There are currently 5 members on the Peterborough-Kawartha Green Party of Canada Electoral District Association Executive. These members were elected at the Annual General Meeting in February 2022. Their terms conclude at the Annual General Meeting to be held May 10, 2023.
On December 16, 2021, we hosted Malaika Collette, a Peterborough Adam Scott graduate, to tell of her experience at COP26 in Glasgow (October 31 to November 12, 2021). Malaika has worked on Green Party campaigns and also has been actively involved with Mock COP26, a global movement of young climate activists. Mock COP26 sponsored her participation in Glasgow. (COP26 is the acronym for the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, 26th session. It refers to the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change which was signed in 1992).
The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer period. Photos and charts accompanied the presentation.
Malaika described (and showed us pictures of) the various zones at the conference. She was able to get a badge to enter the “Blue Zone” – where all negotiations take place and plenary leaders make their speeches. A Green Zone was designated for the general public.
Malaika mentioned that she is grateful for having had brief conversations with both Elizabeth May and Mike Morrice, who were able to connect her to other people.
She showed us the Action zone where interviews were given and where work groups were organized.
In the two plenary rooms there were high level events that went on all day and every day. An event called the “Civil Society Plenary” provided the organizations like Mock COP26 an opportunity to give addresses.
One of the highlights for Malaika was the Education Ministers’ Summit. Mock COP26, along with the UK and Italian governments and Unesco, had helped to organize this. This was the first time that Education Ministers attended a COP meeting as a formal group.
What was especially heartening was that twenty-three national pledges on climate education came out of this group.
Malaika and others had an opportunity to ask the Ministers questions. Also, a member of MockCOP26 gave an address.
There were actions or groups doing demonstrations and rallies inside and outside of buildings for much of the time. This built morale and new friendships. The Climate Justice March drew 30, 000 people to the streets of Glasgow. This event in particular reminded Malaika of the power of the people, especially young people and indigenous youth who were behind this movement. The young people’s goal was basically to be there to hold their leaders accountable.
Some negative outcomes from COP26:
The wording: phasing down of fossil fuels rather than phasing them out.
We are not on track for holding the global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees celsius
No funds were promised for loss or damage due to climate change
The largest delegation was from fossil fuel lobbyists. They withdrew their address when they realized the large number of potential protesters.
Positive Outcomes:
Education Ministers’ Summit
Reference to fossil fuels were in the text for the first time.
Many countries signed the pledge to work against deforestation.
The findings of IPCC were welcomed.
Malaika spoke at a Mock COP26 panel in the Green Zone and also participated in a virtual reality exhibit. She attended many events, rallies and connected with people from all over the world.
Questions and Answers about the Presentation:
Q. Did Canada send an education minister?
A. No, probably because in Canada the provinces are responsible for education and we do not have a Federal Education Minister.
Q. Was there any talk about what is driving world leaders to not take action because of the capitalistic need for growth?
A. It comes down to a country’s economy. Some countries have a significant reliance on fossil fuels as consumers.
Q. Can you give us an example of a question, which you asked at the Education Summit?
A. Are countries willing to invest in climate teacher training, and would you allow youth to take a major part in the design of that? One takeaway is that everything comes back to the local level as far as both initiative and results are concerned.
Q. Describe one action that stood out for you.
A. On the last day, hundreds or thousands of people outside in the rain dancing and chanting. Celebrating the fact that we were there.
Also, after the first draft text came out, a group of 30 or 40 reminded them that “we’re watching you”. And signs reading: “Keep it in the text” (reference to fossil fuels)
Q. How did you identify fossil fuel representatives? What did they talk about?
A. Representatives of Shell were easily identifiable…?
Q. Was there anyone there from municipal governments?
A. The mayor of London was the only one I recognized from the list of delegates
Q. What advice do you have for the Green Party? Can we use the Summit outcomes in our messaging?
A. It was hopeful to see a lot of Greens at the conference from around the world. It is good that they reached an agreement but the results could have been stronger. Hopefully it is useful to Greens around the world
Q. What has your post-Cop26 experience been like?
A. A bit of letdown because it was such an immersive experience.
Q. What is next for you?
A. A lot of people are burned out but the movement is growing. There will be more days of action and lobbying. We need to continue to keep energized. Meanwhile, I am working locally with KWIK.
This account was created by Mary and Greg Conchelos, PK Greens volunteers who attended the session.
