April 2026

Spring has finally sprung in Ottawa! The birds are chirping and the world is slowly greening and it feels especially good after such a long winter.

This month, we’re spotlighting PERC, the Peace and Environment Resource Centre, by highlighting some of its programs, partners, and projects. This includes features on the BIPOC Fellowship Microgrant projects and volunteer highlights. We also take a look at ACORN’s latest housing report, along with other news from around the city.

Celebrating BIPOC Leadership: the 2025 Micro-grants Project Showcase

Written by: Nasha Choudhury

The BIPOC Fellowship was launched in 2021 as an initiative of the Sustainable Capacity Foundation. In 2025, the Peace and Environment Resource Centre became its official home, marking an important transition and the launch of the Microgrants program.

The Fellowship celebrates BIPOC leaders across Canada working in the environmental non-profit sector in leadership roles. It brings together a diverse roster of Fellows from organizations addressing a wide range of environmental issues. Through professional development opportunities, funding, and dedicated spaces such as quarterly roundtables, the Fellowship supports these leaders in their growth. These gatherings offer Fellows a chance to come together to share their work, projects, leadership challenges and successes, and reflections on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over time, they have become a supportive and safe space for Fellows to express themselves and lean on one another for learning, growth, and support.

In 2025, thanks to the generosity of its funders, the BIPOC Fellowship launched its Microgrants program to support emerging, youth, and diverse leaders in the environmental sector with one-of-a-kind, environmentally focused projects. We were privileged to support seven Fellows across Canada through small grants designed to fund a specific aspect, program, or activity within their projects, to be completed within a year. Alongside this funding, the Fellowship created spaces for these Fellows to connect, share project ideas and updates, access resources and tools, and ultimately showcase their work.

With this round now closed, we would like to take this opportunity to highlight some of the wonderful Fellows and their projects:

Mars Moreira: Dreamstill – Slow Fashion Week

Slow Fashion Week, held in Spring 2025, brought together the Vancouver and UBC communities to explore sustainable fashion through workshops, panels, an exhibition, a clothing swap, and a fashion show. Co-led by UBC Professor Germaine Koh and DreamStill Technologies, a social enterprise developing AI solutions to sort textile waste and support a more sustainable fashion industry, the week-long initiative centered around circular economy principles and community engagement.

The project collaborated with key partners including UBC organizations, local designers, and Indigenous knowledge holders. Workshops highlighted both traditional practices and industry insights on the global impacts of textile waste. In many ways, the initiative helped fill the void left by Eco Fashion Week, showcasing ethical, low-waste practices and reimagining what sustainable fashion can look like in community.

Celesta Alcena: Celestial Healing – A Day Retreat: Community, Land, Connection & Play

Celeste’s retreat was a heart-filled day held in Summer 2025, centering land-based practices and spiritual revitalization for Queer & Trans Black, Indigenous, and POC (QTBIPOC) youth in and around Ottawa. The retreat created space to reawaken deep relationships between our spirits and the spirit of the land, drawing on ancestral and cultural traditions while emphasizing the importance of play, care, and connection.

The day brought together a range of offerings facilitated by community, including breathwork, yoga, sound healing, herbalism teachings from an Afro-Indigenous perspective, and an ecstatic dance gathering. Through these experiences, the retreat fostered healing, joy, and a sense of belonging rooted in both community and Earth connection.

Christina Battle: Seeds Are Meant to Disperse – Supporting the Companions

Supporting the Companions was a participatory art project that explored the often-unseen role of those who support others through times of crisis. Inspired by the marigold (Tagetes spp.), a well-known and reliable companion plant, the project invited artists and non-profit sector leaders working on climate and sustainability issues to engage in a process of reflection, learning, and connection.

Participants were encouraged to spend time with and learn from the marigold across the season, receiving the beauty and joy it offers while reflecting on care, reciprocity, and support. The project also explored the power of citation, incorporating a series of collective readings, held at a distance and accessible online, that became an integral part of the experience.

Abhay Singh: Break the Divide – Climate Emotions and Education Resilience Program

Through the Climate Emotions and Education Resilience Program, Abhay Singh and his team delivered impactful programming across Regina and Moose Jaw. The initiative trained 10 youth facilitators in climate emotions facilitation and reached over 300 students in Grades 6–12 across 12 schools.

The microgrant played a key role in supporting the training of racialized facilitators, helping expand the program’s reach and impact. Building on this success, the initiative is now scaling into a Prairies-wide Climate Education and Resilience Program, supporting students across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba in building emotional resilience, deepening their understanding of climate change, and taking meaningful action in their communities.

Margaret Li: Everyone Has a Story – Climate Kinship Project

As part of the Everyone Has a Story project, the Climate Kinship Storytelling Workshop brought community members together in August to share personal stories of climate advocacy and action. The workshop created a supportive and engaging space where participants could connect, reflect, and learn from one another’s experiences.

