ENVIROCOLLECTIVE
NEWSLETTER
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE LAST MONTH | |
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ECN Discovers a Hub of Activism at Huston House
ECN was invited to a Christmas open house by the Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation and had the opportunity to tour their office located at Huston House, a co-work space at 2138 McIntyre Street in Regina. Huston House has been a hub for community activism and grassroots organizing for nearly 50 years. Owned by the Edna Curren Memorial Fund (ECMF), this heritage building provides affordable office space to non-profit organizations. Huston House has supported many progressive causes, from environmental activism to workers' rights. It offers a unique and supportive environment for non-profits to work towards global justice. The low rent and collaborative atmosphere have made it an invaluable resource for organizations with limited resources, promoting sustainable change in the community. Read full story at Sask Dispatch
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Photo Credit Emily Klatt - Sask Dispatch | |  |
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Current tenants are: Saskatchewan Council for International Cooperation, Briarpatch Magazine, Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives-Saskatchewan, and until recently Bike Regina | |
Wascana Solar Coop
Friends, volunteers and coop members socialized over the Christmas season. The group was excited that Ottawa will be providing more than $265M to help Sask. upgrade electrical grid, build renewable power projects. Read More
The Coop still offers the Solar Investment Opportunity program (SIO) which enables members to invest in renewable energy projects and generate dividends. Read more
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DId You Know: In Southern Saskatchewan, Regina is a sweet spot for solar power generation with an average of 2267 hours of sunlight per year. We receive as much sun, on average, as Melbourne, Australia. | |
South Sask Community Foundation Dream Session | |
Non Profit Sustainability
ECN was delighted to participate in this visioning session with numerous non profits. Over the past several months, SSCF has gathered an inspiring vision from each person on their invite list: a dream of establishing a truly impactful, connected, and supportive Hub in our city. They believe it is now time to unite and thoroughly explore this vision. Participants were asked to dream big and design the future we all would want to see. As Regina's Climate Hub, we recognize the value of collaboration and support needed for like-minded groups.
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Question 1: What are the main challenges your organization faces in the terms of space, resources and collaboration?
Question 2: What is the need in the local non-profit sector for a community Hub?
The key SDGs addressed are: Goals 8, 9, 11, 16, and 17, focusing on economic growth, innovation, communities, institutions, and partnerships. See our list of SDG's
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Social Enterprise Highlights | |
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Soul Sisters Catering Inc. is a social enterprise run by Souls Harbour Rescue Mission's women's addiction program, Shayil Home. This non-profit initiative empowers women by teaching them culinary skills, boosting their confidence, and fostering teamwork. Revenue from their homemade soups, take-out meals, and catering services supports the program and provides financial incentives for the women. Every purchase contributes to fighting poverty, addiction, and homelessness in the community. Soul Sisters Catering is more than just a business; it's a lifeline for women striving to rebuild their lives.
To learn more about Catering
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YWCA Open House
At the YWCA open house, ECN discovered numerous social enterprises being represented at their new location. From the front coffee counter to the Encore Second Hand clothing store, the YWCA uses social enterprises to address social issues, reinvesting profits to benefit society, the environment, and the women they serve.
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About our Website:
GreenGeeks
Thanks to our benefactor Steven Lloyd who upon setting up the EnviroCollective website introduced us to GreenGeeks. Our website host, GreenGeeks is a leading eco-friendly web hosting provider dedicated to sustainability and renewable energy. Their platform is engineered for maximum energy efficiency, minimizing resource consumption. For every unit of energy they consume, GreenGeeks invests three times that amount into renewable energy through the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, effectively offsetting their carbon footprint. Additionally, they plant a tree for every hosting account provisioned, contributing to global reforestation efforts. With data centers across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, GreenGeeks combines environmental responsibility with high-performance hosting solutions.
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Did you know that data centers are responsible for about 1-1.5% of global electricity use. In the U.S. alone energy consumption is projected to nearly triple by 2028, potentially accounting for 12% of their electricity demand. | |
Congratulations to the Lakeview Community Association
On December 4th, 2024, the City endorsed the Lakeview Community Association's application for a $41,283 grant from GMF's Growing Canada's Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative. These funds will be used for phase six of the Lakeview Park redevelopment. This was the sole application from the $10 million that was allocated to Regina. The funding supports tree planting projects, enhancing carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The Lakeview Community Association's successful application underscores its dedication to environmental and social objectives, benefiting the community through various planting efforts, including urban, forest restoration, and localized projects Learn more about the project!
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BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT :
Centennial Books:
A Circular Economy Success Story
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Centennial Books is one of the oldest bookstores in Regina! Located next to Value Village at 1230 Broad Street (Broad and 7th Avenue) They are open every day of the week except for Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. They accept fiction for trade only and non-fiction as needed, with no cash for regular fiction. The store does not take donations of textbooks, encyclopedias, or collectible comics, and encourages sellers to contact them before bringing in books. Call Christine at 306-347-8048 for more information. | | |
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So What's the Big Deal
A used bookstore benefits the environment by promoting the reuse and recycling of books, reducing the demand for new book production, which in turn saves resources like paper and energy. By extending the life of books, used bookstores help decrease waste and lower carbon footprints. They also provide a sustainable alternative to purchasing new books, supporting a circular economy where products are reused and repurposed, ultimately contributing to environmental conservation and reducing the negative impact of waste on the planet.
