Cities in Action: Bay Area Climate Change Summit 2019

Cities in Action Launch: Hope In Action7:00 – 9:00 pm, March 25, 2019
Doors open at 6:15 for Registration, Refreshments and Networking
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, BurlingtonPlease join us for this free public event to kick off the Bay Area’s largest-ever Climate Change Summit. We’re thrilled to welcome Åsa Karlsson Björkmarker, Chair of ICLEI Europe, here from Sweden to share stories of how Europe’s cities are taking action to create stronger, more resilient economies while reducing carbon emissions and preparing for climate change impacts.  Join in the discussion!

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Day 1: Climate and Economy

8:00 am – 4:30 pm March 26, 2019
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, Burlington

“Working together, we can fight climate change. This is about the world we want today — and for our kids and grandkids. Canada has an incredible opportunity. We can use the ingenuity of Canadians, transition to a cleaner future, and be a leader for the world.”

Minister Catherine McKenna (from @cathmckenna, Dec 31, 2018)

Day One will feature some of Canada’s and the Bay Area’s leading thinkers and companies to explore the relationship between climate change and the economy, new innovation and real action being taken to build the economy while transitioning to a cleaner future.

Here is a taste of what to expect, and a few of our speakers. More speakers to be announced soon!

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Keynote: Economic Implications of Climate Change

• Glen Hodgson, Commissioner, Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission
• Introduction and Discussion moderated by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce

Communication & Changing Behaviour – Moderated by Sustainable Hamilton Burlington
Panel

• David Photiadis, Director, The Delphi Group
• Brian Paré, Business Analyst – Procurement, Walker Emulsions
• Mark Kardos, Senior Sustainability Consultant, UL Environment
• More speakers to be announced shortly

Networking Lunch

Climate Innovation & Technology
Panel

• Drew Hauser, Director, McCallum Sather
• Tony Cupido, Research Chair, Sustainability, Mohawk College
• Paul Smith, Senior Policy Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
• Atif Kubursi, Professor (Emeritus) of Economics, McMaster University and President, Econometric Research Ltd.
• Steven Martin, CEO, Pond Technologies

Circular Economy
Keynote

• Melissa Mirowski, Country Sustainability Specialist, IKEA Group

Panel

• Pierre Larabie, Business Services Manager, Danby Appliances
• Mike McKay, Managing Director, DeSpray Environmental
• Peter Hargreave, President, Policy Integrity

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Day 2: Energy and Community

8:00 am – 4:30 pm March 27, 2019
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, Burlington

Over 80% of Canadians live in urban areas in 2019. Cities are the greatest consumers of energy, and have some of the greatest opportunities to impact climate change. Join us for Day Two to learn about action being taken in Hamilton and Burlington and beyond to transition to low carbon, resilient cities for today and future generations.

Here is a taste of what to expect, and a few of our speakers. More speakers to be announced soon!

Welcome and Opening Remarks

Morning Keynote: Bay Area’s Low Carbon Future
Yuill Herbert, Director, Sustainability Solutions Group

Bay Area Climate Change Council Work Plan Highlights

Sustainable Buildings and Energy – Moderated by Alectra

• Betsy Agar, Senior Analyst, Buildings and Urban Solutions, Pembina Institute
• Troy Hare, P.Eng., M.Sc., President & CEO, Hamilton Utilities Corporation & HCE Technologies
• Jeff Ranson, Regional Director – Greater Toronto Area, Canada Green Building Council

Networking Lunch: Meet the Bay Area Climate Change Council

Afternoon Keynote – Investing in a Low Carbon Future

• Julia Langer, CEO, The Atmospheric Fund

Stream A: Green Investment Financing

• Randy LeClair, Manager, Capital Markets, City of Toronto Green Bond
• Melissa Menzies, Senior Associate, Sustainable Finance Solutions, Sustainalytics
• Kelly O’Neill, Senior Manager, Environmental, TD Bank

Steam B: Local Energy Stories

• Chris Shilton, Energy Project Manager, CityHousing Hamilton
• Mariano Arriaga, General Manager – Energy and Power Innovation Centre, Mohawk College
• Dr. Jim Cotton, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, McMaster University

TED Style Presentations – Energy and Community (BACCC members)

• Michael Mikulak, Acting Senior Director, Community Impact, United Way Halton & Hamilton
• Victoria Brzozowski, Waste Management Coordinator, Customer Support Services, Hamilton Health Sciences
• Anita Cassidy, Acting Executive Director, Burlington Economic Development Corporation

Report Back & Wrap Up

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Day 3: Transportation and Health

8:00 am – 4:30 pm March 28, 2019
Royal Botanical Gardens Auditorium,
680 Plains Rd W, Burlington

Transportation, how we get around in and between our cities has a profound impact on our greenhouse gas emissions, our health and our economy. Day Three features the Bay Area Transportation Forum, featuring transportation solutions of today and tomorrow: current realities and future possibilities.

