The Climate Caucus community was devastated to lose a friend, collaborator, visionary and extraordinary volunteer, Judy O’Leary, unexpectedly in November 2025. Judy was instrumental in the founding of our organization, volunteering 6 years and thousands of hours of specialized work to Climate Caucus. 

This webpage is a place to share stories, and words of tribute, to remember Judy and her impact. If you would like to share something to add to this page, you can do so here. 

Please share the above form with anyone who knew Judy and may be interested in contributing.

Cameron Esler, David Suzuki Foundation

I had the pleasure of working with Judy and  she was amazing. Her dedication to your organization and to a better world was inspiring. Sorry for your loss.

David Erb, Protect Our Winters

Our hearts go out to the Climate Caucus team and Judy’s family. Judy was instrumental in facilitating some early and meaningful collaborations between CC and POW, ultimately leading to the creation of M.O.R.E. (Municipalities with Outdoor Recreation Economies). 

Judy’s impact will be felt in many corners of the country for many years to come.

Kate Letizia, Community Energy Association

Even before we started collaborating from our Climate Caucus and CEA seats, I had the privilege of working with Judy in Nelson a few years ago. She was one of the very first people who came by my office to offer energy and support when I first started working on Nelson’s climate, and we became fast friends (and occasional conspirators 😉 from there. I’ll always remember her support and encouragement – and the way she made me feel less alone during a really tough transition.

I have nothing but gratitude and fond memories of Judy. She was such a selfless, hard-working badass who refused to do less than what needed to be done. I can only imagine how deeply she’ll be missed by your team – and indeed the climate movement in BC.

Rebecca Siggner, BCNPHA

We send our deepest condolences. Judy brought such thoughtful expertise about sustainability and local governments, as well as warmth to our work together. We know the toolkit she was working on with Morag will have a meaningful impact for our sector, and we are grateful we had the opportunity to collaborate with her.

Steve Joneslee

Judy was a fiercely compassionate soul. I learned a lot from her. May we all remember how we felt when we were in Judy’s presence.

David Miller, Co-Chair, Elbows Up for Climate and Former Mayor of Toronto

She was instrumental to the work of the climate caucus and our new initiative Elbows Up for Climate, calm and effective. She was a joy to work with and made everyone around her feel good. I hope that the messages you are getting help at this very difficult time. Sending my sincere condolences.

Morag Mackenzie, Climate Caucus

Judy believed in action. She knew how to work to make her community a better place. She worked as a network manager at Climate Caucus, on political campaigns, grant-writing for local groups, and chopping vegetables for school kids – all as a volunteer. She had such a great sense of initiative and conscientiousness. 

A funny story that sticks with me about Judy is her sharing with the Climate Caucus team one day how she snipped off a naked and bondaged barbie someone had attached to their truck’s bumper. She told us with Barbie in hand how she thought it was so horrible and misogynistic that she just snipped it off and took it home. And that’s how she was – she saw something wrong and she took action against it, whether it be something as large as the climate crisis or as small as a misogynistic symbol on a neighbours truck. 

Judy had so many virtues I’m sure we could all go on about them forever. She was so incredibly smart, always sharing with us the most recent news and polling, and recounting Climate Caucus’ history that would have been long forgotten without her. Judy will be so greatly missed on the Climate Caucus team – as the backbone of our organization, and a warm and caring friend.

Keren Tang, Edmonton Councillor

Judy was always quick to respond, generous and patient with her time, and just generally a warm, caring, lovely person. We will miss working with her.

Olivia Dymek, Climate Caucus

Judy was an amazing mentor and friend. I will always remember her interviewing me when I was just out of university, over 5 years ago, applying for my first job out of school, and how nervous I felt starting this summer position. But Judy had this way of making me feel reassured and encouraged and by the end of the summer, I knew I wanted to keep working on this team and with her. She had such a way of making people feel capable, grounded, and valued.

Over the years, we had many virtual coffee chats where I got to hear about her stories about travels and the incredible things she’d done for her community. In summer 2024, I was able to visit her in Courtenay, spend a few days with her, Harley and Ginny, while she took me to see a few of her favourite spots.

Even though she hadn’t been there in Courtenay long, she was already so involved in the community, and that really describes just who she was as a person. This was something so special about Judy and something I admire deeply. Her passion for the environment, for helping others, for building a community, for getting to know your neighbours, are lessons I cherish and will carry with me.

Judy’s passion and determination for Climate Caucus had such a long-lasting impact, and I know we will continue this work in memory of her 

Sue Maxwell, Zero Waste BC

Judy was a wonderful, positive person. She made a huge contribution to this work and in so many aspects of her life. I really enjoyed working with her as she helped to create key resources.

Becky Quirk

Judy knew how to create community and how to be encouraging. She encouraged me to be part of three organizations/efforts in our town that I would not have been involved with but for her encouragement. She knew how to laugh and how to roll with frustrations. I missed her a lot when she moved away from Nelson, and miss her more now.

Arzeena Hamir, BC Green Candidate Courtenay-Comox

Judy was such a force! And she did everything with kindness and laughter. I first met Judy through Climate Caucus and she was so supportive and energetic. When I heard she was moving to the Comox Valley, I knew she’d make a huge impact on our community, and she did. I had the honour of having Judy lead my Canvassing Team in Courtenay. She was efficient and volunteers loved working with her. I sorely miss her energy and smile.

Laura Sacks, friend and fellow climate advocate

It’s hard to write something brief about my friend Judy. She was such a caring, optimistic, smart, and committed person. We worked together on climate initiatives going back over 10 years, when she lived in Nelson. We co-led our very active chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby, she helped to organize folks across BC by starting the BC Climate Alliance, and helped to start the West Kootenay Climate Hub, which we also co-led.

She touched many of us in the Nelson area and across BC working on climate advocacy. She hosted monthly climate meetings in her home for years, welcoming everyone and sometimes squeezing 20 people into her living room. Her beautiful handcrafted mugs laid out for tea, a warm welcome, “don’t worry about your shoes”! Always room to squeeze in a few more chairs and cushions. We watched Harley grow up from a whirling furball of puppy energy to a well trained dog, who would lay in his dog bed next to her chair and watch Judy for approval. Judy’s only ask from us was that we check our doom and cynicism at the door.

Judy’s editing skills were stellar. We had a great arrangement co-writing OpEds, press releases, and letters to the editor. I’d write a too-long first draft, and Judy would get it shortened and to the point in no time. I never went back to look at the old draft to see what was removed because it always read so much better!

As others have said, she was instrumental in starting the Climate Caucus, getting right onboard when Rik mentioned the idea to us after he was elected to Nelson City Council. And she kept the organization sustained from its early years to its maturity. I missed her a lot after she moved to Courtenay, but every time we talked she would be so excited about the Climate Caucus’ latest initiative and the new people and places she was getting to know in her new home.

I learned so much from Judy, and she will forever live on in my heart. As she would say, you rarely know the ripples of actions that you take. Clearly the outpouring of love here shows the ripples Judy created have gone a long way.