Meeting in the middle: Municipal and community leadership

​Lunchtime conversation

​with guest Shannon Fernandes

​Municipal elections are on the horizon, reminding us that Municipalities have an important role to play in keeping communities safe and resilient. But what is that role exactly? Are Municipal governments going to take care of us (one extreme) or are we more or less on our own (the other)? How can communities and Municipalities work together to build resilience in the context of crisis? How can we engage with municipal governments in ways that create real change?

​Join us as host Emily Cowin invites Shannon to share her views and her story.

​During the final half hour, we will engage in small breakout groups and then return for a final Q&A with our guest.

​Shannon Fernandes is the Manager, Climate Adaptation at Halifax Regional Municipality and a PhD student at Brock University's Environmental Sustainability Research Centre. She is focused on building a more resilient Halifax through developing and implementing climate adaptation initiatives. Having experience in environmental consulting, community outreach, and sustainable supply chain management, she sees the potential in leveraging meaningful community engagement and research to drive evidence-based policy-making and the move towards a low-carbon resilient future.