Remembering Jim Andrais
Jun. 29/22
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
Jun. 29/22
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
It is with deep sadness that we share with you the passing of a long-time City employee and all-time champion of the environment, Jim Andrais.
Many readers will recall receiving updates on the development of the City’s environmental strategy which at some point became The Way We Green News, before eventually being rebranded to Change for Climate, all of which can be attributed to Jim Andrais. His imprint on the City’s environmental strategies and programs are far-reaching, but his work did not begin with an environmental focus.
Jim’s 36-year career at the City began as an auditor, then as advisor to a former Mayor, and finally, as lead planner in the Environment office. In the environmental portfolio, we have Jim to thank for so many of the City’s systems and strategies that led the way for even bolder work, which continues to this day. Some of Jim’s environmental work included:
- Launching and, for many years, managing Enviso, the City’s environmental management system, which is third party certified to the ISO 14001 standard. Today, the entire City organisation falls under Enviso.
- Leading the development of the City’s environmental strategic plan, The Way We Green, which guided our work from 2011 through to the current ConnectEdmonton.
- Leading the development of Edmonton’s Community Energy Transition Strategy, version 1 in 2015 and later, initiating a bolder version 2.
- Creating an Advisory Committee of Council, the Energy Transition Climate Resilience Committee, to guide the City’s climate work.
- Creating an identifiable brand for programs and public messaging about the environment, “You’re Gonna Love Green” for The Way We Green, and for climate change when it became “Change for Climate.”
- Creating the Charles Labatiuk awards to recognize environmental excellence within our organisation and honour the legacy of Charles Labatiuk, a city employee and environmental champion.
It seems only fitting that we now honour Jim Andrais for his achievements and leadership, and share with our readers his important environmental legacy.
Jim leaves behind his wife, Bonnie; two sons, Greg (Nilo) and Steven; his mother, Lou; several siblings and extended family. At the request of Jim’s family, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Red Cross to support Ukraine.
