Join the conversation. Come to the table.
Watch for this graphic in the MCA Communiqué!
Contact us
Liesel Retzlaff
& Charlene Lauzier
Who we are
Hello! I am Liesel Retzlaff originally from Calgary where I grew up attending Foothills Mennonite. I have always had a strong passion for creation care and was excited when the opportunity came up to start this group. I have recently moved to Edmonton to pursue a degree in environmental studies and have found community with First Mennonite Edmonton. My summers include being out at Valaqua and spending as much time as I can in the mountains climbing, hiking and backpacking!
Hi! I am Charlene Lauzier. I have always lived in Calgary and started attending Foothills Mennonite Church in 2023! I completed my teaching degree at the University of Calgary in 2024 and spent this last year learning and teaching about the environment to kids in BC. I have always had a passion for sustainability and minimalism and their importance became even more clear when I started spending time in the mountains and working at Camp Valaqua. I have discovered how important our own watersheds, food, and land are to where we are located. When I am not working at camp or teaching kids I enjoy backpacking, climbing, and swimming!
Overview
As the Alberta Creation Care Working group we want to work to equip and support congregations throughout the conference to respond faithfully to challenges such as the climate crisis and climate justice. We hope to work towards action and initiative with a focus on engagement and education. We also hope to connect with youth, Indigenous relations, and other interested people to continue conversations around creation care, climate change and creating right relationships. As a local working group we want to determine how we can have an impact in our local context, in ways that work in each local area and congregation. Moving forward we hope to provide a point of connection to other Creation Care working groups, and work to support larger MC Canada efforts.
Who we are
We both had the opportunity to attend the Living Hope Climate Conference in Manitoba back in April 2023. After learning that all the other provinces had creation care working groups, it sparked our own desire to create one here in Alberta. Working alongside other Alberta representatives from the conference Jeremy Wiens, and Jessie Brandt, from First Edmonton, we were able to start creating conversations around creation care and climate action in Alberta. Tim Wiebe-Neufeld of MCA and Sandy Plett of MC Canada helped facilitate our discussions and make connections to build conversation and connect with other individuals. We hope to continue this narrative and work alongside MCA to strengthen relationships.
Terms of Reference and New Goals coming soon!
We have so many exciting CCWG ideas for this year!
Look forward to some themed monthly creation care events including, guest speakers, solar panels, sustainable items lists, and maybe even recycling with Terra Cycle! Yay!