Here is a link to a profile of Chanté White, our Green Party of Canada candidate for the next federal election, published in the Peterborough Examiner.
We are pleased to announce that two well known proponents of climate action and social justice will contend for the Federal Green Party nomination at an on-line meeting open to the public on Wednesday, August 4, 2021.
Chanté White
Chanté White is a second generation Canadian, born to immigrant parents from Guyana and Jamaica. She grew up in Toronto, ON. She is a recent graduate from Trent University Peterborough with an honours degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Political Studies. She has a deep love for nature and the environment and is a leading member of the Climate Reality Project, a non-profit founded by VP Al Gore.
Her passion for politics stems from her desire to better her local community and her overarching goal of dismantling racial injustice in Canada. She has spent years volunteering within the community advocating for youth and working with politicians for more accessible mental health care, environmental protections, affordable education, and many other issues facing Canadians today. Chanté has published several articles on environmental policy for Electric City Magazine and most recently collaborated with the District Health Unit to develop a policy scan to identify gaps in climate change mitigation policies.
Chanté is committed to the development of a sustainable, healthy and diverse community, and to helping aid the shift to a circular economy. With her multicultural approach to local politics and knowledge of environmental policy, she is determined to help develop modern approaches to some of our most prevalent issues. Chanté loves her community and enjoys being a part of progress. She is excited to meet you all and prove to you why she should be your Green Party Candidate and future political leader.
Guy Hanchet
Guy has cared about environmental issues since he was a boy scout in his teens where he learned to leave his camp site better than he found it. He became passionate about advocating for action to combat the climate crisis when his granddaughter was born in 2010. When she asks, “Grandpa, you knew it was bad, why didn’t you do more?” he wants to be able to reply, “I did whatever I could.”
Guy was instrumental in creating the Peterborough Chapter of The Leap Manifesto which brought together local social justice organizations to collaborate on all the intersecting issues of climate justice under the concept of taking care of the earth and of each other.
Guy has spoken many times on the topic of the Climate Crisis including as the warm up act for David Suzuki at the November 29, 2015 March for Climate Solutions in Ottawa before a crowd of 25,000.
B.Sc. Mathematics, McGill University, 1972
Co-Founder and current Chair of For Our Grandchildren
Past President of Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough
Climate Reality leader trained by Al Gore in San Francisco in 2012
Member of Citizens Climate Lobby since 2012
Past member of Transition Town Board of Directors
Past chair of the Kawartha Loon Exchange Board of Governors
Co-Founder of Peterborough Leap Manifesto
Member of the Green Party of Canada Peterborough and Kawarthas Executive
Two well known proponents of climate action and social justice will contend for the Federal Green Party nomination at an on-line meeting open to the public on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 7:30.
The meeting will be held on Zoom at the link below. Please register at least 15 minutes before the meeting starts. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Chanté White is a Trent U. Environmental Studies and Political Science graduate who has spent years volunteering and advocating for youth, more accessible mental health care, environmental protections, affordable education and other ways integrate racial and social justice with climate action.
Guy Hanchet, a McGill graduate, is a co-founder and current chair of For Our Grandchildren. He was instrumental in creating the Peterborough Chapter of The Leap Manifesto which brought together local social justice organizations to collaborate on all the intersecting issues of climate justice under the concept of taking care of the earth and of each other.
Coincidentally, both contestants are trained members of the Climate Reality Project founded by Al Gore.
(Peterborough) July 1, 2021 – Nominations for the Green Party of Canada candidacy in Peterborough-Kawartha are closing on Wednesday, July 7th. “While we are very pleased with the contestants that have been approved so far, there is room for more!” says Roberta Herod, CEO of the electoral district association. “Room, but not much more time. Our planetary home is sizzling, and only the Green Party is treating this as an emergency. Climate emergency mobilization can bring jobs and fairness with it. Running for the Green Party is a great way to make a difference.”
Anyone interested in running for the position must complete the on-line application at greenparty.ca before the deadline in order to be considered.
Chanté White is a second generation Canadian, born to immigrant parents from Guyana and Jamaica. She grew up in Toronto, ON. She is a recent graduate from Trent University Peterborough with an honours degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Political Studies. She has a deep love for nature and the environment and is a leading member of the Climate Reality Project, a non-profit founded by VP Al Gore. 
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