Newsletter: September 2024

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 –

A Message from our President

Almost a decade ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released 94 calls to action for Canadians and our governments to follow. Most are still woefully incomplete and Indigenous rights are still sorely lacking across the country.

Small Change Fund is expanding our work to act in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples to make the calls to action a reality. Our goal is to amplify, support and respect Indigenous voices nationwide through consultation, conversation and learning.

We have partnered on a few initiatives to make that happen, from hosting a project to develop an Indigenous midwifery program, to advocating for an Anishnabe-led moose management plan. We are also partnering on a Fairy Creek documentary that tells the Indigenous story, as well as supporting communities, including several First Nations, on the frontlines of the climate crisis as they address industrial development and environmental racism.

And we will do more. We are looking at how lobbying can potentially help and we are committed as staff to learn and grow through the many resources available, including this free course, and more.

As a settler-led organization, we know we have many gaps in understanding and a lot of learning ahead of us. We embrace that learning and hope to use our skills to help address the systemic inequalities faced by Indigenous communities. Look to read more about our efforts to make the Commission’s work a reality in future newsletters.

– Burkhard

Championing Better Access to Transit in Toronto

The Transit Champions project was a huge success thanks to the generosity of our donors and the hard work and dedication of our partners at TTCriders. Collectively, champions supported through this project gave 40 public trainings and presentations about public transit issues to a variety of audiences. You can read more about the success of this initiative here.

If you’re interested in supporting public transit access in Toronto, we are continuing to partner with TTCriders on Organizing Transit Users. Through this project, we are equipping transit users in Toronto with the skills to speak up for reliable, fast and affordable transit.

In Solidarity with Grassy Narrows

On September 18th, 8,000 people marched alongside 100 Grassy Narrows community members in Toronto in support of justice for the community. Grassy Narrows First Nation, a community in Northwestern Ontario, has suffered from decades of mercury contamination in the Wabigoon River. Studies have shown that over 90% of residents have symptoms of mercury poisoning.

Small Change Fund Campaign Coordinator Jen Teixeira participated in the march as a member of SURJ-TO. “Over the past three years of organizing this march, I have been inspired by people from Grassy who share their stories, as well as the settlers who use their power and privilege to speak up for what they believe in,” shared Jen. “We will continue to stand strong and fight until the people of Grassy Narrows are fairly compensated for the mercury crisis.”

Supporting Climate Action Through Government Relations

We are pleased to fund efforts by the Centre for Policy Alternatives to translate research into policy action. A 2023 poll showed that 75% of Manitoba residents are in support of incorporating climate change into all provincial policies and initiatives. Our funding will support a comprehensive provincial climate action strategy.

We are also funding Protect Our Winters Canada to leverage the outdoor recreation industry in the fight against climate change in hopes of securing a strong national emissions cap. Preliminary research has shown that outdoor recreation represents $78.4 billion dollars annually and nearly 1 million full-time jobs. This means that the outdoor recreation industry is some 25% larger than the entire fossil fuel industry.

Illustrating a Better Future for All

Our partners at the Climate Emergency Unit hosted a series of ground painting parties to mark a Day of Action for a Youth Climate Corps. Supporters took to the streets in St. John’s, Toronto, Guelph, Edmonton and Montreal to create works of art in their cities in support of a national program to employ youth in green jobs. Click here to learn more about our work to advance climate emergency policy in Canada.

Going Blue

We are working with the Council of Canadians on Blue Community Schools, a program that encourages elementary and high school students to protect water as a common resource and to advocate for the human right to water and sanitation. The program provides teachers across Canada with educational tools and offers “Blue Certification” to schools that ban the sale of bottled water and support public water infrastructure and utilities.

Small News Bites

A big thank you to Jacqueline Lee-Tam for all her hard work as Director of the Climate Justice Organizing HUB. We wish Jaqueline all the best with her future endeavours and would like to congratulate Sara Adams on succeeding Jaqueline as Director.
October 1st is Seniors Day of Climate Action! Click here to find an event near you.
Also on October 1st, join our partners at the Alliance for a Liveable Ontario for a virtual conversation on how to keep affordable housing and healthy, climate resilient communities front of mind in the next provincial election. Learn more here.
The Halifax Regional Municipality expanded their Student Transit Pass Pilot Program to cover all students in grades 7-12. This means more than 28,000 students from 59 schools are eligible for free passes this school year! We are proud to provide support to the municipality through our Get on the Bus program.
Our partners at the ReCover Initiative are hosting launch events across the Atlantic provinces, beginning October 16 in Halifax. You can learn more and register here.
Check out the incredible results of a conservation project led by the Seal River Watershed Alliance. We are pleased to have supported the Alliance as they work towards creating an Indigenous Protected Area on their ancestral lands.

We hope everyone is having an enjoyable start to the autumn season!

Sincerely, The Small Change Fund Team

P.S. Your donation directly to Small Change Fund allows us to keep improving services and supports to help more grassroots projects succeed nationwide. Thank you for helping make change!

P.P.S: September 21st was the one year anniversary of the Greenbelt Victory! We are still blown away by the support from our donors and partners in this fight – thanks to you, 7,500 acres were saved from development and remain part of Ontario’s Greenbelt.

P.P.P.S. We have now distributed more than 3,500 emissions caps across the country – and worldwide! In fact, a box of our caps was delivered to New York City for last week’s Climate Week. If you have one of the caps we’d love to see your pictures! You can share on social media with #EmissionsCap and please tag @SmallChangeFund.

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