Who we are

The La Pêche Coalition for a Green New Deal is volunteer-based, grassroots, and open to all.
We are a core group of organizers with a broad base of membership in our municipality and beyond
We are parents, grandparents, students, activists, nature and water lovers, writers and artists who live in and love this region.
As settler-group, we recognize that we live and work on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin territory and are committed to Indigenous solidarity and land justice.
We are a part of the decentralized global network of communities working to advance Green New Deal ideals and climate justice.
We want “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” to mitigate the accelerating climate crisis and work towards a just future for all (IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C).
Strategy

The coalition advances the Green New Deal mandate through four main avenues:
- Mobilizing the community to take local action
- Facilitating education and outreach
- Supporting and connecting local organizations doing climate justice work
- Advocating at all levels of government
Actions

Global climate strike We hand-delivered the 2018 IPPC Report to Will Amos’s constituency office (part of a national campaign) Alongside local youth and students, coalition members marched on Parliament during the global strike for climate. We organized two busloads of people to participate in the strike. Coalition members also supported youth during Fridays
for Future, the Future is Rising, and climate strikes. Reject Teck Mine On February 11, 2020 the coalition organized a protest outside the Chelsea office of Will Amos, our Pontiac Member of Parliament, who ran on a platform of environmental protection for his 2019 re-election. The protesters demanded that
the Federal Government reject the Tech Mine Project and delivered a community petition addressing this demand. This action was supported by an editorial in the Low Down written by Vagner Castilho. Indigenous Solidarity The Coalition and the La Pêche Women’s March Network delivered a letter to Pontiac MP Will Amos calling for a stop to the Trans Mountain Pipeline and the LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink Pipeline on June 12, 2019. They delivered the
letter along with a copy of a Pact for the Green New Deal in Canada in the lead up to PM Justin Trudeau’s decision on the Trans Mountain Pipeline on June 18 and the B.C. Supreme Court case on injunction involving the Wet’suwet’en
Nation. This was an action in solidarity with the Tiny House Warriors, the Unist’ot’en and Wet’suwet’en Nation, and communities that will be impacted by these fossil fuel projects. The Coalition organized and delivered supplies and food to the Algonquins of Barrière Lake in the fall of 2020. The ABL set up peaceful camps and blockades to enforce a moratorium on sport hunting of moose on their territory at La
Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve from September 13 to October 12, 2020. Writing in the newspaper The coalition educates and spreads awareness of local actions through the Low Down, our award-winning community newspaper of record. Click here for a full list of our published work [coming soon]. Hosting a monthly education series and forums for conversation on topics related to climate justice and a just recovery Farming On December 12, 2019 we hosted “Rural Routes to Climate Solutions” in the Wakefield Library. The event explored climate solutions for food growers that build resiliency against droughts and floods, improve soil fertility and protect
biodiversity. The event was moderated by Emma Lui from the coalition and speakers included: Derek Leahy (Rural Routes to Climate Solutions) and Clementine Mattesco( P3 Permaculture). There were more than 80 people who attended with
representation from several of our local food growers. This action was supported by an editorial in the Low Down written by Jess Weatherhead and Emma Lui. We facilitated a follow-up conversation with local farmers and environmentalists at the
Wakefield Public Library in partnership with Jess Weatherhead, co-owner and manager of
Roots & Shoots Farm and Stuart Oke, youth president of the
National Farmers Union and co-owner and manger of
Rooted Oak Farm. The discussion centered on the impact of the climate crisis on local farmers and on sharing new agricultural practices to mitigate the climate crisis. In attendance were farmers, environmentalists, and community members representing over twenty local farms. The event has since been followed up with a municipal farmers’ coalition. Housing On January 30, 2020, the coalition hosted “Climate Solutions: Build Better Buildings” at the Wakefield Community Center. Speakers Aaron Thornell (Co-Energy) and Andrew Ryan (La Peche resident and local builder) spoke on the issues
