Preeti Faridkot

As a Vancouver School Board Trustee, I’ve supported the work being done to make our schools greener and more sustainable. Over the past few years, we have also put additional funding toward sustainability learning in our schools, giving students at different grade levels opportunities to learn about sustainability and share and present what they have learned.

For me, climate action doesn’t always have to mean big changes overnight. It’s also about the everyday decisions we make — reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, and making it easier and safer for students and families to walk, bike or take transit.

I believe education is one of the most important parts of this work. Our students care deeply about their future, and when we give them the opportunity to learn about climate change and sustainability from an early age, they can become part of the solution.

Personally, I try to do my part by walking when I can, reducing waste and being mindful of what I use and consume.

There is always more we can do, and I want to continue supporting practical climate action while giving our students the knowledge and opportunities to help build a more sustainable future.

I support moving toward cleaner energy and reducing emissions, but we also have to be realistic about affordability. Vancouver is already an expensive place to live, and I don’t want policies that make housing even more costly for families.

I support cleaner, energy-efficient buildings and a responsible transition away from fossil fuels, but that transition must be practical, reliable and affordable. Climate action and affordability should not be competing priorities. We need solutions that reduce emissions without adding unnecessary costs to building new homes or passing those costs on to residents.

I believe the Sustainability Office plays an important role in helping our schools become greener, reduce energy use and waste, and support climate education for our students.

I would support funding the office, but I also have to be responsible with the limited dollars we receive. Every budget decision has an impact somewhere. I will always look at how we can support sustainability while protecting classroom resources and direct supports for students. For me, it’s about finding the right balance and making sure the funding we invest is actually making a difference.

I do have concerns about how much energy and water AI data centres can use, and I think we need to pay attention to that as AI continues to grow. Working in IT, I also understand that technology is not going away, so I don’t think simply stopping development is the answer. I would rather see strong environmental standards and accountability around energy and water use. We should be able to embrace new technology without putting unnecessary pressure on our natural resources.

Vancouver is growing, and we need more housing, but we also need to make sure we are planning properly for that growth. It’s not just about adding homes. We need schools, childcare, parks, transit and community spaces to grow along with our neighbourhoods.

As a School Board Trustee, this is especially important to me because I see what happens when new communities are built without enough school space for the families moving in.

I also believe good planning can help us address climate change. If people can live closer to where they work, shop and access services, with good transit and safe walking and cycling options, we can reduce our reliance on cars.

For me, it’s about balance — building the housing Vancouver needs while making sure our communities remain affordable, sustainable and great places to raise a family.

Climate change affects all of us, but some people are much more vulnerable, especially those who are unhoused, seniors and children. During extreme heat, wildfire smoke or severe weather, everyone should have somewhere safe to go.

I support having more cooling and clean-air spaces, access to drinking water, shade and emergency supports throughout the city. We also need to make sure people know where to get help when they need it.

For me, this is about taking care of people. Whether someone has a home or not, everyone deserves to be safe during extreme weather. As a School Board Trustee, I also want to make sure our schools are prepared and remain safe and healthy places for our students and staff.