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Steering Committee members
Dennis Cunningham IISD
Dennis Cunningham has been involved in the environmental sector since 1994 when he joined the staff of the Victoria Compost Education Centre (VCEC) in Victoria, British Columbia. At the VCEC he managed the demonstration site, was volunteer coordinator and developed a highly successful water-wise gardening education program.
Dennis began working with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 1999 and worked on a wide range of projects in the areas of business and sustainable development, internal sustainable development reporting, climate change, and sustainable natural resource management.
In 2005, Dennis joined the Manitoba Environmental Industries Association (MEIA) as Executive Director. While at MEIA, Dennis managed the day-to-day operations of the Association and its professional development activities. As well, he coordinated a bioenergy trade mission to Sweden and Denmark, and coordinated the Association’s relocation to new ‘green’ offices in the Exchange District.
Dennis left MEIA to join the International Centre for Infectious Diseases in late 2006 where he was responsible for assisting the President and CEO with new project development.
Dennis rejoined IISD in June 2007 as a Project Officer with the Climate Change and Energy Team. He is involved in provincial and international projects focusing on mitigation, adaptation and emissions trading.
Dennis tries to be a climate champion in many ways. He is an avid single-speed cycle commuter, organic gardener and composter. Since 2002, he has been doggedly working to improve the energy efficiency of his 1952 Riverview bungalow. He subjected himself and his family to an extensive green renovation of their home in the summer of 2007. Notable features of the renovation include extensive deconstruction and recovery of building materials from the existing structure, solar water heating system, and installation of one of the first green roofs on a single family dwelling in the city.
Dennis has served on the Board of the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival since 2002. He is also a Member-at-Large of the Manitoba Eco-Network Steering Committee. In addition, he is a Contract Faculty with the University of Winnipeg teaching Business and the Environment.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 958-7727
Fax: (204) 958-7710
E-mail: dcunningham@iisd.ca
Topic Areas:
- emissions trading and offsets
- corporate social responsibility
- climate change mitigation in Manitoba and Canada Climate Change adaptation in Manitoba and Canada
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Bill Elliott Fort Whyte Alive
Bill has served as the Fort Whyte Alive President & CEO since 1983, guiding its dynamic growth and evolution into one of Canada's leading privately operated environmental education facilities. Hosting over 100,000 visitors annually, the Centre offers a wide range of environmental and outdoor recreation programs.
Most recently, the Centre has completed construction of a $350,000 Climate Change Field Station (CCFS) on a remote lakeshore within its diverse 600-acre property. CCFS staff are developing an expanded menu of field research opportunities aimed primarily at senior years students who, while living and studying onsite, will track the consumption and 'carbon impact' of their daily energy choices including: geothermal, hydro, wind, solar, and wood.
Furthering Fort Whyte's increasing emphasis on this critically important global issue, a number of new climate change exhibits have been added to its main Interpretive Centre.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 989-8351
Fax: (204) 895-4700
E-mail: welliott@fortwhyte.org
Topic Areas:
- general climate change issues
- public education and outreach strategies
- energy use and climate change
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Blair Geisel Gaia Consulting
Blair Geisel, BSc in Agriculture, has been president of Gaia Consulting Ltd for the past 20 years. Gaia Consulting provides small plot research and other agronomy services in the area of potato and irrigated crop production to crop input manufacturers, commodity associations, food processors, individual farmers and government.
Blair was raised on a mixed farm and has worked with CUSO in Africa, taught agricultural courses, and managed a potato farm. In addition, Blair has served as president of the Western Potato Council and as potato program coordinator for Manitoba Potato Production Days.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 267-2665
Fax: (204)
E-mail: bgeisel@gaiaconsulting.mb.ca
Topic Areas:
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Michele Kading Oak Hammock Marsh
Michele joined Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre in 1992 as the Head of Interpretation to guide the Centre's development and delivery of a full range of interpretive programs. The Centre attracts 200,000 visitors annually and has gained an international reputation in environmental education and eco-tourism.