of energy audits, emission reduction in housing, affordable housing and gentrification in our municipality, and housing co-operatives. The event was attended by over sixty community members, including several local builders. PowerPoint
copies of the presentations can be found here [coming soon]. Water protection Held on World Water Day, the coalition partnered with Friends of the Gatineau (FOG) to educate the community on water͎ – lake – wetland issues and within our watershed. Though originally scheduled to be held at the Wakefield Public
Library, the event was moved online in response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the transition to virtual, the event was well-attended by over sixty community members. The panelists were Elizabeth Logue (Ottawa River
Protector), Michèle Labelle (biologiste, ABVdes7), Rita Jain (president Friends of the Gatineau), Emma Lui (water protector with the Council of Canadians), and Guillaume Lamoureux (mayor of La Pêche). As a result of the discussion,
The Water Protectors’ Coalition des Collines was formed to unify protection, education, and organizing efforts within the watershed. A recording of the panel is available here and the presenters’ slides can be found here. Follow our socials Subscribe to our mailing list Follow our Facebook page Instagram The coalition seeks to work closely with and foster connections between local organizations doing climate justice work, thus creating a united front within La Pêche to move ahead with the unprecedented force and urgency that the climate
crisis demands. Climate justice connections Friends of the Gatineau is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization whose mandate is to inspire the community to work together to protect and improve the Gatineau River for future generations by monitoring, advocating, educating
and celebrating. Water Protectors’ Coalition des Collines This coalition was formed from the 2020 World Water Day event.
Agence de Bassin Versant des 7 (ABVd7) This non-profit organization was founded (under a different name) in 2004. They are mandated to help manage seven local watersheds, which together cover a large territory of over 40,000 km2 and includes the La Pêche municipality. Wakefield Together A community coalition fostering partnerships and vision for a sustainable future. LPCNGD was a founding member. Supporting the La Pêche Municipality Declaring a climate crisis We petitioned the municipality of La Pêche with over 500 signatures to join other municipalities in declaring a climate crisis. In December 2019, La Pêche Municipal Council declared a climate emergency,recognizing the urgency of the
present moment and committing to make all municipal decisions within the framework of the crisis. The municipality created the Green Fund for sustainable development and environmental protection and to support this declaration. Implementing Partners in Climate Protection We support municipal capacity to take climate action, such as working with them to implement the Partners in Climate Protection program from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The program seeks to identify and reduce municipal
CO2 emissions Creating, approving, and implementing a made-in-La-Pêche Green New Deal We are in ongoing talks with the mayor and councillors to implement a made-in-La-Pêche Green New Deal resolution. Our members regularly attend council meetings. Pressuring the provincial and federal governments to act Delivering IPCC report to Will Amos At a provincial level our coalition organized the community to sign and deliver Lobbying federal government Days on the hill with CAN-RAC Do you have an idea for new actions? Do you want to support any of the above? Message us. Mobilizing
Educating
Connecting
Advocating
Founders

The La Pêche Coalition for a Green New Deal was formed in February 2019 by Women’s March Network members Paula Halpin, Yolande Henry, Ilse Turnsen, Noelle Walsh, and Ellie Wilkinson along with Pierre Blin, Vagner Castilho and water activist Emma Lui.
The La Pêche Coalition for a Green New Deal was formed after the La Peche Women’s Network hosted a book launch for Corporatizing Canada: Making Business Out of Public Service – a book in which Emma Lui is a contributor. We began to link with other climate groups and became part of the nation-wide town hall meetings held in response to The Pact for A Green New Deal in Canada in May 2019. These town halls offered the principles for a Green New Deal for Canada. Over 100 people attended our town hall.
Read on
Learn more about the Green New Deal, our community and a just recovery!
Learn about the framework of the global movement, the current situation, and links to more resources and organizations.

A just recovery
Learn about how COVID-19 has shaped the Green New Deal and why going back to normal was never an option.