As we wrap up 2024, we’re reflecting on a year of remarkable achievements, connections, and impactful stories from the land to the sea. Join us in celebrating the collective efforts of our dedicated team, partners, and the communities we serve.
Below is our yearbook of highlights from each of our five programs: Community Fisheries, Climate Innovation, Food Systems, Indigenous Homelands, and Community Energy.
January
FOOD – Mary Williams, Assistant Director of the Food Systems program, shared insights into growing kelp on a regenerative ocean farm. A typical year starts in September and wraps up in June. Read the blog.
FISHERIES – The Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans urged the federal government to advance fishing policy equity across all coasts in Canada. Our Senior Policy Advisor, Tasha Sutcliffe, spoke to the committee, highlighting how the current system is failing West Coast fisheries.
CLIMATE – Over 170 delegates attended the Indigenous Land Symposium in Timmins, Ontario, organized by Wahkohtowin Development. They explored Indigenous-led conservation, technology, sustainable land management, and youth roles. Read more in this blog.
February
FISHERIES – Dyhia Belhabib, our Principal Investigator of Fisheries, received the 2024 Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation. Her research focuses on exploring how technology and community engagement can be used to reduce illegal fishing in Senegal. Learn more.
FOOD – Fresh, sustainably harvested scallops from Metlakatla First Nation’s Regenerative Ocean Farm were a hit at the All Native Basketball Tournament in Prince Rupert, B.C. Our Food Systems team joined Metlakatla’s ocean farming crew outside the basketball venue to share delicious scallops with spectators and athletes!
March
ENERGY – We explored utility regulation in a changing world with the Building Decarbonization Coalition and the Canadian Climate Institute. This webinar discussed bringing utility regulation into the 21st century with a focus on electrification. Watch it here.
FISHERIES – Racheal Weymer, our Director of Community Fisheries, spoke at the 9th World Fisheries Congress about a Basic Income Guarantee for fish harvesters in Canada.
CLIMATE- We attended a Conservation Finance workshop, hosted by the Canadian Council of Ecological Resources at the Cheakamus Centre on the traditional territories of the Chi’yakmesh people of Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation. Here, we gathered knowledge about different financial pathways to support Indigenous-led conservation initiatives.
APRIL
HOMELANDS – Kia Dunn, our Law and Policy Lead for the Indigenous Homelands program, explored giving nature the same rights in court as people. Read his blog.
CLIMATE- Our Climate team delivered a presentation on “What Makes a Great Natural Solutions Project” as part of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s webinar series, which aims to support the submission of high-quality applications to the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund.
FISHERIES – Dyhia Belhabib delivered her first TED Talk on using human creativity and technology to detect and stop crime at sea. Watch her TED Talk “Can AI catch criminals at sea” here.
FOOD – We shared results from the Reimagining Food Systems project in Prince Rupert, BC, focusing on decolonization and social justice. This project was in partnership with Royal Roads University and the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC).
ENERGY – Residents in North Vancouver Island and Prince Rupert could apply for the Home Energy Savings Program, offering free guidance on home energy efficiency upgrades. Read more.
May
ENERGY – Our Community Energy team celebrated $254 Million in new funding for an expanded heat pump program, targeting lower- and middle-income households in BC. This aligns with equity-based retrofit programming identified at our Home Energy Justice Forum last year.
HOMELANDS – The Indigenous Homelands team visited Bella Coola, BC, to grow our relationship with the Nuxalk Nation and support their visions for housing and governance. Read the blog.
June
We shared our Annual Report and Impact Report to demonstrate how we’re proving it’s possible to build an economy that provides for life. Check it out here.
FISHERIES – Before the Dungeness crab fishery opened in June 2024, we helped coordinate Area A’s annual ghost gear clean-up, recovering 450 traps in the Hecate Strait, between Prince Rupert, and Haida Gwaii, BC.
ENERGY – We shared our latest research report on “Advancing tenants’ rights to retrofits and energy efficiency” at the 4th Annual Retrofit Canada Conference in Vancouver, BC.
