Community Impact Conference

by Michelle Kulyk · September 8, 2022

What are people doing about climate change in Nova Scotia?

What are people doing about climate change in rural Nova Scotia?

How are communities leading the way in moving from ideas to action?

In this one-day conference, RCFNS highlights the work of several communities dealing with a wide variety of climate change issues to create a circle of informed, innovative, and supportive problem solvers.

We set the context with RCFNS’ impact giving programs and introduce community members to national initiatives on climate change, truth and reconciliation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We will discuss deep issues underlying climate change work in rural Nova Scotia, such as building trust and mutual benefit between communities with diverse experience and knowledge bases and what the future might hold. And to top off the day, attend an exciting dinner, concert and discussion led by award winning Cape Breton country music artist Drake Jensen.

Join us as we set a path towards a healthy, just, and sustainable future!

Keynote Speaker: Dana Decent

Dana has worked across multiple sectors — non-profit, corporate and academic — all with the goal to advance sustainability in Canada by working with a wide range of people and organizations.

Previously, she worked as Manager of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, a partnership between Intact Financial and the University of Waterloo to prepare Canadians for the impacts of climate change. There she led operations, strategic initiatives and partnership management in the centre’s scaling stages and she also led research on the mental health impacts of flooding.

Dana has also worked as a Sustainability Analyst at Sun Life Financial and as Operations Coordinator at Green Economy Canada. Dana has an M.E.S. in Sustainability Management and a B.E.S. in Environment and Business from the University of Waterloo. She has been recognized as a Clean50 Emerging Leader (2018), named the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association Leader of the Year (2017) and Corporate Knights’ Top 30 Under 30 (2016) and received the St. Paul’s Young Alumni Award (2016).

In her spare time Dana can be found reading, biking, and hiking in her new home of Nova Scotia.

Concert Performer: Drake Jensen

Drake Jensen is a driving force, and a man on a mission, to bridge the gap between the LGBTQ Community and Country Music. Jensen’s vocal style is an earthy combination of Cape Breton grass-roots country with a strong draw to a vintage, organic platform of sound.

Drawing on his ability to spin a yarn, wind it around a note and tie it all with honest emotion and raw passion, Jensen’s music is driving him ever forward, on the road to recognition as a dexterous country vocalist and a force to be reckoned with in the country music genre.

Cape Breton Country Recording Artist Drake Jensen has collaborated with the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia to create a fund for persons who identify with LGBTQI+ and work with the community. He is generously donating 100% of the profits from his new single, “Rise Again”.

The Soaring Eagle Fund’s purpose is to ignite a conversation on challenges facing the LGBTQI+ community in Rural Nova Scotia and identifying and implementing solutions. The fund will focus on these issues and unite the members of the LGBTQI+ community within Nova Scotia to resilience work led by others identifying with LGBTQI+ through conversation and projects within their communities. The initial emphasis of the fund will be on youth projects, but the focus will expand in future years to highlight projects led by other groups. In addition to grants to qualified donees (accordance to CRA) and often in partnership with community organizations, The Soaring Eagle Fund Program will encompass convening, capacity-building, outreach, and other activities which further its goals.

Community Impact Conference: Climate Commitments In Action AGENDA

Saturday Morning:

Intro (9-9:15)
Welcome from Elder, the Town of Port Hawkesbury and RCFNS
RCFNS’s Commitment to Climate Change (Canadian Philanthropic Commitment to Climate Change and the Philanthropic Communities’ Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation) UN Sustainable Goals
Keynote Speaker (9:15-9:45) Dana Decent, with the Community Foundation of Canada Keynote Speaker on community building and the UN Sustainable Goals (specifically Goals #13) and open floor discussion
RCFNS (9:45-10:30) Impact Granting by RCFNS
Brenda Chisholm-Beaton: Women in Politics
Tahirih Paul: Climate Action in Potlotek First Nations
Jordan Mackie: Mobile Music Studio.
Break (10:30-10:45)
Round Table: (10:45 – 12:00)
Relationship Building with First Nations on Climate Action, Land/water Guardians

Saturday Afternoon: