Dear friends,

We are devastated to share some difficult news with you from the Climate Caucus team.

Judy O’Leary, our Grants & Research Manager, and long-time volunteer and friend, passed away last week after a brief hospitalization for an aneurysm.

Those of you who worked with Judy will know her warmth, calm, quiet determination, intellect and passion for service. For those who did not, it is no exaggeration to say that Climate Caucus would not be the organization it is today without her tireless support. The transformative impact of her work is a legacy that has benefitted countless communities across this country, inspiring and empowering local elected leaders to truly move the needle on climate change.

She made us all better — as professionals and as people.

Judy dedicated thousands of hours of highly skilled work as a volunteer, and was a brilliant mentor and support to our staff team, as well as countless young women in her community, empowering them to take on new challenges with confidence, knowing that she was always in their corner.

It is hard for us to begin to imagine Climate Caucus without Judy.

We will be holding an online event to honour Judy’s life and work in due course, and are committed to honouring her legacy moving forward. More on this will be announced in the coming days and weeks. In the meantime, we know that the most appropriate commemoration is to roll up our sleeves, to be in service with good humour and grace, and to do what we can to strengthen our communities: what Judy did every single day.

Please hold this incredible woman, friend and colleague in your hearts and thoughts as we grieve her together.

Sincerely,

Board Director Will Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director Zoe Grams and the Climate Caucus team