
Zita Botelho, watersheds and sustainability champion, appointed new CEO of the Fraser Basin Council
"When I think about B.C.'s future, I think about what will hold us together: our relationships with each other, with land and water, and with the systems that shape our health, livelihoods, and communities," Zita remarked on joining FBC. "For Indigenous, rural, and urban communities across the province to thrive, we must build trust, honour Indigenous rights, and work in ways that reflect our shared responsibilities. I'm excited to join the Fraser Basin Council team and help carry that work forward."
"We are delighted to welcome Zita Botelho as the next CEO of the Fraser Basin Council," said Janet Austin, Chair of the FBC Board of Directors. "She is a proven leader, a respected collaborator, an advocate for Reconciliation, and a champion for inclusive, forward-thinking solutions to our most complex sustainability challenges. Her experience and enduring relationships across sectors and communities make her ideally suited to lead the Council into its next chapter."
The Board also extends its deepest gratitude to David Marshall, who has led the Council with vision and dedication since its inception in 1997. Under his guidance, FBC has become a trusted convener and catalyst for sustainability across British Columbia, with a track record of impact in watershed health, clean transportation, climate action, and community resilience.
"David Marshall has left an extraordinary legacy," said Austin. "He has shaped a model of collaborative leadership that has had a profound and lasting influence across B.C. and beyond. We are deeply grateful for his service and his abiding commitment to a more sustainable and equitable future."
Reflecting on his time with the organization, David Marshall added that "after 28 amazing years with FBC, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to this remarkable organization for having served as its CEO. It has been an honour and a privilege to work along side such dedicated colleagues, partners and communities. I am deeply grateful for the trust, collaboration, and shared vision that have defined this journey. I wish Zita much success as she leads FBC to a new phase of evolution, growth and exciting new opportunities in advancing sustainability throughout British Columbia.
Zita holds an MA in Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria and a BA (Hons) in Political Studies and Geography from Queen's University. She brings over 20 years of experience across the public, non-profit, and private sectors, with a career focused on aligning ecological health with community resilience and economic well-being. At the B.C. Ministry of Environment, she led the development of Living Water Smart—BC's Water Plan and the policy foundation for the Water Sustainability Act. As founding director of Watersheds BC, she helped shape provincial investment in watershed security and co-led the delivery of $42 million to more than 100 projects through the Healthy Watersheds and Indigenous Watersheds Initiatives. Zita is known for her commitment to collaborative governance, reconciliation, and inclusive process design that brings people together to solve complex challenges.
The Fraser Basin Council brings people together to advance sustainability in British Columbia. Established in 1997 to address watershed work in the Fraser Basin, the Council continues with a breadth of sustainability projects throughout B.C. today. Its strategic priorities are to take action on climate change, support healthy watersheds and water resources, and build sustainable communities and regions. FBC's program work includes support for flood mapping and tools, community wildfire roundtables and disaster risk reduction, energy efficiency initiatives, low-carbon transportation, watershed projects, wildlife protection and ecosystem restoration, and the advancement of reconciliation throughout all facets of work.
The Fraser Basin Council is a charitable non-profit society that brings people together to advance sustainability throughout British Columbia.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
22 minutes ago
- CTV News
Opening of revamped New Brunswick Museum delayed to 2028
A rendering of the New Brunswick Museum's expanded collections and exhibition centre on Douglas Avenue in Saint John, which was originally scheduled to open in 2026. (Rendering by PLAY-TIME, Courtesy of Diamond Schmitt) People eager to check out the revamped New Brunswick Museum in Saint John will have to wait even longer than originally expected. The building, which was slated to launch at 277 Douglas Ave. in 2027, is now aiming for a 2028 opening date. 'Getting all those pieces in place since the sod turning took longer than expected, but we anticipate a late 2027, early 2028 building completion, and the opening in 2028 when the exhibits and everything are finished,' said Tracy Clinch, chair of the New Brunswick Museum Board of Directors. The Museum originally had a goal of opening the new building to the public in 2026. The Museum's extensive exhibit collection has been shut off from the public since it closed its exhibition space at Market Square in Saint John in 2020. It later left Market Square in 2022. 'We're very hopeful to be able to bring things that haven't been on display in decades, or in some case, never on display ever,' said Brent Suttie, chief operating officer of the Museum. 'They should be able to see that when they come visit us in mid-2028.' According to the Museum's website, it has 300,000 artifacts and 300,000 digital media assets. The Museum broke ground for its revitalization project at Douglas Avenue last August, seeking to update and restore its 90-year-old building. The project aims to expand the structure to nearly 165,000 square feet, making room for exhibition galleries, a public auditorium, a rooftop terrace, discovery centres, Indigenous engagement spaces, and research and teaching laboratories. The work will also demolish five neighbouring buildings. Earlier this week, the Museum launched the 'Making History Now' capital campaign, seeking to raise $35 million by 2027. 'What we're fundraising for, essentially, is all the great things that are going to be on display inside the building,' Clinch said. The New Brunswick government has given $58 million to the Museum while the federal government has offered $49.9 million. NB Museum A rendering of the New Brunswick Museum's expanded collections and exhibition centre on Douglas Avenue in Saint John, originally scheduled to open in 2026. (Rendering by PLAY-TIME, Courtesy of Diamond Schmitt) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.