The microgrant supported essential costs such as facilitation and materials, making the gathering possible. The event helped build connection, confidence, and momentum for community-led climate action, grounding advocacy work in shared stories and collective care.

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Christina Battle shared the following reflection on her experience:

“The microgrant from the BIPOC Fellowship was instrumental in supporting my new participatory art project - Supporting the Companions - that engaged more than 20 artists or non-profit sector leaders who are dedicated to developing and centring climate and sustainability focused issues through their work. While funding helped make the project possible, support from the BIPOC Fellowship went well beyond the financial. The opportunity to engage with other recipients of the grant offered time and space to consider the challenges of working on complex and critical work within the non-profit sector, and the opportunity to hear and share stories from the cohort helped ground the work in ways that will forever resonate. I’m grateful for the opportunity as well as the introductions to those working across the country.”

These were thoughtful, impactful, and deeply meaningful projects, each one led with care, intention, and vision. We are incredibly proud of our Fellows and their accomplishments, and grateful to have had the opportunity to support their ideas as they took shape and came to life.

Celebrating Volunteers: The Heart of PERC’s Impact

Written by: Hannah Rockburn

April marked National Volunteer Week 2026, a time to recognize and celebrate the individuals who generously dedicate their time, talent, and treasure to strengthening communities across the country. For the Ottawa Peace and Environment Resource Centre (PERC), volunteers have always been at the core of our work, driving forward environmental awareness, supporting grassroots initiatives, and helping us remain a vital hub for education and action.

For decades, volunteers have contributed to every aspect of PERC’s growth, from organizing events and maintaining our resource library to amplifying community voices through the Peace & Environment News (PEN). Their commitment reflects a shared belief in environmental stewardship, civic engagement, and collective impact. We are deeply grateful for this continued support and remain committed to creating meaningful opportunities for volunteers to learn, lead, and make a difference.

This year, we are especially proud to highlight three outstanding youth volunteers whose dedication and initiative have made a lasting impact:

Tatev Vardanyan has played a key role in preserving PERC’s legacy by digitizing a significant collection of past PEN articles. Her work has helped build our growing online archive, making decades of environmental knowledge and community stories more accessible to the public. This effort not only protects our history but ensures it can continue to inform and inspire future generations.

Maame Asamoah-Apreku brought both organization and enthusiasm to her volunteer work in 2025. She led the cataloguing of PERC’s physical library inventory, improving access to valuable resources for our community. Beyond this, she represented PERC at local events across Ottawa, helping to raise awareness of our programs and connect with new audiences.

Nkosinothando (Nkosi) Mhlanga demonstrated exceptional leadership through her Community Climate Project in Ottawa South. Through two clean-up events held in June 2025, Nkosi engaged local residents in environmental action, despite challenging weather and turnout. Her initiative reached over 350 people online, brought together community partners, and even attracted the support of local leaders. Participants not only contributed to cleaning their neighbourhood but also learned about waste management and the circular economy. Nkosi’s project highlighted the power of grassroots action, showing that even small, dedicated groups can create meaningful change.

As we reflect on National Volunteer Week, we celebrate not only these three individuals but all those who contribute to PERC’s mission. Your efforts continue to shape a more informed, connected, and environmentally conscious community.

STORIES FROM THE PEN

New Data Launches on April 22nd to Sound the Alarm on Renovictions Ahead of City Bylaw Decision

Written by: Ottawa ACORN

Ottawa ACORN’s 2026 Hidden Renovictions report exposes a housing crisis far deeper—and more hidden—than official data suggests. While Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) records are often treated as the benchmark, ACORN’s report shows official data captures less than 5% of renovictions. Between 2022 and 2025, ACORN tracked 510 cases, yet only 24 appeared at the LTB—just 4.7%. Based on this gap, it’s estimated that more than 7,300 units in Ottawa may have experienced between 2010 and 2023.

Read the full report here: https://acorncanada.org/resources/hidden-renovictions-ottawa-acorn-report-2026/

These aren’t isolated legal evictions. Most tenants are pushed out through “cash for keys,” chronic disrepair, disruptive construction, and misinformation about their rights—allowing landlords to bypass formal processes and accountability. Renovictions are also highly targeted, disproportionately impacting women, people with disabilities, and low-income earners. Even when tenants have the legal right to return, fewer than 5% actually do—meaning affordable homes are permanently lost. The consequences are severe: displacement, rising rents, and a direct pipeline into homelessness.

The report launch on April 22 underscored both the urgency and the momentum of this fight. ACORN members gathered ahead of the City’s May 20 vote to “pull back the curtain” on the true scale of renovictions. ACORN members shared firsthand stories of displacement and reinforced the demand for action. Guest speakers, including Councillor Stephanie Plante and Sarah Sproule, Director of Community Legal Services Ottawa, voiced support for a strong renoviction bylaw.

