Ainsleah Hastings

My approach to climate action has always been closely connected to food security, housing, community resilience and care for the land, but it’s also simply part of how I live my life.

I’m 43, and I didn’t begin driving until I returned to Nelson in 2020. Before that, I relied on public transit, walking and cycling. Nelson’s limited transit service and roadways that often don’t feel safe for cycling made living without a vehicle much more difficult. That experience reinforced something I strongly believe: if we want people to make lower-carbon choices, we need to make those choices practical, accessible and safe.

I’m also a huge waste-reduction and diversion nerd. In my work & personal life, I’m constantly thinking about what we consume, what we throw away, what can be reused, recovered or diverted, and how our everyday choices affect the planet and all living beings who share it.

I previously served on the West Kootenay Watershed Collaborative board, gaining a deeper understanding of watershed protection and ecosystem health.

As Community Chef & Kitchen Coordinator at the Nelson Community Food Centre, I work directly within our local food system, prioritizing relationships with local farmers and producers, food recovery, waste reduction, & accessible, seasonal food.

I believe climate action must also be equitable. I supported Nelson Next when I ran for Council in 2022, and remain committed to turning our existing climate commitments into practical action that makes sustainable choices more accessible while making Nelson healthier, more resilient and more affordable.

Nelson has strong plans; the priority now is implementation and accountability.

I would support annual Nelson Next priorities with clear timelines, responsibilities and public progress reports. Climate action should be integrated with Nelson 2050 and everyday decisions about housing, transportation, infrastructure, emergency preparedness, food, water, waste and the urban forest.

I would prioritize actions with multiple benefits, including tree canopy expansion, wildfire and heat preparedness, stronger local food systems, better transit and active transportation, watershed protection and energy-efficient buildings.

Council must protect the staff capacity and funding needed to deliver these plans and pursue provincial and federal support.

Reliable transit is both climate and social infrastructure.

I would advocate for more frequent, reliable Nelson service that works for workers, seniors, youth, people with disabilities and those without cars.

We also need better regional connections to Salmo, Slocan, Kaslo and Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, especially for medical travel. Since Greyhound ended service, long-distance options to Vancouver and Calgary are also limited.

I would work with the RDCK, BC Transit, neighbouring municipalities and provincial and federal governments to secure better service and sustainable funding. Reducing car dependency requires useful alternatives.

Climate preparedness must protect renters, low-income residents, seniors, children, unhoused people and people with disabilities.

I would support expanding and protecting the urban forest, increasing shade in public spaces and incorporating heat resilience into neighbourhood design.

The City should identify accessible cooling and clean-air spaces, communicate them clearly and include them in emergency planning.

We should explore support for building retrofits, cooling, and air filtration by creating partnerships between property owners and relevant government agencies and programs. Children’s programs need clear heat and air-quality protocols, including shade, water and indoor alternatives.

Climate adaptation should make people safer regardless of income or housing status.

Nelson Hydro is a huge asset for our community, and I think we should build on that as our electricity needs grow.

We’ve already taken steps into other forms of renewable energy through Nelson’s Community Solar Garden, and I’d like to see us continue exploring what else makes sense for Nelson.

Producing more electricity isn’t the only answer. I supported rooftop gardens when I ran in 2022, and I still do. Beyond growing food and creating green space, green roofs can help keep buildings cooler in summer and reduce the energy needed for cooling. Canadian research has found significant reductions in heat moving through roofs during warmer months.

I will partner with leading experts to find the best options that make sense for our community.

What matters to me is keeping Nelson Hydro reliable and affordable while finding practical ways to reduce energy use and produce more clean, renewable energy locally.

Natural spaces should be central to how Nelson grows.

I support protecting mature trees, expanding our urban forest, planting climate-resilient, native and culturally significant vegetation, protecting watersheds, and ensuring meaningful green space is a significant part of new development.

Bear-resistant community gardens, thermal greenhouses and rooftop gardens can support biodiversity, provide cooling, manage stormwater, strengthen local food security and create spaces for community connection.

Our lakeshore is an important ecological and public asset. Decisions about its future should prioritize habitat, public access, climate resilience and the long-term public interest, not just development potential.

Climate action is a human rights issue. There’s no future without it.