The Youth Climate Cabinet is comprised of award alumni and is the body that administers the YCAA and serves as the peer review panel for submissions. In its spare time, the Cabinet speaks TRUTH TO POWER.
The YCC is also responsible for adjudicating the National Youth Climate Activism Award each year.
FINNEGAN BROWN
β¦Ύ Chair
Finnegan was awarded the YCAA in 2023 for his climate action work related to artistic activism and engagement in local government. He advocates for connecting to nature through visual art and believes that when people experience the wonder of nature, they are inspired to take action to protect biodiversity. Finn is fascinated by material ecology and sustainable design.
Currently in his final year at an International Baccalaureate school on Vancouver Island, Finnegan was recently awarded the 2024 Global Young Journalist Award for his piece on deepfake technology. Finnegan uses various avenues to connect with others and to challenge them to actualize social change.
As a Member of Parliament of BCβs Youth Legislative Assembly, Finnegan presented and successfully passed a bill to redesign the grounds surrounding the Victoria Legislature to promote habitat rehabilitation and sustainable thinking. He is also a member of the Vancouver Islands Youth Parliament, where he successfully passed a private memberβs resolution to install bee hives on the Victoria Parliament Buildings.
He is an avid swimmer, competitive waterpolo player and certified lifeguard. One of Finneganβs favourite things to do is hike along Vancouver Islandβs coastal trails with his friends and two dogs..
β Check out Finn being interviewed on the National Observer by Patricia Lane HERE.
β¦Ύ Secretary
KASEY CHEN
Kasey was a recipient of the YCAA in 2022 and is a senior at Mount Douglas Senior Secondary in Victoria, BC. She loves reading Bronte novels with a large cup of coffee on rainy days, learning about old growth, and taking walks up Mount Tolmie.
She has lobbied MLAs in the past and spoken to Justin Trudeau about youth concerns as part of the City of Victoria Youth Council because of her interest in climate activism. Kasey's favourite pastime though is helping out in her school's garden, where they grow produce and maintain a native meadow with Gary Oaks, shrubs, and perennial flowers.
PARKER LITTLE
β¦Ύ Communications Officer
Parker was a recipient of the YCCA in 2022, where she was recognized for her recycling reformations at Claremont Secondary School. This included the opening of a Cafe (named the Zero Waste Cafe), writing Claremontβs One Planet Saanich plan, and speaking alongside Saanichβs immediate-past mayor, Fred Haynes, when the municipality accepted a Carbon Disclosure Project award. She has spoken to over 1,200 youth about the importance of recycling, and placed second nationally for her speech about the importance of the skilled trades in Canadaβs future in the 2022 Skills Canada competition.
Parker is now doing a double major in Economics and Environmental Science as an undergraduate student at the University of Victoria. Her Environmental work continues through her research on soil carbon sequestration through the VKURA research internship, through her membership with the Universityβs sustainability project, and as a board member of I-SEA.
β LISTEN TO PARKER ON CBC RADIO βALL POINTS WESTβ FROM MARCH 12, 2024
AMY ZHANG
β¦Ύ Coordinator
Amy is the Youth Outreach group leader in Mount Douglas Secondaryβs Environmental Leadership program. Their mission is to educate students about climate change, local environments, conservation techniques, and harmful toxins such as micro-plastics. Her group inspired middle schools to take concrete steps to combat climate change.
This year, Amy is excited to expand Youth Outreach to elementary schools. Other than Youth Outreach, Amy volunteers within the program to remove invasive species at Mount ToImie, transplant camas in the school garden, and attend beach cleanups.
ELAINE XIAO
β¦Ύ Marketing & Growth Officer
Elaine was awarded the YCAA in 2024, highlighting her proactiveness in protecting wildlife and fostering sustainable consumption. Her non-profit Mism has recycled $10,000+ worth of items and galvanized thousands of youth in environmental action while being distinguished by the prestigious Diana Award. She is recognized by figures such as Waterloo Mayor McCabe and the Hon. Member of Parliament Mike Morrice, with whom she spoke on her YouTube channel.
Elaineβs drive for social justice is rooted in climate action and challenging beauty standards. Beyond engaging in activism, she enjoys reading up on global happenings and body ideals, plus the occasional contemporary fiction. Currently in her final year at Laurel Heights Secondary School in Waterloo, ON, Elaine is committed to expanding the Youth Climate Cabinetβs efforts both across the continent and the web.