Climate change is one of the current issues that Oak Hammock Marsh addresses on a daily basis. The Centre has developed school programs on climate change for all grade levels and has integrated the topic into the daily public program. The Centre is currently working on a Climate Change and Wetlands exhibit.
Michele serves on the City of Winnipeg Civic Environmental Committee. This committee is currently developing an environmental strategy that will include recommendations for the City to address the issues of air quality and climate change. Michele also serves on the Executive of the Manitoba Naturalists Society, and the steering committees for the Manitoba Envirothon, the Youth Stewardship for Environmental Sciences Program, and the joint Manitoba/North Dakota/Minnesota Red River Centre for Watershed Education.
In addition to over 20 years as an environmental educator, Michele has 15 years of personal experience with home composting (vermicomposting and backyard composting) and is always willing to share her knowledge with others who want to do something simple and easy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill sites.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 467-3219
Toll-free: 1-800-665-3825
Fax: 467-9028
E-Mail: m_kading@ducks.ca
Topic areas:
- aquatic ecosystems
- impacts of climate change on Climate Change Issues
- general home composting as a GHG reduction strategy
- personal GHG reduction action steps
- public education & outreach strategies
- wetlands
- wildlife
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Lloyd Kuczek Manitoba Hydro
Lloyd Kuczek is the Division Manager for Consumer Marketing & Sales at Manitoba Hydro. In this role, Lloyd provides direction and leadership in the development and marketing of Power Smart initiatives.
Power Smart is an energy management strategy designed to assist customers in using electricity and gas more efficiently. Power Smart initiatives promote the adoption of a wide variety of energy efficient products, services and programs. Through the implementation of Power Smart initiatives, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are both reduced.
Manitoba Hydro has been promoting Power Smart since 1991. Through these efforts, 356 MW and 1272 GWh. of cumulative energy savings are expected to be achieved by 2011/12. In addition, these savings are expected to result in carbon dioxide emission reductions of at least 471,000 tonnes annually and 7.7 million tonnes in aggregate by 2011/12. These greenhouse gas reductions are realized through less gas consumption in Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro's export activities, whereby cleaner energy hydro generation is assumed to displace coal and natural gas fuelled generation.
Manitoba Hydro's overall Power Smart strategy involves creating customer awareness on the initiatives and their associated benefits. In addition, Manitoba Hydro's efforts are focused on transforming the market by encouraging manufacturers to produce energy-efficient products and encouraging retailers to stock these products.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 474-4503
Fax: (204) 452-3976
E-mail: ljkuczek@hydro.mb.ca
Topic areas:
- energy management
- greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies, valuation, and credits
- consumer awareness
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Shaunna Morgan CIER
Shaunna Morgan works as a researcher, instructor and workshop facilitator on First Nations' issues related to climate change for the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER). CIER is a national, not-for-profit, charitable organization committed to the development of the education, research and technical resources needed for First Nations to acquire a greater ability to comprehend and confront environmental issues.
Shaunna Morgan, B.Sc., M.Sc., has 10 years of ecological and environmental experience and has been Cree her whole life. Shaunna is trained as a botanist and has 9 years teaching experience at the post-secondary level.
In her capacity at CIER, Shaunna assisted in the development of a climate change and energy efficiency workshop, is delivering this workshop in First Nations across Canada and is working on the development of a climate change toolkit for First Nations.
Shaunna remains committed to increasing the awareness and understanding of climate change and energy efficiency/alternatives among First Nations and increasing awareness of how First Nations are affected by a rapidly, warming climate.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 956-0660
Fax: (204) 956-1985
E-mail: smorgan@cier.ca
Topic Areas:
- First Nations observations of climate change
- impact of climate change on First Nations
- First Nations, energy efficiency and alternative energy solutions
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Alex Salki Freshwater Institute
Alex Salki represents the Environmental Science Division of the Freshwater Institute, (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) on the Climate Change Connection Steering Committee.
Since 1967, scientists at the Institute have confronted threats to fish and freshwater supplies arising from human activities. Researchers at DFO's Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) near Kenora, Ontario, resolved the cause of excessive algal growth in lakes, resulting in the ban of phosphates in detergents and the limitation of nutrient inputs to the Great Lakes.
