Neighbourhood in the 21st Century: A Climate Adapted Future
The Neighbourhood in the 21st Century exhibit celebrates the opening of the pop up GTEC Climate Response Centre at Arbutus Neighbourhood House. This exhibit will take place for 7 days beginning on April 15, 2026 coinciding with the opening period of the neighbourhood house.
Neighbourhood in the 21st Century presents a view of a climate change ready future in neighbourhoods and offers ideas and practical steps to make this happen.
At its core, Neighbourhood in the 21st Century invites the public to engage deeply and respond thoughtfully, spotlighting the subtle yet profound dialogues between materials, place, and the human spirit. Through this interactive exchange, the exhibit encourages a re-examination of individual roles within the larger eco-system web and fosters collective reflection on how creative expression can catalyze environmental awareness and action. Ultimately, the exhibit stands as both a celebration of shared interconnectedness and a compelling call to nurture the fragile fabric of the planet’s future.
During and after the exhibit there will also be a series of climate response events such as a workshop about preventing harm from compromised air quality and extreme heat events and entertainment by a choir focused on responding to climate change.
Interior photo of a portion of Arbutus Neighbourhood House, Fall 2025
Participating organizations thus far include the Arbutus Neighbourhood House, the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care, Salt Spring Seeds, Federation of Community Social Services of BC, Be the Change Earth Alliance, Vancouver Arts Colloquium Society and the New York Climate Museum.
Project advisors – Marta Farevaag, founding Principal of PFS Studio, an urban design, and landscape architecture firm and, Jacquie Forbes-Roberts, formerly, General Manager of Community Services for the City of Vancouver. The development of the Climate Response Centre is being guided by our continuing dialogue with the Squamish and Musqueam Nations.
Photo credit: Images in this article were provided by Arbutus Neighbourhood House
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GTEC is at the forefront of solutions to the social and environmental challenges of our time. Our Climate Response Centre will be Canada’s first centre that combines a source of relevant and accessible educational and community development programming, and a centre of evolving community-based expertise about responding to climate change.
If you support GTEC’s mission to inform, support and activate communities in responding to climate change, please visit our CanadaHelps page!