ClimateWest Team Expands: Meet Asha and Brooke

ClimateWest is growing! Last month, we welcomed two new team members who are set to bring fresh perspectives and expertise to our organization. Asha Nelson and Brooke Forbes join us as Project Coordinators to help advance some of the exciting collaborations and projects we are working on.

Asha brings a wealth of experience in food sovereignty and community development, having set up a non-profit organization, Fireweed Food Co-op. She has a passion for addressing environmental issues through a social justice and equity lens. Brooke comes to us from the environmental conservation sector, having worked with Ducks Unlimited and most recently in renewable energy development. She has experience working with diverse groups and enjoys the community-building aspect of tackling environment and climate issues.

Together, with a shared passion for the environment and community, Asha and Brooke will play a crucial role in facilitating meaningful climate adaptation actions and conversations across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Read on to find out more about Asha and Brooke…

Where did you grow up? 

Brooke: Small town Saskatchewan! Home was Biggar, then Battleford, but with a lot of time spent at family farms on either side (Senlac for my Dad’s family, Leask area for Mom’s) and Jackfish Lake in the summer.

Asha: Winnipeg has been home for most of my life but I also lived in Morocco for a couple years as a young child and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as a teenager. 

Where is your favourite place to be in the Prairies?

Brooke: The family farm near Leask, where I am currently based! It’s on the boreal fringe so the farmland is interspersed with bush and wetlands making it a great place for birding and watching the seasons change. That said, next summer I would really like to visit Grasslands National Park!

Asha: I probably identify the most with the landscape of the Canadian shield in eastern Manitoba. I grew up camping and canoeing in this area with my family, and regularly return for canoe trips and other adventures. My recent discovery of cross-country skiing has also taken me across the province to explore new trails, and helped restore my relationship with winter— a necessity when living in the prairies.

What is your proudest achievement?

Brooke: I went tree-planting on a whim at 20 and returned for three seasons. While it had its ups and downs, it taught me perseverance, grit, and the power of adding humour when reality is harsh. I made great friends and was able to pay my way through university which felt like a big accomplishment.

Asha: Looking back, I would say one of my proudest achievements was helping to build a non-profit, Fireweed Food Co-op, from the ground up. It was incredibly challenging to say the least, but also such a rewarding and thrilling chapter of my life. A couple of years ago, my partner and I also completed a six week bikepacking trip through Patagonia. Our prairie legs suffered for the first week, but we got stronger with each day and were able to immerse ourselves in the most breathtaking landscapes. I’m pretty proud of that accomplishment.

How do you like to relax?

Brooke: I enjoy running, biking, paddling… pretty much any outdoor activity works well to quiet my mind! I also find taking care of my plants and gardening to be meditative and am already planning for next spring.

Camping along the Boreal Trail between Goodsoil and Meadow Lake, SK

Asha: I love the combination of movement and being outdoors, whether it be cycling, climbing, canoeing or cross-country skiing. It might sound like a strange way to relax but these activities help me feel present and connected to nature. I also love reading, either in hammocks in the summer or curled up on a couch with a hot cup of tea in the winter.

Asha on one of her yearly week-long canoe trips with friends in the Canadian shield

In one word, how would you describe your role with ClimateWest? 

Brooke: Organizer

Asha: Facilitator

What attracted you to this role, and what are you most excited about?

Brooke: I’ve always appreciated the natural world and have a deep desire to conserve it for future generations. While there are many ongoing global issues, climate change feels the most pressing to me, and where I personally can make the most impact. From tree-planting to farming, I’ve seen how climate adaptation solutions (whether they are described as such or not) can bridge the growing gap between those who support and take part in climate action and those who don’t. I know that many climate solutions are beneficial to everyday people, regardless of where they fall on that spectrum. I am excited to work on climate adaptation goals in my home province and help build that bridge!

Asha: I distinctly remember one of the most damning IPCC reports being published while I was in university and it turned my world upside down. After struggling with the grief for a while, I felt compelled to get involved. In many ways, it is the most defining issue of my generation, intersecting with every aspect of life, from our health and housing to food security and the economy. As the Canadian Prairies are a hotspot for climate change—not just within Canada, but across the world – I was excited to apply for a position with ClimateWest, an organization committed to building climate resilience in the region.

What keeps you motivated?

Brooke: The drought of 2021 was the first time that climate anxiety felt really tangible but, something I’ve learned from farming is that you get up every morning and do the best you can with the tools you have. I think that today, we have more and better “tools” than ever before and that is empowering. I also actively seek out uplifting news stories and organizations as what you focus your energy on tends to flourish. And that’s how I found ClimateWest!

Asha: Working on climate issues can feel heavy and discouraging at times. However, I find connecting with others in the field, sharing knowledge and support, can feel incredibly energizing and uplifting. I also believe the transformations required to respond to the climate crisis offer us an opportunity to reimagine the future we want. I suppose this vision keeps me going!

We will share more about the projects Asha and Brooke are working on in the coming months – watch this space!