District of Sooke Shares Climate Adaptation Leadership on National Stage

The District of Sooke was recently recognized by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for its work operationalizing climate action and was invited to co-present in the national webinar, Implementing and Integrating Climate Adaptation Plans.

Manager of Communications and Community Relations Christina Moog shared Sooke’s approach to embedding climate adaptation into everyday municipal operating practices through the Climate Action Plan’s five focus areas: how we move, how we build, how we grow, how we lead, and how we relate. The presentation highlighted how these areas are being advanced through strategic planning, the Official Community Plan, asset management, environmental Development Permit Areas, emergency preparedness, and community partnerships.

Practical examples included fleet replacement through natural asset lifecycles, wildfire preparedness, environmental stewardship, community-based food systems, the upcoming Streamkeepers program, and, yes, goats in parks as a memorable example of vegetation management, education, and community connection.

The focus remained on finding common ground by aligning climate adaptation with goals communities already share: saving time, saving money, reducing risk, and protecting the places people value.

View the presentation slide deck here.