Climate change is profoundly disrupting livelihoods across Canada, threatening not only economic stability but also the cultural and social identities tied to work, according to a comprehensive study by the University of Alberta’s Work-Life in Canada project. Led by sociologist Sara Dorow, alongside Angele Alook, Karen Foster, and photographer Martin Weinhold, the research highlights the devastating impact of environmental changes on communities in regions like Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick.
In Lac La Ronge, the destruction of Robertson Trading, a historic hub for Indigenous artisans, in a June 2025 wildfire underscores the crisis. For nearly 60 years, the store supported the livelihoods of Cree artisans like Cathy Clinton-Ratt and her daughter Julia, who sold traditional moose hides and beadwork. The fire, one of many intensified by climate change, obliterated irreplaceable Indigenous artworks, including beaded jackets, moccasins, and antler carvings. Former manager Scott Robertson described the loss as “catastrophic,” noting that these items embodied thousands of hours of craftsmanship and cultural heritage. The closure of Robertson Trading, coupled with mandatory evacuations, highlights how climate-driven wildfires are eroding the social and economic fabric of Indigenous communities.
On Grand Manan Island, warming oceans have decimated traditional weir fishing, a sustainable practice integral to the region’s identity. Fisher Jeff Foster, who passed his herring fishery to his sons, witnessed the collapse of fish stocks due to rising sea temperatures and overfishing by industrial operations. By 2024, his sons abandoned weir fishing for seasonal lobster work, a shift driven by lobsters migrating north due to warming waters. The family’s decision to dismantle their weir marks the end of a generational tradition, severing deep ties to their work and community.
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The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has long warned of climate change’s impact on work, a reality echoed by the Work-Life in Canada findings. The study emphasizes that work is more than a paycheck—it encompasses tradition, identity, and community, all of which are intertwined with the natural environment. Dorow’s team calls for integrated climate and employment policies that prioritize a just energy transition across all sectors, not just green jobs. “A good future for work requires a stable and healthy environment,” the ILO noted in 2018, a principle that demands urgent action to safeguard livelihoods and ensure equitable, sustainable work in the face of escalating climate challenges.
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