A Hot Topic: Addressing Heat Vulnerability in the Capital Regional District (CRD)

Episode 5: Glenys & Kirsten

This episode follows Glenys Verhulst, a Sustainability Specialist with the District of Saanich, and Kirsten Mah, a community member and Healthy Communities Planner with the Capital Regional District who share they’re professional experiences of working in climate action, including sustainability and community engagement and programming. They share about the work that is already being done to support local communities to adapt and respond to extreme climate events, and they give instructional support to decisionmakers on how to engage in effective “policy listening.”  References mentioned in podcast:  A Hot Topic Report - https://www.communityresearchcanada.ca/post/report-and-story-map-a-hot-topic-feeling-the-impacts-of-extreme-heat-2023 [https://www.communityresearchcanada.ca/post/report-and-story-map-a-hot-topic-feeling-the-impacts-of-extreme-heat-2023]   Connection in Action project - https://www.resilientneighbourhoods.ca/2026/03/connection-in-action/ [https://www.resilientneighbourhoods.ca/2026/03/connection-in-action/]   Victoria Native Friendship Centre (VNFC) Community Learning Program - https://vnfc.ca/community-learning/ [https://vnfc.ca/community-learning/]   Urban Sustainability Directs Network (USDN) - https://www.usdn.org/index.html#/ [https://www.usdn.org/index.html#/]   References Soundscape credits  Background music: Insirish by Kjartan Abel. Visit https://kjartan-abel.com/library [https://kjartan-abel.com/library] to find free music for your next project. This work is licensed under the following: CC BY-SA 4.0.   Introduction fire sound: Fire_Forest_Inferno.aif by Dynamicell -- https://freesound.org/s/17548/ [https://freesound.org/s/17548/] -- License: Attribution 3.0  Bio  Glenys Verhulst (she/her) is a Sustainability Specialist with the District of Saanich who leads mitigation and adaptation projects and programs including the Community Climate Hazard and Resilience Assessment, the Neighbour to Neighbour Resilience Initiative, the income-qualified E-Bike Incentive program and other feasibility studies and projects. She has over 15 years of experience with energy and climate programs, including being a lead writer of the award-winning Saanich Climate Plan. Outside of work, Glenys enjoys being out in nature, riding her e-bike, and taking part in local community building initiatives.    Kirsten Mah - Kirsten is a community builder and storyteller committed to empowering community members to build resilient support networks in the face of climate change. Her background in program evaluation has taught her the power of storytelling to impact policy and programming. She is excited to utilize new forms of media such as podcasting to share knowledge and spark change.  (Kirsten Mah was interviewed in the first episode of the podcast series, Introduction: Sarah & Kirsten).

Episode 4: Maggie

This episode tells the story of Maggie Gay, an isolated senior who lived alone in a basement suite in Saanichton at the time of the 2021 heat dome. Maggie shares her experience of living in a more rural part of the Greater Victoria area, and how this led to underserviced public transportation resources like bus shelters, and city buses. She shares the challenges she’s encountered that come with being a senior and living alone and the shift in the size of her community as she ages. This episode iterates the importance of interpersonal and community connection in times of crises, particularly during extreme weather events.    Soundscape credits  Background music: Insirish by Kjartan Abel. Visit https://kjartan-abel.com/library [https://kjartan-abel.com/library] to find free music for your next project. This work is licensed under the following: CC BY-SA 4.0.   Introduction fire sound: Fire_Forest_Inferno.aif by Dynamicell -- https://freesound.org/s/17548/ [https://freesound.org/s/17548/] -- License: Attribution 3.0  Bio  Maggie Gay is a senior that lived alone in Saanichton at the time of the 2021 heat dome. She enjoys model-building of fairy homes and making the fairies that live in them, listening to classic rock, gardening and doing large batch Christmas baking.

