Happy Earth Week Everyone,
What's in this email:
- Nursing Week Panel Discussion: May 15 at 12 p.m.
- Greening Nursing Schools Community of Practice: June 11 at 3 p.m.
- Upcoming ONE-IIOE elections
- First Do No Harm Open Letter
- Update from Shift Action on Decarbonizing HOOPP
- Perinatal Planetary Health Assessment Tool
- Remembering Pope Francis
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Nursing Week 2025 Panel Discussion
Title: Celebrating Nurses’ Environmental Awareness and Action
Date and Time: May 15 at 12 p.m. ET via Zoom
Abstract:
Nurses today have a vital role in integrating an environmental consciousness into health-care practice. Our panel discussion will focus on the inspiring efforts of nurses who are doing just that! Come and learn about actively contributing to a healthier planet through nursing and the benefits of nature-based healing practices in your personal and professional life.
Link: Coming soon!!!
Speakers:
Steven Cairns, RN, PhD, MEd, BScN, BEd
Steven is an Assistant Professor and Program Chair at Nipissing University’s School of Nursing who specializes in ecological nursing, critical caring theory, online learning engagement, critical cultural education, interprofessional health education, program development and evaluation. He has explored a variety of work experiences among diverse cultural groups within Canada and abroad. He is currently the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment - Ontario (CANE-ON) board representative and the webmaster for the Ontario Nurses for the Environment. Steve enjoys an active lifestyle in all seasons with family and friends in Bracebridge, Ontario.
Dominique Baillargeon, RN, BScN
Dominique graduated nursing school in 2020 and currently works as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit (ICU) in Southwestern Ontario. She has been a member of Ontario Nurses for the Environment (ONE) for almost five years; she started as the Policy and Political Action Executive and recently became the Social Media Executive. She is passionate about advocating for climate justice and making small changes in her life to promote environmental health. As a runner and outdoor enthusiast, she enjoys connecting with nature and appreciating everything it does to keep us healthy.
Carmen Hust RN, PhD, MScN, CPMHN(c)
Carmen is retired from being a full-time nursing professor and program chair at Algonquin College. She obtained her BScN at Université de Montréal, her MScN at Villanova University in Pennsylvania and PhD from the University of Ottawa. Carmen teaches to her passion – mental health and wellbeing – and sits on the board of the Federation of Canadian Mental Health Nurses and the Algonquin College Campus Ministry. She is an active member of A ROCHA, a Christian environmental stewardship organization and is a practicing nurse psychotherapist. Her research focus has been the lived experience of post-secondary students with mental health concerns. Beyond the professional sphere, Carmen is an active member of the Anglican Parish of South Carleton and has an appreciation for nature and sustainable living. She has raised three daughters, and lives on a small hobby farm.
Nancy Brookes, RN, PhD, MSc(a), BScN
Nancy Brookes is an adjunct professor at the University of Ottawa’s School of Nursing, with many years of clinical practice in mental health settings including at Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. She was a founding member of the Canadian Nurses Association’s Environmental Reference Group which then became the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE). She has been lecturing on the environmental impacts on mental health dating back to 2003.
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Greening Nursing Schools Community of Practice
Come collaborate with nurse educators from across North America on how to green nursing school and include planetary health and disaster preparedness competencies into nursing education.
June 11 at 3 p.m. ET
Save the date - link to come soon
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ONE-IIOE Elections
Election season is upon us!
Yes, you should vote at the federal election and consider the RNAO platform in the process which our interest group consulted on, but you should also vote for our interest group elections.
Even better, you should put your name forward to volunteer with our executive team of caring nurses. There is a position for any nurse who is passionate about the environment. We want your passion!!!
Chair/Co-chair
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Communicate with RNAO Home Office
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Organize and lead quarterly meetings and AGM
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Coordinate members’ voices report to RNAO
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Represent ONE-IIOE at events and in meetings with the RNAO and partners
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Attend RNAO assembly meetings and AGM
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Coordinate annual election process
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Support ONE-IIOE exec and member activities
Membership ENO (2nd)
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Communicate with the RNAO Home Office Membership contact
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Monitor the member communications whether through the ONE-IIOE email account, the ONE-IIOE website, mail or telephone, and direct communications to an ENO, as needed
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Strategize to keep members engaged
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Welcoming new members and facilitating their involvement in ONE-IIOE issues, events and committees
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Consider strategies for recognition of members within ONE-IIOE and RNAO Home Office
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Provide copies of minutes and/or other written resources, such as newsletters, to the Home Office contact as needed
Newsletter Editor (2nd)
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Make call-outs for newsletter content
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Develop and distribute an engaging quarterly ONE-IIOE newsletter
Policy and Political Action ENO
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Communicate with the RNAO Home Office Policy/ Political Action contact
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2 positions available
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Act as an ambassador for political action on behalf of ONE-IIOE
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Explore networking opportunities to advocate for ONE-IIOE objectives
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Utilize RNAO strategies for action for policy change and environmental action
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Provide feedback from ONEIG on emerging issues
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Inform ONE-IIOE of issues and opportunities relevant to ONE-IIOE’s Mission, Vision, and Objectives
Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment (CANE) Representative
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Liaise between CANE and ONE-IIOE
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Enhance communication between the national nurses group and the provincial nurses group, to support each other in activities and actions to influence optimal environmental health
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Support the activities and initiatives of the ONE-IIOE executive
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The person should be an active member of both organizations with some institutional knowledge.
