Clean Air Webinar — Connecting Air Quality Organizations Across Canada, Part 2

Following the success of our April 15, 2023 Clean Air Webinar, Connecting Air Quality Organizations Across Canada, we are following up with a second webinar. In this webinar, we welcome back Patience Rakochy from Fraser Basin Council. Patience is joined by Christine Rigby from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Michael Bisaga from the Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA).

Speakers:

• Christine Rigby, Manager, Climate Action and Air Quality, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
  Christine will speak about the Strathcona Area Air Quality Study the Port Authority is currently undertaking in the City of Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood. Presentation: Strathcona Area Air Quality Study overview (VFPA)
• Patience Rakochy, Regional Program Lead, Northern Interior Region, Fraser Basin Council
  Patience will speak about a recent study prepared by the UBC School of Community and Regional Planning (SCARP) for the Prince George Air Imporvement Roundtable (PGAIR) . Final Report: Advancing Air Quality and Climate Co-benefits in the Prince George Airshed (PGAIR/SCARP)
• Michael Bisaga – Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA)
  Michael will present on the various activities LICA is involved in regarding air quality in the region.

Want to catch recordings of previous Clean Air Webinars?

2023

• January: Air Quality Considerations: Reducing Needless Idling
• April: Connecting Air Quality Across Canada
• September: Air Quality Education for K-12 Schools

2022

• February: How the Federal CAAQS Informs Air Quality
• March: Alberta’s Air Monitoring Plan – The Next Five Years
• April: Camrose Project – Community Science, Environmental Studies, and Flow2 Air Quality Sensors
• May: What to do About Wildfire Smoke and Poor Air Quality Days
• June: Exploring the Relationship Between Climate Change & Air Quality
• September: Climate Change & Air Quality Linkages—Implications for Health
• October: Reduced Transportation from COVID—Impacts on Air Quality

Presenter Bios

Christine Rigby has worked in the air quality and climate change field for 22 years, the last 18 of which have been spent leading air programs for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in Vancouver, Canada. At the port authority, Christine’s focus is on local, regional and international collaboration, and the development and implementation of emission reduction policies and initiatives that emphasize flexible, results-based approaches. Prior to joining the port authority, Christine spent four years with the British Columbia Ministry of Environment working on air quality related issues.

Patience Rakochy is a recent addition to the Fraser Basin Council team. She was brought on board as the General Manager of the Prince George Air Improvement Roundtable (PGAIR) to support the members of which are working to achieve desired air quality targets for the region. She manages all the affairs of the roundtable including budgets, special committees, community presence and events coordination. She is currently working in collaboration with other reginal air quality managers to realize efficiencies, and design projects that reach a broader audience. She is also in the process of developing a new Air Quality Management Plan with the members of PGAIR.

Michael Bisaga is currently working for Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) as their Monitoring Programs Manager, a role which he has had since 2006. He grew up in Toronto and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environmental Studies. He has spent much of his career in the air monitoring field working with airshed organizations and focuses on data interpretation and visualization, mapping, monitoring plan development, and air quality education. Michael currently lives in Richmond, British Columbia and is completing a Master’s degree in Geomatics at UBC. He enjoys both ground and drone-based photography, travel, and exploring Western Canada’s mountain playground with his partner and their two Giant Schnauzers, Mezzo and Ellie.

For more information

Julie Kusiek, Engagement Coordinator
Alberta Capital Airshed
Jkusiek@capitalairshed.ca