Episode 3: Ruth

This episode tells the story of Ruth Waldick, the Lead Scientist of the Climate Adaptation Research Lab (CARL) with Transition Salt Spring, a not-for-profit organization based on Salt Spring Island that is dedicated to climate action across Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands through diverse initiatives. Ruth shares her experience of the 2021 heat dome, and other extreme heat events, as an ecologist and resident of a rural island in the Capital Regional District (CRD). She shares insight into the existing systems, such as the Emergency Pod Program, that the community has created due to their rural nature, and a perspective as an ecologist of what the impact of extreme heat events are on the unique environment of Salt Spring Island.  Soundscape credits  Background music: Insirish by Kjartan Abel. Visit https://kjartan-abel.com/library [https://kjartan-abel.com/library] to find free music for your next project. This work is licensed under the following: CC BY-SA 4.0.   Introduction fire sound: Fire_Forest_Inferno.aif by Dynamicell -- https://freesound.org/s/17548/ [https://freesound.org/s/17548/] -- License: Attribution 3.0  Bio  Dr. Ruth Waldick is the Lead Scientist, at the Climate Adaptation Research Lab (CARL) at Transition Salt Spring. Ruth is an ecologist with over 25 years of experience in climate change, ecosystem management, and sustainable land-use planning, working at the interface of science and community to support informed, resilient decision-making capabilities. Ruth regularly facilitates collaboration with regional partners to undertake and support applied research, hands-on workshops, and developing nature-based adaptation solutions tailored to the Southern Gulf Islands. When she’s not working, Ruth can be found kayaking through the Broken Islands, pickling seasonal foods, and attending her chickens.

Episode 2: John

This episode tells the story of John Lamont, peer support worker with Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island (MHRP SI) and his experience with the 2021 heat dome, and other extreme heat events that have happened since. John shares his tools and ideas for coping with extreme heat, and the vulnerabilities inherent to those living in mental health subsidized housing.   References mentioned in this episode  Orsini, M. (2020). Stop asking us to be resilient. Policy Options. Retrieved June 24, 2025, from https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2020/stop-asking-us-to-beresilient/ [https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/october-2020/stop-asking-us-to-beresilient/].   Policy Options website link: https://policyoptions.irpp.org/ [https://policyoptions.irpp.org/]   Soundscape credits  Background music: Insirish by Kjartan Abel. Visit https://kjartan-abel.com/library [https://kjartan-abel.com/library] to find free music for your next project. This work is licensed under the following: CC BY-SA 4.0.   Introduction fire sound: Fire_Forest_Inferno.aif by Dynamicell -- https://freesound.org/s/17548/ [https://freesound.org/s/17548/] -- License: Attribution 3.0  Bio  John Lamont is a peer support worker with Mental Health Recovery Partners - South Island (MHRP SI).  He is currently living in a subsidized apartment building that gets very hot in the summer. He likes spending time in the summer outdoors playing tennis and cycles everywhere for transportation.

Episode 1: Eva

This episode tells the story of Eva Shaffer, member and Marine Liaison of T’Souke Nation, and her and her community’s experience with the 2021 heat dome, and extreme heat events that have happened since. Eva speaks from the perspective of a scientist and member of T’Souke Nation, and how these two identities are aligned with regard to land stewardship. This episode is hosted by Erica Dolman with the mentorship and guidance of Nicola Watts and produced by Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe and Kirsten Mah. Funding for this project was provided by the Michael Smith Health Research BC Reach Award.    Bio Eva Shaffer is a member of T'Sou-ke First Nation.  With a background in Natural Resource Conservation and Environmental Economics, she has worked on the T'Sou-ke Nation Marine Team since it's inception in 2020 - originally as a Marine Liaison Officer and now as the Director of Strategic Communications. She is concurrently pursuing a Graduate Degree at the University of Victoria Department of Geography researching ecosystem resilience in T'Sou-ke Nation Territory. Her passion for environmental protection has lead to the development of numerous monitoring, rehabilitation, and remediation programs within the Nation. Soundscape credits  Background music: Insirish by Kjartan Abel. Visit https://kjartan-abel.com/library [https://kjartan-abel.com/library] to find free music for your next project. This work is licensed under the following: CC BY-SA 4.0.   Introduction fire sound: Fire_Forest_Inferno.aif by Dynamicell -- https://freesound.org/s/17548/ [https://freesound.org/s/17548/] -- License: Attribution 3.0