region of Wood Buffalo

Engages citizens in a learning journey about fire and water related threats in their region, plus storytelling techniques and photography skills. The outputs include narratives and visual representation of their learning and thoughts that can be shared with their community.

STORIES OF RESILIENCE

A single story has the power to change our hearts and our minds. Our collective stories, if shared, have the potential to change the future. We want to shine a light on personal and collective Stories of Resilience to raise awareness, build connections, and seize climate adaptation learning opportunities.

In this activity, narratives and photos are collected, then participants are engaged in a discovery of what makes us resilient and how these attributes can prepare us for a changing climate. Our goal is to assemble a network of stories and amplify them with our resources for storytelling, networking, and collaboration.

FIRE & ICE

The Fire & Ice program is a creative process for engaging citizens in dialogue and learning on disaster risk reduction. Participants learn about various climate change and knowledge sharing topics, including glaciers and environmental change, community engagement, photography, wildfire, and writing about change.

In May 2016, residents of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo experienced a serious wildfire, named the Horse River Fire. The region was then hit hard in 2020 by significant ice jam flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic. To aid in recovery of the region and its resilience building, the Canadian Red Cross supported a series of workshops and engagement activities, including the Fire & Ice program, that brought together a small cohort from the social profit sector who embarked on a creative learning journey filled with dialogue on topics about resilience and disaster risk reduction.

During the Fire & Ice program, participants learned about ice jams, glaciology, and wildfire, while gaining new skills in writing and photography through a series of expert workshops. Following the workshop series, participants reflected on their learnings and completed individual written pieces. A public exhibition highlighted the learnings of the program and showcased the outstanding work of some of the diverse voices in the 2022 Fire & Ice cohort. The aim of the exhibition was to inspire the surrounding community to embark on their own reflective learning journey.

MOUNTAIN PROGRAMMING

Coming soon! Growing from our roots in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, this new program area will be home to initiatives that strengthen the resilience of mountain communities to respond to wicked challenges exacerbated by climate change.

Initiatives will be as diverse as our mountains – ranging from adaptation planning, such as climate vulnerability and risk assessments, like the ones we’re doing for Jasper and Hinton, to engaging citizens in activities that promote community-based innovation to strengthen resilience to climate-induced impacts, and offering accessible, virtual courses on mountain matters.

The TRI team will be offering innovative programs dedicated to equipping mountain guides and industry professionals with comprehensive resources for effectively communicating the impacts of climate change to their clients. By empowering guides to communicate effectively with their clients, this initiative will enhance the outdoor experience, and foster a deeper appreciation for the fragile beauty of mountain environments.

Reach out for more information about TRI’s Mountain Programming and become a catalyst for positive change in mountain communities. Together, let’s elevate awareness, inspire action, and preserve our precious mountain ecosystems for generations to come.