Flooding, extreme weather and carbon emissions are pressing concerns in Niagara-on-the-Lake — but the town’s new climate change co-ordinator Kassie Burns said she’s ready to help take them on.
Burns, 29, began her role on Feb. 3 and has since focused on a natural asset management plan and a climate change adaptation plan.
The natural asset plan aims to help integrate natural assets like forests and wetlands into the town’s strategies for managing its physical assets — like roads, buildings and equipment — in a cost-effective, efficient and sustainable way over their lifecycle, she said.
Burns said the plan is still in its early data-collection stage.
The climate change adaptation plan outlines 27 action items to address climate change impacts — one of them being developing this natural asset plan, she said.
Next on Burns’ agenda is creating an invasive species management plan.
Burns said a long-term, community-driven approach to climate action is crucial.
She helped organize an invasive species workshop last month and plans to represent the town at an Earth Day gathering on April 22 at the community centre.
“Collaboration is really the key to change,” Burns said. “That’s a big message I always like to share.”
She said the town is leveraging social media to keep residents informed about climate initiatives and continues to build partnerships with other municipalities and environmental organizations, like the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, though no major new collaborations have been confirmed.
Before moving to St. Catharines in 2018, to attend Brock University, Burns grew up in Waterloo.
She graduated from Brock with a bachelor’s in biology and a master’s in sustainability, which she said equipped her with project management skills and research experience for her new role.
Before starting the town, she worked as a field technician at Niagara Parks and as a research technician at the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre.
At the centre, Burns helped run the Greening the Landscape Research Consortium, where she collaborated with professionals from across the tree industry to address urban tree challenges.
The town was a member during her time there and is now represented by Burns.
“The knowledge with tree canopy and urban trees I think is also what lent a hand to me acquiring the position,” she said.
During her master’s, Burns also took a course where students developed climate change adaptation plans for a municipality of their choice, led by a professor involved in the Niagara Adapts Partnership — which helped make NOTL’s climate plan.
Burns chose Niagara-on-the-Lake as her focus.
When she applied with the town, she included her devised plan in her application, though it wasn’t required.
“This stood out to them,” she said.
Climate change projects take time to show visible results, so Burns encouraged residents to be patient while staying updated through the town’s website and social media.
