In the face of intensifying climate impacts, EMBERS Eastside Works, UBC Learning Exchange, and partners across Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (DTES) collaborated to deliver immediate relief from extreme heat during last summer’s hottest days, providing crucial support to vulnerable DTES residents.
As part of a two-year initiative, EMBERS Eastside Works engaged DTES community members as Peer Climate Advocates, providing them with workshops, field trips, and discussions with UBC researchers to build on their direct experience and knowledge on climate issues.
Beginning in May 2024, Advocates also partnered with students from UBC’s Urban Ethnographic Field School to identify critical locations for cooling stations. Deployed during heat waves, advocates at these stations distributed cooling kits containing thermometers, reusable water bottles, and other essentials. Advocates also informed community members about accessible climate research and the effects of climate change on DTES residents.
“Watching students, advocates, and community members collaborate was invaluable. Conversations around the cooling stations grounded the project and had as much impact as the resources provided. Many students continue their involvement, extending the project’s positive outcomes beyond the summer.”
— Matt Hume, Student Learning Coordinator, UBC Learning Exchange
This project was initiated by the CLEAR (Climate Equity, Action, and Resilience) partnership, a collaboration between community organizations including EMBERS Eastside Works, Working Gear, Union Gospel Mission, and Recycling Alternative, alongside university partners UBC Sustainability Hub and UBC Learning Exchange. CLEAR’s goal is to make climate change research more accessible, while addressing the disproportionate effects of extreme heat on DTES residents.
See below for project details and a project report with co-leads Bradley Moore and Matt Hume.
Project Details
Project Title: Peer Climate Advocacy in Vancouver’s DTES Through Pop-Up Cool Down Stations & Kits
Project co-leads:
- Bradley Moore, DTES Peer Climate Advocacy, EMBERS Eastside Works
- Matt Hume, Student Learning Coordinator, UBC Learning Exchange, UBC Vancouver
Project duration: May 2024 – August 2024
Learn more:
This project was supported by the Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) Fund.
Project report with Bradley Moore and Matt Hume
Edits have been made to this written Q&A for clarity, style, and tone.
Why is this project important, and how did it support the needs of the DTES community?
Bradley Moore (EMBERS Eastside Works Co-Applicant): This project was generated by community members in the DTES, where low-income residents feel the climate crisis’s disproportionate effects. Through project funding, we facilitated community-led cooling initiatives on Hastings Street, delivering immediate relief and resources during extreme heat events. Flexibility allowed us to respond in real time, meeting the community’s needs during those critical moments.
Matt Hume (UBC Co-Applicant): The project’s responsiveness was key. Coordinating timelines between campus and community can be challenging, but the PRE Fund’s flexibility and our partners’ agility allowed us to activate the pop-ups when most needed. This not only met immediate needs but also built trust in Eastside Works and the Climate Advocates as reliable resources in the community.”
What strengths did each partner bring?
Bradley: Peer Climate Advocates and EMBERS staff brought their lived experience and extensive networks, making the pop-ups a success. Support from non-CLEAR partners like the Heart Tattoo Society and A Better Life Foundation, who provided resources and logistical aid, was invaluable. On days when the advocates were unavailable, other Eastside Works clients and patrons stepped in to help, leading to meaningful engagement.
Matt: The Learning Exchange provided student support for research on cooling station locations and kit contents, emphasizing ethical community engagement. The Sustainability Hub also promoted events and elevated the advocates’ work through media, showcasing our role as a community-university connector.
What teaching, learning, or research opportunities emerged from this project?
Matt: Students gathered data on cooling station needs, learning how climate justice looks in the DTES. Advocates shared their insights with the public, fostering conversations on using cooling supplies effectively and climate justice. The project’s alignment with Union Gospel Misson’s Unhoused Under Pressure report offered valuable resources, sparking meaningful discussions about advocacy. The report was a collaboration between UGM and a UBC sustainability scholar. It emerged out of the CLEAR project and generated a lot of media attention.
What was your favourite outcome or experience?
Bradley: Empowering community members to lead a meaningful project was incredibly rewarding. Seeing the community’s gratitude during extreme heat events validated the impact of the pop-ups.
Matt: Watching students, advocates, and community members collaborate was invaluable. Conversations around the cooling stations grounded the project and had as much impact as the resources provided. Many students continue their involvement, extending the project’s positive outcomes beyond the summer.
Can you share a few lessons you learned?
Bradley and Matt:
- Nimbleness is essential: Quick mobilization and open communication were crucial for responding effectively during heat events.
- Climate change is not always the first thing on people’s minds. Issues like housing or safe supply tend to be seen as more pressing issues, for example. Therefore, they may be hesitant to contribute time and energy to climate-focused projects in the worry it would draw away from their support of other initiatives. However, emphasizing that climate intersects with other social issues helped build common ground with the community.
- Customization is key: Personalizing cooling kit contents based on individual needs was more impactful, even if time intensive.
What is next?
The project team is exploring opportunities to bring community climate specialists from Portland’s Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund to share insights with the CLEAR team. Plans are also underway to repeat the cooling stations next summer, with additional resources for more accessible, research-informed community education.
For more information on the CLEAR partnership, visit UBC Learning Exchange and EMBERS Eastside Works.