France Pomminville is Climate Reality Canada's new executive director

Adam: First of all, on behalf of our colleagues, welcome to the team! Could you tell me a little about your career path? 

France: Thank you so much, Adam. I'm thrilled to be joining Climate Reality Canada! My career has been shaped by a decade of experience in communications, and is deeply rooted in community. I was fortunate to lead the Maison de la Famille Vaudreuil-Soulanges, a community organization, for over seven years, where I helped create programs and services that support families, always emphasizing well-being and inclusion. Through this experience and my MBA studies, I have built skills in management and leadership, strategic development and social investment. These skills, along with my passion for social justice and equity, have inspired me to take this next step in my career.

Adam: What motivated you to work with an "environmental organization" like Climate Reality?

France: For me, there's a natural link between my work in the community and my commitment to the environment. The climate crisis affects all facets of our society, especially the most vulnerable populations. Working for Climate Reality Canada allows me to continue advocating for social justice, this time with a specific focus on environmental issues. As a mother of two, I feel even more invested in this mission, knowing that it is future generations who will inherit the consequences of our decisions today. I want to make sure that my children, along with everyone in my community, can live in a healthier, fairer and more sustainable world.

Adam: The climate crisis affects all sectors and all aspects of life. You have a great background in community work and extensive field experience. How have you experienced or observed the impacts of climate change in your life and in your community?

France: The impacts of climate change are already visible in our daily lives. At the Maison de la Famille, we've observed an increase in eco-anxiety, particularly among young parents who worry about their children's future, as well as among the young people who we accompany to schools. Extreme weather events, such as floods or heat waves, have a direct impact on families, especially those with limited resources to cope.

Adapting to these new realities requires taking climate justice into account, as it is often the most marginalized communities that suffer the most severe consequences. This is why I believe that climate justice must be at the heart of all environmental action.

Adam: What are your ambitions for Climate Reality?

France: My goal is to strengthen our role in facilitating and catalyzing community-led action. We have a network of over 1,900 volunteers across the country, and I want to work alongside the team to mobilize these individuals to take concrete action in their communities. It's crucial that we make our voices heard by political decision-makers, and that citizens are equipped to influence the decisions that affect their future.

We also need to draw inspiration from international success stories and bring those ideas here to our decision-makers. I've visited a number of Scandinavian countries, and many of their initiatives are worthy of inspiration. I particularly like their active transportation network and the densification of housing. I'd also like us to strengthen our presence in communities that are often excluded from discussions on the climate crisis, so that we can build solidarity that cuts across all strata of society. Citizen participation must be at the heart of this approach. I fundamentally believe in the power of collective action. There's an old African proverb that says “alone we go fast, but together we go further”.

Adam: How do you see Climate Reality's mission?

France: Climate Reality's mission, for me, is first and foremost one of education, to bring together the vital forces of our communities to tackle the climate crisis in an equitable and inclusive way. We need to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to get involved, get informed, and participate in the decisions that shape our common future. It's an ambitious social project, but an essential one: the climate crisis threatens not only our environment, but also our health, our safety, and our children's quality of life. At Climate Reality, we must not only raise public awareness, but also create spaces for dialogue between citizens and their elected representatives, so that political decisions are rooted in the realities experienced by communities. We have to change things, and together we have the power to do it, and we're going to do it.