Our Stories

People across the country are celebrating the benefits of heat pumps.
Here are some of their stories.

Dalia Al Ahmad

Heat Pumps Save Lives

In this short documentary, we revisit the sobering story of the 2021 Heat Dome, Canada’s deadliest extreme weather event, when 619 people lost their lives due to extreme heat. But we learn that a better path is possible to prevent tragedies like this from occurring in the future by hearing the story of H W Flesher Housing Co-operative. The members of this co-operative banded together to install heat pumps in all 100 units, months ahead of the 2021 heat dome, and they say this decisive action saved lives. A huge thank you to Dr. Melissa Lem, H W Flesher Co-op, and Media for Good for making this project possible.

“Heat Pumps Save Lives” Discussion Guide:

If you are playing this short film for your community group, classroom, or workplace, consider using the following suggested questions to kick off a discussion 

  1. Do you remember the 2021 Heat Dome? What are some of your memories from this time?
  2. When extreme events like the 2021 Heat Dome hit, who do you think is most vulnerable?
  3. Have you heard about Heat Pumps? How do you think this technology could keep vulnerable populations safe from extreme heat?
  4. What is one line in the documentary that stood out to you and why?
  5. What are some of the lessons this case study offers for political decision makers?

Fighting Energy Poverty with Free Heat Pumps

In this short documentary, we showcase a unique free heat pump program on Prince Edward Island, Canada. PEI has one of the highest energy poverty rates in the country, alongside increasing vulnerability to climate impacts. Free heat pumps are one tool being used to improve energy efficiency, increase affordability, and increase resilience to extreme temperatures. This program shows us that real climate solutions can and do make our lives better. A huge thank you to Mark Sheridan, Karla Bernard, and Steph Arnold for their participation in this project. This documentary was beautifully created by PEI-based filmmaker Millefiore Clarkes and One Thousand Flowers Productions.

“Fighting Energy Poverty with Free Heat Pumps” Discussion Guide:

If you are playing this short film for your community group, classroom, or workplace, consider using the following suggested questions to kick off a discussion 

  1. Had you heard about the PEI Free Heat Pump Program? What were some of the things that stood out to you about this program?
  2. How did this program play a role in reducing energy poverty in the province?
  3. How does this story challenge some commonly held misconceptions you may have heard about climate policies
  4. What is one line in the documentary that stood out to you and why?
  5. What are some of the lessons this case study offers for political decision makers outside of PEI?
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