Municipalities are the most dynamic and innovative order of government in Canada. Being on the front lines of Canadians’ daily lives means that municipal leaders must be constantly responsive to new challenge and opportunities as they arise. That responsibility means we must constantly be learning and seeking new partnerships.

That’s why FCM is proud to present our newest webinar series: Collective. Through this series, we will bring to you in-depth conversations and discussions designed to connect you to the latest thinking around some of the most pressing challenges in Canadian municipal life.

These new connections—delivered alongside partners from the most cutting-edge leaders in the private sector—will help you re-examine your community’s needs and develop new solutions to stay ahead of the curve.

Join us as we present a moderated discussion with a wide array of panelists, and take your questions.


NEW WEBINAR

Creative collaboration for climate adaptation: Innovative models for community resilience
Tuesday, March 19, 12–1 p.m. (ET)

Presented by Co-operators

Co-operators logo

The next FCM Collective webinar will explore creative, multi-stakeholder collaborations in municipalities working to help build climate-resilient communities.

Don Iveson, former Mayor of Edmonton, and current Co-operators Executive Advisor, Climate investing and community resilience, will moderate a panel of experts who will discuss what is needed to adapt to emerging climate risks.

Panelists include Ewa Jackson, Managing Director of ICLEI Canada, who will highlight municipal examples from their “Financing Resilient Infrastructure Program”; Shannon Miedema, Director of Energy and Environment, Halifax Regional Municipality, who will delve into flood and wildfire-related climate resilience projects under consideration; and Paul Manias, Special Advisor, Climate Resilient Infrastructure at Addenda Capital, who will discuss the innovative and collaborative role private capital can play in response to the widespread need to build resilience against climate risk in Canada.

Moderator

Don Iveson, Executive Advisor, Climate investing and community resilience, Co-operators and former Mayor of Edmonton

Don served as Edmonton’s 35th Mayor from 2013 to 2021 with a guiding leadership principle to make things better for the next generation. This long-term view is now embedded in: Edmonton’s smart-growth City Plan; City Council’s Energy Transition Strategy; and Edmonton’s nation-leading work on stormwater management and climate adaptation.

Since retiring from City Hall, Mr. Iveson continues to live in Edmonton. He works part-time with Co-operators as Executive Advisor for Climate Investment and Community Resilience. Mr. Iveson is also ramping up Civic Good, a public policy advisory practice working on climate, housing, governance, and civic innovation projects with like-minded clients ranging from startups to governments. He has accepted an appointment as a School of Cities Canadian Urban Leader at the University of Toronto and volunteers as Board Co-Chair of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness.

Panelists

Ewa Jackson, Managing Director, ICLEI Canada

Ewa Jackson is a leader in the field of municipal climate adaptation and resilience. Ewa Jackson has worked with municipal governments for over 20 years in the fields of sustainability, public participation, and climate change.

In addition to managing ICLEI Canada’s operational and program activities, Ewa Jackson is project manager for many ICLEI Canada consulting activities and has worked on numerous adaptation and sustainability monitoring and evaluation projects, including those of local, national, and international scope.

Ewa Jackson’s particular field of interest is in the area of climate communications, and how effective and targeted communications can be used to move forward with the implementation of adaptive actions. She works with specialists in the field to keep officials at the forefront and responding to the advancements being made. She often speaks publicly on the state of adaptation planning across Canada and internationally.

 

Shannon Miedema, Director, Energy and Environment, Halifax Regional Municipality

Shannon Miedema is the Director of Environment & Climate Change with the Halifax Regional Municipality. Her team is the driving force behind HalifACT, the municipality’s ambitious climate action plan that is shaking things up on Canada’s east coast. Shannon has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and Earth Systems Science from Queen’s University, a Master of Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Kings College. Shannon uses her passion, education and experience to lead Halifax towards increased resiliency and sustainability.

 

Paul Manias, Special Advisor, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Addenda Capital

Paul Manias is currently Special Advisor, Climate Resilient Infrastructure with Addenda Capital, the investment arm of The Co-operators Group. He is also a Partner with Diagram Ventures and Co-Head of the Diagram ClimateTech Fund which develops and invests in early-stage climate and sustainability focused companies. Paul serves as a director and advisor to several companies in the energy transition space, including EcoSystem Informatics, Solar Panda, Bioastra Technologies, Symbient Environmental and IceGen Corporation. He has over 20 years of experience in business and law.

Prior to his current roles, Paul was co-founder of another climate focused fund and a Managing Director at OMERS, a $110 billion Canadian pension plan, where he spent over 10 years focused on infrastructure and private equity. Prior to OMERS, he spent 8 years as a private equity lawyer in Toronto and Boston. Paul holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the Schulich School of Business, York University, and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto. Paul also serves as a director of the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery Foundation.

 

Past webinars in this series

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