The spark of environmental stewardship
As a small child, my dream was to make a difference in the world. Today, I am the Services Coordinator for the Comox Strathcona Waste Management Service (CSWM) which is a key component in making my dream a reality. The CSWM manages waste and diversion programs within the Comox Valley and Strathcona regional districts—keeping our environment and communities clean and managing over 100,000 tonnes of waste annually. Over the years, the CSWM board has developed programs and policies with benefits beyond simply managing waste, based on the five pillars of sustainability: upholding existing cultures, supporting the environment, providing an economic benefit, upholding good societal values, and good governance.
Celebrating Earth Week across communities
In 2018, staff from the CSWM service began travelling to each community within the district to celebrate Earth Week. This provided opportunities to educate the public, collaborate with local environmental champions, listen to concerns, and take action on environmental and waste management issues. Over the past few years, CSWM Earth Week events have expanded into waste collection events held throughout the year.
The importance of this work is not measured in the weight of garbage removed from the environment but in the excitement for environmental stewardship that is generated. We collaborate with businesses, First Nations, students, and nonprofits in each community and see the impact of these events on our youngest residents’ lives and as a means to support our communities’ most vulnerable by ensuring all available community funds go back into the community and all avoidable food waste is diverted to those in need. From supporting local non-profit reuse stores to improving recycling services, we are driven by the unique needs and desires of each community.
Inspiring environmental champions
One of the greatest things we get to do as CSWM staff is to encourage individuals to “be the change they want to see.” Our goal is to inspire the community’s future environmental champions who will fill the (large) shoes of those who may be aging out of volunteering. We see the soul of each community emerging in these grassroots events, as its people grow together through these acts of service.
Building community resilience in Tahsis
In April 2024, we joined the tiny village of Tahsis to celebrate Earth Week. In conjunction with Village staff, the local school, and the Tahsis Senior’s Society, we assisted in various environmental initiatives. The service supported the revival of the local free store, a clothing swap, and a beach cleanup; all led by amazing local students and volunteers. The work was so much more than painting and picking up garbage. In supporting grassroots initiatives, we witnessed the community coming together and building resilience. A community’s resilience is beneficial to all its members, particularly during trying economic or environmental times. Each time we go into a community, we are met by more individuals, businesses, and community groups that want to come together and work towards a common goal: protecting our planet.
Every community makes an impact
With one of the smallest villages in BC within our boundary, we know that no community is too small to impact the preservation of our environment. The effort, passion, and drive to make changes are evident in the eyes of the people we have the privilege of meeting every day. All of our work relies heavily on mutual cooperation, support, and effort. During Earth Week, we celebrate the planet but also each individual who actively participates in taking care of it. We can all do our part to look after our environment, even in simple ways like learning to correctly divert resources from our garbage and keep recyclables free from contamination.
Looking toward the future
It is a great honour for me to serve the people who live within our district. I look forward to the possibility of meeting each of you at a future event and celebrating your efforts in making our communities and planet a better place to be.
To learn more about the Comox Strathcona Waste Management service and its solid waste management plan renewal, please visit engagecomoxvalley.ca/swmp.