Here is a taste of what to expect, and a few of our speakers. More speakers to be announced soon!

Welcome & Setting the Stage

• Peter Topalovic, Project Manager-Sustainable Mobility Programs, City of Hamilton
• Kaylan Edgcumbe, Manager of Transportation Planning and Parking, City of Burlington
• Trevor Imhoff, Senior Project Manager – Air Quality & Climate Change, City of Hamilton

Local Leaders Panel

• Vito Tolone, Director of Transportation Services, City of Burlington
• Brian Hollingworth, Director of Transportation Planning and Parking, City of Hamilton
• Dr. Hamidah Meghani, Medical Officer of Health and Commissioner, Halton Region Health Department
• Dr. Myles Sergeant, Director of Medically Complex Care Unit, Hamilton Health Sciences
• Chelsea Cox, General Manager, Hamilton Bike Share
• Dr. Fran Scott, Acting Director, McMaster Institute for Healthier Environments
• Jason Thorne, General Manager Planning and Economic Development, City of Hamilton (Moderator)

Workshop – Innovation in a Box – The Future of Transportation in the Bay Area

Stream A: New Mobility

• Andrea Lendak, Associate, IBI
• Marty Gray, Manager of Public Policy, Uber
• Jason Hammond, President, Wroute Inc.
• Chris Schafer, Senior Director of Strategic Development, Lime
• Dr. Mark Ferguson, Senior Research Associate, McMaster Institute for Transportation and Logistics
• MODERATOR TBD

Stream B: The Climate Around School Travel

• Dr. Matthew Adams, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of Toronto Mississauga
• Kate Berry, Program Director – Ontario Active School Travel, Green Communities Canada
• Rebecca Bassett-Gunter, Associate Professor, York University
• Amanda O’Rouke, Executive Director, 8 80 Cities (Moderator)

Keynote: Walking and Cycling Towards Change
Kate Whitfield, Senior Associate Engineer/Planner, Alta Planning + Design

Transportation Forum Closing Remarks

• Peter Topalovic
• Kaylan Edgcumbe

Summit Report Back and Wrap Up

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Day 4: Bay Area Climate Change Youth Summit

9:15 am – 4:30 pm March 29, 2019
McMaster Innovation Park,
175 Longwood Road, Hamilton

Our future: Our Opportunity encapsulates the theme for Day 4, the Bay Area’s first Climate Change Youth Summit. An immersive, 1-day experience at the McMaster Innovation Park with workshops focused on green jobs, protecting our built and natural environment, and building a climate-ready city.

Climate Change Virtual Reality Experiences by House of VR
Available all day, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Networking Breakfast and Registration
9:15 am – 10:00 am

• Light breakfast and coffee

Welcome
10:00 am – 10:05 am 

Land Acknowledgement
10:05 am – 10:30 am 

It’s Our Future, It’s Our Opportunity: Building a Climate-Change Ready Ontario
10:30 am – 11:15 am

• Kate Flynn, Centre for Climate Change Management at Mohawk College, and Alanna Bodo, McMaster University

Morning Breakout Sessions
11:30 am- 12:30 pm

Panel Discussion #1: Green jobs and the New Economy

• EcoCanada: Claudine Vidallo, Director of Research
• Women in Renewable Energy: Joanna Osawe, Executive Director & Co-Founder

 Panel Discussion #2: Supporting Climate Change-Ready Communities

• IBI Group: Vikram Hardatt, Program Manager Smart Commute Hamilton
• City of Toronto, Public Energy Initiatives: Stewart Dutfield, Program Manager Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)

Panel Discussion #3: Protecting the Natural Environment in the Age of Climate Change

• City of Hamilton, Landscape Architecture: Cynthia Graham, Manager of Landscape Architectural Services
• Conservation Hamilton: Kim Barrett, Associate Director, Science & Partnerships

Networking Lunch
12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

• Full lunch with vegetarian and vegan options available

Climate Change Improv
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Fireside Chat with Green Tech Entrepreneur
1:30 pm – 2:25 pm
Stephanie McLarty, CEO, Refficient

Afternoon break
2:25 pm – 2:45 pm

• Afternoon snack, coffee and networking

Afternoon Breakout Sessions
2:45 pm – 3:45 pm

Panel Session #1 – Advocate For Climate Change Policy

• Burlington Green: Amy Schnurr, Executive Director
• Environmental Hamilton: Ian Borsuk, Climate Change Campaign Coordinator

Panel Session #2 – Finding a Green Job

• Mitacs: Ryan Caldwell, Business Development Specialist
• Mohawk College Career Services: Sally Simpson, Career and Student Success Coach

Panel Session #3 – Supporting Your Community

• Social Planning and Research Council of Hamilton: Matt Thompson, Community Financial Worker
• McMaster Office of Community Engagement: Dave Heidebrecht, Manager

Report back and wrap up:
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Summit Ends
4:30 pm