CLIMATE –Program Manager, Caylin Sun, attended Carbon Forward North America 2024 in Toronto on June 11 and 12, following the latest updates in Canadian and international carbon markets.
July
CLIMATE – Our Climate Innovation program pivoted to Climate Resilience, supporting community-led land and water stewardship. Michelle Connolly steps into the role of Director of Climate Resilience. Read her blog here.
HOMELANDS – The team is growing! Carrigan Tallio joins the Indigenous Homelands Program as its new (and first) Program Manager!
FISHERIES – British Columbia shared its new Coastal Marine Strategy, supporting a made-in-BC owner-operator fisheries licencing policy. Read more in the Globe and Mail and the National Observer.
ENERGY – Our new tenant report was picked up by media. Read about it in the Vancouver Sun and CBC. Josephine Schrott shared a blog about her research for the report.
ENERGY – Our Energy team visited St’át’imc Territory to discuss home energy systems with the communities of Xaxli’p and T’it’q’et.
August
FISHERIES – A new blog captures the demanding work of a fisheries monitor in Gold River for the five Nations rights-based fishery.
FISHERIES – A high school in northern BC offers a specialized fisheries science program for Grade 11 and 12 students, with hands-on learning experiences focused on Dungeness crab and our fisheries observer program. Read “High school in Prince Rupert offers unique fisheries course” in The Northern View.
CLIMATE – Our team met with Wahkohtowin Development in Chapleau, Ontario, for project planning with future collaboration beyond 2025.
September
FOOD – Amanda Albers shared her experience interning on Metlakatla First Nation’s regenerative ocean farm. Read it here.
CLIMATE – The First Nations Carbon Toolkit is now included on the federal government’s greenhouse gas offset resource page.
FISHERIES – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) initiated an engagement process with First Nations and the fishing industry for West Coast Fisheries Modernization. This engagement process will explore the potential adaptation of “Owner Operator” and “fleet separation” rules on the Pacific Coast of Canada Learn more.
October
FISHERIES — In 2024, the Council of the Haida Nation asked Ecotrust Canada to partner in delivering designated fisheries monitoring services for the first-of-its-kind Haida Community-Based Fishery, established through the historic Fisheries Resources Reconciliation Agreement. The goal of the Haida Community-Based Fishery is to support a thriving close-to-home, multi-species, small boat fleet, operated by Haida citizens. Ecotrust Canada is honoured to support this landmark in fisheries history.
FOOD – Dianne Villeséche harvested and delivered approximately 250 pounds of fresh veggies to the Prince Rupert School Lunch Program on behalf of Tea Creek Farm in Kitwanga, BC. The farm was hit by an early frost, and they had to get creative to ensure the produce was harvested in time.
ENERGY – We attended Efficiency Canada’s Home Energy Justice Conference in Ottawa, focusing on maximizing the benefits of energy efficiency for all. Josephine Schrott presented highlights of our work.
HOMELANDS – Thanks to the Real Estate Foundation of BC, the Indigenous Homelands Program is embarking on an exciting two-year project called “Democratizing Indigenous Housing Knowledge: A Public Education Curriculum.”
ENERGY – We shared a blog about our energy-efficient retrofit work with ‘Na̱mǥis First Nation. Read the full blog.
November
CLIMATE – The team, along with numerous Indigenous and environmental organizations, submitted policy recommendations to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the federal protocol for offsets on public land in Canada’s greenhouse gas offset credit system. We are committed to ensuring that our recommendations ensure all carbon projects on public land will centre Indigenous rights and responsibilities.
HOMELANDS – The team participated in a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) webinar series focused on understanding and addressing housing needs. They presented insights from their CMHC-funded project, “Mobilizing the Indigenous Housing & Homelands Governance Toolkit,” to over 50 CMHC officials across the country.
December
FOOD — After a December harvest, Metlakatla’s ocean farming crew and our Food Systems team shared fresh scallops with members of Metlakatla First Nation. Each member who came to the community distribution received 25 scallops just in time for the holidays.
