51社区黑料

It was summer 2021 and Michelle Gaudet was panicking in the middle of a record-breaking heat dome making its way across B.C. As a communications coordinator for the City of Pitt Meadows, she needed to deliver emergency information to the public about local cooling centres鈥攚hile dealing with her own anxiety. 

As a result of that challenging experience, Michelle says she felt compelled to do something about the climate issues that caused the heat dome in the first place. But she didn鈥檛 know whether she had enough background knowledge to make a difference. Thanks to SFU鈥檚 Climate Action Certificate, she now has reasons to be hopeful for the future. 

In her role, Michelle collaborates with several experts on climate change鈥攆rom city planners to emergency managers. By expanding her own climate knowledge, she explains, she鈥檇 no longer have to rely solely on others鈥� expertise when writing city communications. 

After attending an online info session for the new 51社区黑料program, Michelle realized it was exactly what she had been looking for. 鈥淚 was surprised that it didn鈥檛 exist before, because I thought there would be other people like me who had different backgrounds and just needed the science information.鈥�

Still, Michelle admits to feeling apprehensive at first. 鈥淚 went into the program with a lot of imposter syndrome and was concerned that I wouldn鈥檛 know what I was talking about,鈥� she recalls.

But her instructor鈥檚 encouraging words during the Foundations in Climate Action course gave Michelle the confidence to dive deeper into climate issues. Rather than being overwhelmed by the severity of the climate crisis, she learned about solutions she could put into practice at work.  

鈥淭hey did such a good job at making all of us feel so competent and knowledgeable,鈥� Michelle says. 鈥淚t was a really great introduction to the climate sphere, issues and solutions.鈥�

She says she also loves learning from discussions with her classmates, who come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds, from working at environmental non-profits to city municipalities. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 taught me how to better collaborate between different departments,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just taught me better group dynamics, recognizing who鈥檚 in the room and who鈥檚 not in the room, issues of equity.鈥�

Because Michelle qualified for the StrongerBC future skills grant, she鈥檚 been able to fast-track her studies and finish the program in less than a year.

She encourages everyone to take climate action courses regardless of their profession, as it offers valuable knowledge for life. 

鈥淲hen we鈥檙e scared and worried, we all collectively don鈥檛 do anything. When we have that feeling of hope or agency, that鈥檚 how things happen.鈥�

By Bernice Puzon