Creating Space for Climate Dialogue During the Pandemic

KFPL Climate Emergency Discussion with Seth Klein – Kingstonist

Role: Dan Hendry

Year: 2020

Images Supplied by: The Kingstonist Website

During the COVID‑19 pandemic in 2020, I volunteered to support the coordination of a virtual community discussion on the climate emergency hosted by the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) in partnership with Sustainable Kingston. The event featured Seth Klein, Canadian author and climate activist, who presented on the climate emergency and his work during a live Zoom event.

My role focused on supporting the organization and delivery of the event in a fully virtual format. This included coordinating between partner organizations, supporting communications and marketing, and assisting with the logistical planning required to deliver a public event online at a time when in‑person gatherings were not possible.

The event brought together over 100 community members, demonstrating strong public interest in climate dialogue even amid the uncertainty and disruption of the pandemic. Creating an accessible virtual format allowed participants to engage in meaningful discussion during a period when community connection was especially important.

In addition to supporting event coordination, I served as the host and MC, facilitating the discussion and managing the live Zoom session. This experience reinforced the importance of collaboration between community organizations and highlighted the role that public libraries play as accessible hubs for climate education, engagement, and community connection, particularly during times of crisis.

Related Links & Media: https://www.kingstonist.com/news/kfpl-to-host-climate-emergency-discussion-with-author-seth-klein/