ACORN is calling for a bylaw with real teeth—requiring renovation licenses, temporary accommodations, qualified persons report, and moving costs. Modeled on Hamilton’s success, which led to an 80% drop in renovictions, the solution is clear.

This report is a stark warning: addressing Ottawa’s housing emergency means confronting not just what is counted, but what remains deliberately hidden. Without a strong renoviction bylaw, Ottawa’s hidden renoviction crisis will only continue to grow.

FROM THE PEN ARCHIVES & TODAY

From PEN’s Spring 2019 edition seven years back, we highlight Jane’s Walk weekend, taking place in Ottawa and around the world annually on the first weekend of May, which is just around the corner! This year, in its 18th edition, Jane's Walk takes place the weekend of May 1st-3rd and its theme: Walk the Story.

Check it out: https://www.janeswalkottawa.ca/en/articles/336

Jane’s Walk Ottawa shares the following:

“This May, our streets become our storybooks.

In celebration of Ottawa’s Bicentenary, Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau invites you to “Walk the Story.” From the stories of the Anishinaabeg Algonquin Peoples, to the rough-and-tumble days of Bytown, to the communities that shape the city today — each walk opens a new chapter. As part of Ottawa 200, this year’s walks are an invitation to explore where we’ve been — and to imagine where we’re going.”

In 2019, Jane’s Walk was celebrated under the theme “Walk & Wonder” in Ottawa-Gatineau on the May 4th-5th weekend for the 12th annual Jane’s Walk festival. Inspired by the ideas of Jane Jacobs, this festival of free community walking tours spans two days and over sixty topics. The theme for 2019 was to Wander our Cities Together, celebrating what we love and gathering ideas to imagine our future in 25 years. In 2019, the City of Ottawa was consulting the public on its Official Plan: Beyond 2036, a subject likely discussed on many of the walks. Other interesting topics included local ecology and plant identification to urban farming and oral history. These walks are meant to inspire citizens to imagine what their city could be while also appreciating what brings out their sense of wonder.

OTHER NEWS

April was a full and active month in Ottawa, with important conversations and actions unfolding across peace, environment, and community wellbeing.

—At the municipal level, Ottawa’s Environment and Climate Change Committee met in April to discuss ongoing climate priorities and implementation strategies. These meetings play a key role in shaping how the city responds to the climate crisis at a local level. Watch the discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WUMhreXXTw

—Across the city, Earth Week brought moments of celebration and recognition. Ecology Ottawa announced its annual Eco Awards, uplifting individuals and groups making meaningful contributions to environmental protection and climate action. Learn more: https://www.ecologyottawa.ca/_whats_in_the_2026_municipal_budget

—April also brought a reminder of the realities of climate change closer to home. Heavy rainfall combined with snowmelt led to increased water levels and localized flooding concerns across the region, highlighting the growing importance of climate adaptation and resilient infrastructure. Read more: https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2026/04/13/20-30-mm-of-rain-in-the-forecast-with-pooling-on-roads-expected/

—Ottawa continues to see organizing and advocacy around peace and global justice. A multi-party group of parliamentarians and advocates called on the federal government to strengthen enforcement of Canada’s forced labour laws, arguing that many companies are not meaningfully addressing human rights risks in their supply chains. The push highlights growing concern around ethical sourcing and global labour justice. Read more: https://halifax.citynews.ca/2026/04/14/advocates-urge-ottawa-to-crack-down-on-slave-labour-end-yearlong-watchdog-vacancy/ 

—Grassroots peace efforts were also visible through organizing tied to the upcoming CANSEC arms show. Faith-based and peace organizations announced a planned peaceful vigil in Ottawa on May 27th, drawing attention to the global impacts of arms trade and calling for greater accountability around military exports and their links to human rights violations. Learn more: https://pbicanada.org/2026/04/28/pbi-canada-supports-quaker-peaceful-faithful-vigil-at-the-cansec-arms-show-in-ottawa-may-27/ 

—At the community level, people gathered on Parliament Hill for a Debt Justice rally, delivering tens of thousands of signatures as part of a national campaign calling for global debt relief and more equitable economic systems. The action connected local advocacy with international solidarity efforts focused on economic justice and poverty reduction. Learn more: https://devp.org/en/evenement/rally-debt-parliament-hill/ 

—Finally, local initiatives continued to bridge climate and community needs, with programs focused on making housing more energy-efficient while improving affordability and living conditions, marking an important example of climate solutions that center people and equity. Learn more: https://ottclimatefund.ca/program/climate-and-affordable-housing/

PERC appreciates all of our readers for giving us this chance to connect with members of our community, and we love being able to provide you with a forum to discuss pressing environmental and social justice issues.

But we also rely on your support to make this happen. If you are interested in helping our organization continue to use storytelling and networking to help individuals, non-profits, and community groups work locally for a greener and more peaceful world, please consider making a donation to the Peace and Environment Resource Centre.