Webmaster (2nd)
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Keep the ONE-IIOE website up-to-date, interactive, and engaging
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Work with other members of the EC to create and publish content for the website including bylaws and meeting minutes
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Liaise with RNAO home office as needed for website purposes
Members-at-Large
- Come to meetings, learn about how we work and help where needed and you have capacity.
- Get your feet wet and have fun.
Please complete the call for nominations form if you are interested in joining our Executive.
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First Do No Harm Open Letter
First Do No Harm is a coalition of health organizations demanding that institutions divest from fossil fuels which are the cause of the climate crisis and so many needless deaths. Their new website is excellent and contains an up to date library of recent publications related to negative health outcomes caused by the fossil fuel industry.
On April 23rd, they hosted an excellent webinar and RNAO's CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun was on the international panel of speakers demanding fossil fuel divestment and praised the work of Shift Action in decarbonizing Ontario's HOOPP pension plan.
Please sign the open letter of which RNAO is a primary sponsor.
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Update from Shift Action on Decarbonizing HOOPP:
. Big positive news: HOOPP no longer has a fossil fuel entangled director on its board.
We critiqued this OHA-appointed director's fossil fuel entanglement a number of times, including a pretty pointed critique in our report card that came out in February (see page 12 here). He was on the board at least as of March 6, 2025, but is no longer listed as a Board Trustee. This is a big milestone for ensuring that your pension fund doesn't have fossil fuel interests weighing in on climate discussions. (This update was not included in the report but is something I noticed as I was reviewing info.)
2. HOOPP is progressing on its climate targets.
-HOOPP has already met its 2030 emissions reduction target (good news!)-- which we had rightly critiqued as lacking in ambition. HOOPP has not yet committed to setting another emissions reduction target.
-HOOPP has increased its "green investments", which were at $10 billion at the end of 2023, to $11 billion at the end of 2024. This includes having over $1 billion in Canadian green bonds / sustainable bonds.
-21% of the companies in HOOPP's infrastructure and private equity portfolios now have credible net-zero transition plans. HOOPP's (insufficient) target here is that 50% of these companies have plans by 2030.
3. Fossil fuel investments.
When we last calculated, we identified that HOOPP has at minimum $1.44 billion in fossil fuel investments (September 30, 2024).
HOOPP reported that it made no new direct private investments in coal companies or in oil exploration and production companies in 2024. (This is positive. However, HOOPP is leaving the door open to investing in gas, and to continued investment in publicly traded coal or oil companies.)
4. Engaging companies on climate.
In the 2024 annual report, there was significantly less disclosure (compared to the 2023 annual report) about trying to influence companies on climate. Based on the 2024 annual report, I do not see any updates that would warrant a change to the "D" score we assigned on the "Climate Engagement" category of Shift's report card. This does not necessarily mean that HOOPP has stopped trying to engage companies on climate -- but it is not disclosing very much about whatever activities it might be undertaking.
5. Getting things in order.
When we consider how little HOOPP disclosed a few years ago, this year's annual report marks a big improvement in that HOOPP's Climate Disclosures are now formally incorporated into the annual report, and HOOPP received quality assurance from an independent auditor on a subset of its climate metrics. Along with these improvements, HOOPP reported more detailed and granular data than in previous years.
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Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment Event:
PERINATAL PLANETARY HEALTH ASSESSMENT TOOL (PERIPHAT)
JOIN OUR LAUNCH
May 14, 2025 - 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. CT | 1:30-3 p.m. ET
https://bit.ly/periphat-launch
Speaker: Jacqueline Avanthay Strus, RN, MScN, PhD (c)
In the face of escalating planetary health crises – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—perinatal families are encountering unprecedented risks with lifelong implications. As health-care providers, you play a critical role in equipping families with the knowledge and strategies needed to mitigate and adapt to these challenges.
Key areas of focus
The Periphat is a validated resource designed to assess the resilience of perinatal families across seven key areas:
- Air Quality
- Disaster Preparedness
- Food and Water Security
- Heat Extremes
- Mental Health
- Toxins and Pollution
- Vector-Borne Diseases
Why Attend?
- Gain insights into the development and validation of this groundbreaking tool
- Learn how the PeriPHAT can be integrated into your clinical practice
- Explore resources to enhance family resilience
- Engage with fellow professionals dedicated to planetary health and perinatal care
- Developed by CANE-ACIIE through a rigorous research process, including a modified Delphi method and expert consensus, PeriPHAT offers healthcare providers an evidence-based approach to support families navigating the impacts of planetary health challenges.
Together, we can empower perinatal families to face the future with confidence and resilience. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you!
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Remembering Pope Francis
On Monday, Pope Francis died. He was a staunch supporter of climate action, a champion of the poor, refugees and migrants, and on Sunday, he called for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and Israel. Regardless of beliefs, he was well respected and his passing has left a huge void in the world.