Meet the 2024 Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions

In the Climate Leadership Plan, the City of Kingston worked with residents and organizations in the Kingston community to identify opportunities for climate action, at the community level, that will help promote climate adaptation and mitigation.

One of those actions was the creation of the Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions, a program designed to empower residents to inspire their friends and neighbourhoods to work together to advance local climate action.

The 2024 Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions led 12 incredible projects across Kingston:

Autumn smiles holding a basket of potatoes grown in the garden. A photo of a garden education session on a front lawn

Autumn empowered community members to transform their lawns from grass to food growing gardens.

Big poster with kids' drawings, sharing their ideas for community climate ideas. Drawings including, people, trees, birds, kites, people, soccer fields, cats and plants.

Big poster with kids' drawings, sharing their ideas for community climate ideas. Drawings including, people, trees, birds, kites, people, soccer fields, cats and plants.

Jessica collaborated with St. Martha's Elementary School to empower students to create positive change in their community through climate action initiatives that nurtured their understanding of environmental issues and created future champions of sustainability.
Marks stands at a booth under a tent, sharing information about cold climate heat pumps and home energy retrofits,

Marks stands at a booth under a tent, sharing information about cold climate heat pumps and home energy retrofits,

Mark worked with neighbours to discuss ways to reduce their carbon footprint, focusing on deep energy retrofits in their homes. A group of seven people stand for a group photo at the Plantiful event. They are smiling, holding plant based cookbooks and recipes.

A group of seven people stand for a group photo at the Plantiful event. They are smiling, holding plant based cookbooks and recipes.

Rex worked with 350Kingston to promote the Plantiful project, leading events, sharing recipes and educating people about adopting plant-based diets, reducing emissions and local food systems.

On the left is an image of black cherry seedlings in milk cartons, prior to being planted. On the right, Susie attends the Kingston Climate Expo, sharing information about planting little forests.

On the left is an image of black cherry seedlings in milk cartons, prior to being planted. On the right, Susie attends the Kingston Climate Expo, sharing information about planting little forests.

Susie led the establishment of a "little forest" by helping residents of Grenville Park plant 1,000 native shrub and tree seedlings.

Three volunteers stand on a front lawn holding shovels, as they prepare to plant a garden.

Liz increased native plant gardens in the Kingscourt-Rideau District by providing homeowners with an education guide, plants (or seed packets) and for some participants, volunteer help in building the garden.

A presenter stands in front of a classroom sharing information on how to sort recycling with a group of student participants.

Neeraj and Bhavya led workshops to inform Queen's students about proper waste management practices in the city.

Nathan leans into the seed garden, reaching for a plant. On the right, a native flower species that was planted in the seed garden.

Nathan established two habitat seed gardens and led workshops to introduce the public to native plant species, the process of setting up habitat gardens, as well as seed gathering and winter sowing.