Cision Canada
2 hours ago
- Cision Canada
SECURE RELEASES 2024 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT: ADVANCING PEOPLE, PURPOSE, AND PROGRESS
CALGARY, AB, July 24, 2025 /CNW/ - SECURE Waste Infrastructure Corp. ("SECURE" or the "Corporation") (TSX: SES) today announced the release of its 2024 Sustainability Report, detailing strong progress toward environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and reinforcing the company's purpose: Transforming Waste into Value. "At SECURE, sustainability is more than a strategy, it's part of our ongoing operations as we transform waste into value," said Allen Gransch, President & CEO. "In 2024, we completed our first five-year sustainability strategy, repositioned our company with a new name and brand, and saw measurable operating results across every facet of our business. These efforts were driven by our people, whose grit, innovation and leadership continue to fuel our momentum." 2024 Sustainability Highlights: GHG Emission Intensity Reduced by 18% since 2021, exceeding SECURE's short-term target of 15%. 1.2 million barrels of oil recovered from waste, avoiding disposal. 237 thousand tonnes of scrap metal recycled, reducing the demand for virgin materials. Freshwater use reduced by 6% year-over-year, with 722 thousand m³ of water returned to the watershed. $1.4 million invested in communities, including support for Indigenous initiatives, health, safety and youth development. $13.4 million spent with Indigenous suppliers, marking SECURE's continued commitment to supporting our Indigenous partners. WiQ platform expanded, digitizing compliance and waste tracking for enhanced efficiency. New partnerships launched, including Metals4Good with 4-H Alberta and a rewilding initiative with Project Forest on Paul First Nation. Strengthening ESG Integration In 2024, SECURE: Successfully completed our inaugural five-year sustainability strategy, embedding ESG within our operations and culture. Conducted 105 environmental monitoring programs and installed two staged landfill caps, reducing leachate generation. Expanded employee leadership development, launching the SECURE LEADS program and delivering 12 thousand hours of technical and safety training. Achieved 37% percent representation of women in STEM roles, representing a step forward in building a more inclusive and diverse workforce in traditionally under-represented fields. Governance and Transparency ESG performance oversight remains with SECURE's dedicated ESG Committee of the Board, reinforcing its commitment to transparency, continuous improvement, and stakeholder accountability. "Sustainability isn't static. It evolves with our business, our people, and the world around us," added Gransch. "With a strong foundation and clear purpose, we're prepared to lead through the next chapter—operating safely, minimizing environmental impact, enhancing community value, and delivering long-term returns." ABOUT SECURE SECURE is a leading waste management and energy infrastructure business headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. SECURE's extensive infrastructure network located throughout western Canada and North Dakota includes waste processing and transfer facilities, industrial landfills, metal recycling facilities, crude oil and water gathering pipelines, crude oil terminals and storage facilities. Through this infrastructure network, SECURE carries out its principal business operations, including the collection, processing, recovery, recycling and disposal of waste streams generated by our energy and industrial customers and gathering, optimization, terminalling and storage of crude oil and natural gas liquids. The solutions SECURE provides are designed not only to help reduce costs, but also lower emissions, increase safety, manage water, recycle by-products and protect the environment. SECURE's Shares trade under the symbol "SES" and are listed on the TSX. For more information, visit SOURCE SECURE Waste Infrastructure Corp.


Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Keheewin residents say surplus school site housing project concerns going unheard
Half a decade after it was approved, a plan to build affordable housing in a south Edmonton neighbourhood continues to be met with pushback from some people living in the area. Residents are concerned about why a large-scale project was green-lit beside the K-6 Keheewin Elementary School, despite arguments that another space nearby would be better suited. The land in Keheewin, along 19 Avenue near 105 Street, was originally slated for a junior high but became a surplus site in 2009, meaning it had been set aside decades ago for a school but the need for such a building no longer existed. It's one of several surplus school sites the city has been redeveloping into affordable housing or proposed for such a purpose. In 2020, city council approved the land sale to Civida Housing (formerly the Capital Region Housing Corporation), which was selected by city administration to lead the project. Story continues below advertisement The company calls itself the largest provider of community and affordable housing in northern Alberta. 'Funded by the Government of Canada, Government of Alberta, and the City of Edmonton, Kaskitêw Asiskî will provide 132 high-quality homes to southwest Edmonton,' Civida said in a statement to Global News. According to Civida, the development will be a mix of one- to four-bedroom affordable housing and other units rented out at the current market rate. It will have two four-storey buildings containing 92 apartments, with an underground parkade, and 40 three- and four-bedroom townhomes with attached garages. The breakdown is 80 affordable housing suites, 20 community housing suites and 32 market rental suites. It will also have an on-site daycare and shared activity space with community kitchen. 'This mixed-income community, to be operated in partnership with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, includes both affordable and market rental units, and reflects a shared commitment to housing equity and Indigenous partnership.' Gane Olsen was one of many residents who voiced concerns when the project was first approved in 2020, saying the scale was excessive and the site inappropriate. Story continues below advertisement He's part of a group called Keheewin Residents for Responsible Development, which he said canvassed the area to get feedback from the neighbourhood. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Five years ago at a city hall public hearing, residents expressed concerns over safety, congestion and the project being set about 30 metres away from the elementary school. 'When the project was rezoned in January of 2020, we had over a hundred people speak to council about the concerns: safety for our children, traffic and the parking, the drop-off zone and just the scope of the project of adding 400 to 500 people on a fairly small site.' The same concerns from five years ago continue to exist today, Olsen said. He still believes the project is too large and too close to the school. He also worries there will not be enough parking on the site, resulting in more street congestion surrounding the development. The Keheewin site is also two kilometres from the nearest transit centre. 2:24 South Edmonton residents share concerns about affordable housing project Olsen said residents proposed another site a few blocks to the west in Kaskitayo Park, which they say would be more appropriate for such a development. Story continues below advertisement 'We feel (it) will be far more attractive and certainly, I think, better for the residents there — a lot closer to the LRT, all the services that are there, and it just seems more practical.' The site residents proposed is an Edmonton Catholic Schools high school site he suspects will also become rezoned, because that school board already has Louis St. Laurent Catholic Junior/Senior High School about five kilometres to the north near Southgate mall, and is building a new high school 10 kilometres to the south in the Heritage Valley area. 'We're confident they're not building a high school there and it will become a surplus site.' Olsen said their suggestions were ignored. 'Concerns and disappointment that elected officials really didn't collaborate. Barely gave us any reasons why — it had to be on this site,' Olsen said. 'I just am blown away that city representatives wouldn't explore it. Our city councillor at the time wasn't interested in exploring it at all.' Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I just am blown away that city representatives wouldn't explore it. Our city councillor at the time wasn't interested in exploring it at all." Olsen said the project went silent for years, and public consultations didn't take place until this year. 'Civida, the housing development company, showed us what was going to happen. So again, we were a bit blindsided,' Olsen said. Story continues below advertisement 'The frustration — is nothing over six years — and now it's here.' 1:51 Controversial affordable housing in Keheewin approved by Edmonton city council Five years ago, the council of the day said there hadn't been a lot of evidence to show proximity was a problem. Coun. Aaron Paquette, who served on that council, said school surplus sites have generally gone to affordable housing — which is greatly needed in the city. 'This is families going into those homes. This is families who may not make as much money or maybe they got hit by hard times, or maybe they are on their way up,' Paquette said. At that time, the ward was represented by Michael Walters, who is now running to be mayor. The current councillor for Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi, Jennifer Rice, said she has been engaged with the Keheewin community to address its concerns. Story continues below advertisement Rice said she attended the developer's public open house on May 21 to review Civida's project materials and to hear directly from residents. 'Many attendees voiced concerns about the lack of early consultation and the scale and density of the proposed development within an active school environment,' Rice said in a statement on Wednesday. Edmonton Public Schools says it attended the city's public consultations and is in contact with both the city and the developer to address any potential safety or traffic issues that may arise. The school board also says there were traffic assessments, and they indicated the development's traffic impacts would be minimal. Olsen says he's not convinced the assessments took place during peak rush hour. 'We had community people watching while they did that assessment,' Olsen said. 'We're not confident it was a representative sample of time of day or extended over periods of time.' He claims there wouldn't be much pushback to the existing site if the developer had a smaller housing project. 'If you're looking at half the size, OK great, not a problem,' he said. 'Previous council laid the groundwork for affordable housing and it's going ahead and I understand that's a priority in the city. We understand that. Just the size in this small space, you potentially have another space. We don't even know if they've explored it and its viability.' Story continues below advertisement Rice said she is committed to ensuring community concerns are taken seriously but with shovels basically already in the ground, residents like Olsen feel it's too little, too late. 'We want the public to know that the city has not engaged appropriately, we feel, over an extended period of time. And here we are today.' Construction is set to begin this month, and Kaskitêw Asiskî is expected to be ready for residents to move into in 2027.