About Us

The West Kootenay Climate Hub is made up of volunteers working to meet the urgency of the climate crisis. We want ambitious climate action! We also want to help.

Our mission is to accelerate climate action in our region, primarily through facilitating connections, communication and collaboration among those locally engaged in addressing the climate crisis.

We are guided by the following values:

Optimism: constructive actions, grounded in positivity and hope
Community: connect, share, and collaborate
Non-partisan: cooperate across political spectrums
Curiosity: openness to learning, reflecting and evidence-based knowledge
Empowerment: personal purpose, intention, and action

Since officially forming in October 2021, climate hub volunteers and partners connect monthly to discuss local climate initiatives, create networking opportunities, host webinars, organize community events and meet with elected representatives.

We gratefully acknowledge that we live on the traditional and unceded territories of the Sinixt, the Ktunaxa, the Syilx peoples.

We are part of the Canada-wide community climate hub initiative.

Meet the organizing team

Laura Sacks

I currently focus my efforts on climate advocacy and empowering others to take action. I founded the local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby and am a Regional Organizer for the Community Climate Hub initiative. I am a trained Climate Reality Leader, and an En-ROADS climate ambassador providing workshops on climate solutions. Before focusing on climate, I had a career as a hydrologist, operated a small organic farm, and helped raise two daughters. This work is ultimately driven by my concern for their future.

Ron Robinson

I have been involved with Citizens’ Climate Lobby Nelson - West Kootenay since 2013 and now West Kootenay Climate Hub. I will be facilitating a third climate discussion group for Learning in Retirement and continue to have climate related letters published in national and regional papers across Canada. In my spare time, I’m an active artist in mixed media and sculpture.

Diana van Eyk

I have been an environmental and social justice activist for the past forty years in Victoria, Whitehorse and Nelson. I am now living in Winlaw where I explore permaculture, multi-generational and rural living, and what it's like to be an activist in the Slocan Valley.

Anni Holtby

Bringing a background in community development, organizational research, and project management to my climate advocacy, I strive to facilitate a culture of learning and engagement. I have volunteered as an advocacy trainer with Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Stop Ecocide Canada, and BC Library Trustees. Creating a healthy, vibrant community is deeply important to me; which is one reason, I volunteer with the local public library. Currently in my retirement, I am attempting to re-wild our small property with native plant species.

Steven Cretney

I’m a professional designer and facilitator using my communication skills to inspire action and create positive impact. Through my Nelson-based design and engagement studio, theforest.ca, I work with non-profits, charities and do-gooders. I amplify their good work and powerful ideas to make the world safer, cleaner and fairer for everyone.

Craig DeLong

As a forest ecologist researcher, I have a long history with linking climate to ecosystems with research in forest classification, natural disturbance ecology, and old growth forest dynamics. I have a keen interest in projects that help reduce our impacts on the environment. I am a director of the Kootenay Outdoor and Environmental Learning Society and project lead for the Rossland Refactory which takes waste plastic from the local area and turns it in to products that can be sold locally.