Isaiah Collins

My approach to climate action has always been practical: learn where I can, make changes where I can, and support solutions connecting sustainability with food security, water security, and community resilience.

My involvement started early. I helped my mother with an elementary school assembly on environmental awareness and later supported a composting initiative at Penticton Secondary School. That interest continued as Assistant Manager of the Penticton Farmers’ Market, where I wanted to learn directly from local growers about regenerative farming and our local food system. At community events, I also advocate for the Quench Buggy to provide accessible drinking water while reducing single-use plastics.

An important part of my advocacy is using my platform to highlight climate-related events, environmentally friendly innovations, and local businesses and organizations working toward a more sustainable Penticton. I believe sharing what people are already doing locally can help make climate action feel practical and achievable.

At Western University, my classes discussed climate change will impact organizations and worker health and safety, attended sustainability workshops, and chose Western partly because of its strong sustainability record. I continue learning through workshops on greener practices in film, events, and tourism, and events like World Water Week.

I also try to live these values through a relatively minimalist lifestyle, vegan diet, intentional consumption, walking when practical, and considering environmental impacts in my work. Ultimately, I believe lasting climate action requires making sustainable choices practical, affordable, and accessible for everyone.

Penticton already has a Transportation Master Plan that provides a strong foundation for improving how people get around our community. I think we need to keep building on that work by meeting people where they’re at and improving their access to different transportation options and resources.

That means reliable and affordable transit, improving traffic flow, stronger regional transportation connections, and safer micro mobility options. I think working closely with BC Transit and our regional partners is important, both to improve connections across the Valley and to make sure people know what transportation options are already available. I’ve supported an initiative to expand accessible regional transportation because we need to think about how people move across the Valley, not just within Penticton.

I also see the transition to lower-emission transportation as an opportunity for Penticton. I’d like to better understand what clean transportation and EV companies need to establish and grow here, and work with our economic development team, regional partners, industry, and local institutions to help create those conditions. This could bring new businesses and local jobs while potentially positioning Penticton as a leader in sustainable transportation.

At the same time, I recognize that many people will continue to rely on cars. This isn’t about telling people how they should get around. It’s about giving people more choices and making lower-emission options practical, safe, accessible, and affordable for everyday life.

would start with the comprehensive review already identified in the City’s current business plan: what have we accomplished since 2021, where are we falling behind, and what have we learned? I’d also look at current research and what other communities are doing to identify approaches that could work for Penticton.

From there, I’d prioritize actions that can make a meaningful difference and that we can realistically move forward during the term. I’d consider cost, available resources, climate impact, and community benefits, while looking for opportunities to work with the Province, regional partners, businesses, and organizations.

I think we also need to think as a Valley. Climate change doesn’t stop at Penticton’s borders, and issues like transportation, water, wildfire, agriculture, and economic development affect us all. If climate action is a priority for Council, I’d want it reflected in our four-year vision, with clear timelines, responsibilities, and ways to measure progress.

My background in research and project management has taught me the importance of measuring, learning, and adjusting. I also believe in closing the feedback loop: residents should be able to see what we committed to, where we are, and what comes next.

I think the first thing we should do is complete a City retrospective. What have we learned from recent wildfire, drought, and extreme weather seasons? Where can we strengthen our approach? From there, we can identify areas to improve and build stronger indicators so we can recognize risks earlier.

I would look at resilient infrastructure, water security, wildfire preparedness, and land-use planning. We should use the data we have to understand where we are vulnerable, strengthen critical infrastructure, protect natural systems, and plan ahead for transportation and evacuation routes. We also need to think about how risks connect. For example, drought and wildfire can be followed by heavy rain, creating flooding, erosion, or landslide risks.

We can do more through FireSmart, fuel management, neighbourhood-level preparedness, and public education around evacuation routes, alerts, and what residents can do to prepare.

We also need to think differently about economic resilience. Many small businesses I’ve spoken to depend on a strong summer and August. Recent wildfire impacts have shown how quickly that can affect events, tourism, and local businesses. Stronger contingency planning could help businesses adapt.

These risks remind us why we need to plan as a Valley. Wildfire, drought, water, transportation, and extreme weather do not stop at municipal borders. Working with the RDOS and neighbouring communities can help us prepare together.

I don’t see these priorities as inherently competing. I think thoughtful housing development, good local jobs, healthcare, reliable transportation, and climate action can all support one another.

I would focus on decisions that address what people need today while also building resilience for the future: housing near jobs and services, energy-efficient buildings, local food and water security, and resilient infrastructure. I also think we have an opportunity to grow environmentally sustainable jobs and strengthen our Care Economy by supporting work that improves people’s health, wellbeing, connection, and quality of life.

My interest in the Doughnut Economy comes from thinking about what we want our economy to do. For me, success isn’t just about growth. It’s about whether people have what they need to live healthy and meaningful lives while respecting the environment we depend on. I also think we need to think bioregionally. Water, wildfire, agriculture, air quality, and our ecosystems don’t stop at municipal boundaries. They connect us across the Okanagan, and our planning needs to reflect that. This isn’t only about the environment we leave for our children.

It is the environment we are living in now - the environment in which our current population will work, raise families, grow older, and retire. Climate action is therefore also about health, accessibility, affordability, and quality of life today. We can meet people where they are at, address their needs now, and still build a healthier, more caring, and resilient Penticton for the future.