Zoe resides and goes to school in Vancouver, British Columbia, and spends significant time at her family cabin in Hopkins Landing, British Columbia. Historically unprecedented wildfire smoke, flooding, landslides, species loss and shoreline erosion have adversely affected her health and wellbeing. Increasing temperatures and the “heat dome” in the last few years, along with severely degraded air quality due to wildfire smoke, have prevented Zoe from engaging in normal daily activities, scheduled sports activities and special events due to extreme heat and poor air quality. 

Because of wildfire smoke, she has been forced to stay inside and/or limit outdoor activities for days at a time, in compliance with advice of local health and government officials. Her community in Hopkins Landing has suffered significant shoreline erosion, which threatens to destroy valuable community property and cut off ways of access. 

Zoe has a deep and personal understanding of how climate change is affecting her life in Vancouver and Hopkins Landing. As she continues being harmed by climate-induced events year by year, the gravity of climate change becomes more and more apparent to her, making her fearful and anxious about the wellbeing of her extended family and about her future.

In her free time, Zoe enjoys running, reading and cooking, and loves to spend time outdoors, especially at the beach.