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We’ll share one sustainable development goal in each upcoming newsletter | | |
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Sustainable Development Goal 10 Reduced Inequalities:
Inequality poses a significant threat to long-term social and economic development, hampers poverty reduction efforts, and undermines people's sense of fulfillment and self-worth. While the poorest 40% of the population had been experiencing income growth faster than the national average, COVID-19 has potentially reversed this trend, causing the largest increase in between-country inequality in three decades. Addressing both within- and between-country inequality requires equitable resource distribution, investment in education and skills, social protection measures, combating discrimination, supporting marginalized groups, and fostering international cooperation for fair trade and financial systems.
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What does this have to do with Regina?
This (SDG) is highly relevant to Regina's situation of poverty and homelessness. Inequality exacerbates social and economic challenges, making it harder to reduce poverty and improve overall well-being. In Regina, homelessness has increased significantly, with a 255% rise since 2015. Many of those affected are Indigenous people, who face systemic barriers and intergenerational trauma. Addressing inequality through equitable resource distribution, social protection measures, and inclusive policies can help tackle the root causes of poverty and homelessness in Regina, fostering a more just and sustainable community.
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More Repair Café's coming soon! | |
contact us at ecnrepaircafe@gmail.com | |
Community Activist Profile:
Moses Anjorin
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The Regina TEDx team is ready to host a new event in 2025. For more information follow them at: | |
Moses Anjorin, Organizer and Curator of TEDx Regina, is dedicated to empowering the Regina community through transformative ideas. His journey with TED began as a teenager inspired by TED Talks on YouTube, later deepened by Brené Brown’s “The Power of Vulnerability.” While volunteering at university a TEDx event ignited his passion for fostering dialogue and innovation. Upon moving to Regina, Moses identified a need for a unifying platform for ideas and collaboration. In 2023, he revived TEDxRegina after a decade-long hiatus, hosting a sold-out event in March 2024. Now planning “Mission Possible” for May 2025, TEDx Regina empowers Regina to dream and innovate boldly. | |
Have you ever thought about having access to a vehicle without owning it? With Regina Car Share Co-operative, this is realistic. This co-operative provides a convenient and affordable alternative to owning a car. The carsharing service gives you access to vehicles when and where you need them without the responsibilities of ownership. Various driving plans exist to suit your needs: Value Plan, Casual Plan, and Corporate Plan. Feel free to choose the one that best suits you. You can even book online 24 hours a day from the comfort of your living room. Be a green driver and help reduce emissions by joining this community. | | | |
The 6th National Climate League Report
The National Climate League (NCL) report, developed by The Climate Reality Project Canada, is an annual volunteer-driven project that analyzes climate plans, targets, and policies for over 50 Canadian municipalities. It highlights local solutions, encourages transparency, and supports efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Over the year ECN will break down key findings and where does Regina fit in the mix
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Where do we stand on Energy Mix
This data shows the percentage of renewable energy (solar power, wind, bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, waste to energy, and other renewable sources); nuclear; and non-renewable energy (coal, fossil gas, oil, and other non-renewable sources) in each city’s electricity mix (note that energy sources not connected to the electricity grid are not counted, including gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, and fossil gas or oil heating for buildings).
Municipal electricity mix data is one way to measure progress on renewable energy targets. Energy mix data shows a strong provincial trend, with municipalities in provinces that produce a lot of hydro-electricity (BC, Manitoba, and Quebec) coming out on top. Within provinces, however, note the differences between Fredericton and Saint John, Saskatoon and Regina, and the small difference between Edmonton and Calgary–some of which may be due to municipal-level decisions.
This data was sourced from CDP (Cities Energy Mix of Electricity Generation), 22 which collects extensive data from municipalities around the world on climate and adaptation policies and outcomes. In some cases, the municipality might be reporting data from the provincial or utility level.
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The Hague Netherlands: On December 2nd the top United Nations court embarked on its largest case to date, dedicating two weeks to hearings about the legal obligations of countries worldwide to combat climate change and assist vulnerable nations in dealing with its severe effects. This move followed years of lobbying by island nations at risk of disappearing due to rising sea levels, prompting the U.N. General Assembly to seek the International Court of Justice's opinion on states' responsibilities regarding climate change. | | | |
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Sarcan Saskatchewan has expanded its recycling program to accept flexible plastics, foam packaging, and non-deposit glass bottles and jars at all its depots. This initiative, in partnership with SK Recycles, aims to divert more materials from landfills and promote environmental sustainability across the province. Find out more
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Tips, Tricks, Hacks & Accolades:
From our inbox
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New City Council: Kudos to the new council who unanimously endorsed a $3.5 million federal funding offer to address homelessness encampments. | |
You have a story? Let us know, we need to pass on the good news! | |
GET INVOLVED WITH ENVIROCOLLECTIVE | |
Email us at info@envirocollective.ca to learn how you can contribute today! | | |
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EnviroCollective is a non-partisan, judgement free group that is open to everyone.
Email us at info@envirocollective.ca or DM us through our socials Facebook/Instagram @envirocollectiveyqr or Twitter @envirocollect1.
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