ELA studies on the impacts of acid rain, mercury, macrophyte removal, and endocrine disrupters on aquatic food webs are contributing to the protection, recovery and preservation of freshwater ecosystems throughout the world. Long-term research on Canadian lakes is enabling Freshwater Institute scientists to assess the impacts of climate change and to offer solutions to preserve aquatic ecosystems for future generations.
Alex has tackled environmental issues for 34 years as a DFO Biologist specializing in the freshwater ecology of ELA and other Canadian lakes. Currently, he heads a research team examining the potential effects of climate change on Lake Winnipeg, with funds from Natural Resources Canada and Manitoba Hydro. He helped to establish the Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium and to secure Canada-Manitoba funding for a research vessel, the CCGS Namao. Alex presently coordinates the scientific surveys and workshops for researchers interested in Lake Winnipeg.
He participated in the International Joint Commission study of Lake Winnipeg following the 1997 Red River flood and co-authored a presentation to the Manitoba Climate Change Task Force, advising research on this neglected lake. Alex believes it is important to enhance the awareness of all stakeholders, policy-makers, educators and students about the deteriorating health of the lake, so that appropriate management strategies will be adopted to ensure its future sustainability.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 983 5241
Fax: (204) 984 2404
E-mail: salkia@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Topic Areas:
- freshwater research
- Lake Winnipeg and climate change
- Experimental Lakes Area (ELA)
- impacts of climate change on aquatic ecosystems
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Marsha Sheppard Manitoba Chambers of Commerce
Marsha Sheppard is the spokesperson on climate change for The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce - the umbrella organization for Manitoba's Chamber movement - representing approximately 10,000 businesses across the province. The Manitoba Chambers represent the entire spectrum of the business world, from sole proprietorships to some of the largest companies. Membership includes, for example, representatives from transportation, industry, mining, technology, services, manufacturing and agriculture.
Marsha Sheppard, Ph.D, P.Geo. brings to Climate Change Connection over 25 years of experience in the environmental and energy sector. Marsha is a geomorphologist and soil scientist by training and the President of ECOMatters Inc. of Pinawa.
Marsha recently presented the Winnipeg Chambers of Commerce's position on Climate Change to the Manitoba Climate Change Task Force and participated with the Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative (PARC) on the Health Effects of Climate Change Initiative for the Chambers.
Marsha is a private sector entrepreneur who wishes to ensure that full understanding of the climate change challenges and opportunities become known to the business community. Her strengths are in creating teams of specialists with the synergy and enthusiasm to provide creative and pragmatic solutions to complex scientific problems.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 753-2747
Fax: (204) 753-2170
E-mail: sheppardm@ecomatters.com
Topic Areas:
- climate change issues in relation to contaminant transport in soil
- climate change effects on the soil and plant ecosystems
- health effects of climate change
- carbon sequestration
- business sector issues
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Elizabeth Troutt Resource Conservation Manitoba (RCM)
Elizabeth Troutt, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba, where she has taught economics since 1994. Her teaching focuses on environmental economics, natural resource economics, and sustainable development. Her research ranges from the emergence and functioning of African land markets, to the co-evolution of human and natural systems, to ecological fiscal reform, to the economics of the nonprofit sector. She is very interested in human decision making, particularly as it relates to actions that affect ecological sustainability.
Elizabeth is a member of the Board of Directors at Resource Conservation Manitoba (RCM), where she serves as Vice President. RCM is a Winnipeg-based nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that promotes applied ecological sustainability through environmental education and the development of alternatives to currently unsustainable practices. RCM engages in analysis and awareness activities around ecological issues (e.g., waste reduction, climate change), and works to develop specific community-based programs and services to help move society toward ecological sustainability.
Contact Information:
Tel: (204) 474-6325
Fax: (204) 474-7681
E-mail: Elizabeth_troutt@umanitoba.ca
Topic Areas:
- policy design
- greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies
- tradable permit systems
