Mike Spear, Director of External Relations
Mike is a born and raised Calgarian who moved to ranching country after returning from the Summer Olympics in Korea where he produced radio coverage for the CBC. He moved back into the big city a few years ago to reconnect with high speed internet and good coffee. Apart from producing Olympic coverage, his journalistic career has spanned numerous election specials, local, regional and national current affairs and news, and time in Croatia working with media and politicians.
His communications career has included working in the ag sector with one of Canada’s largest member-driven organizations and extensive work in the biotech sector with a not-for-profit research funding organization. He is one of the co-founders of ScienceBorealis.ca, is a podcast producer, and has given numerous presentations in Canada and the U.S. on science communications and communications strategies for not-for-profits. He hopes to bring his comms skill to bear in helping Iron & Earth achieve its goals and raising awareness of the importance of a just transition for workers.
Much of his spare time is spent walking his dog who knows his schedule better than he does.
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Iron & Earth was founded and operates on Indigenous land within Treaty Six Territory and Métis Region 4 in amiskwaciy-wâskahikan (in Nehiyawewin/Cree), so-called Edmonton. The home of many Indigenous Peoples including the Nehiyawak/Cree, Tsuut’ina, Niitsitapi/Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Haudenosaunee/Iroquois, Dene Suliné, Anishinaabe/Ojibway/Saulteaux, and the Inuk/Inuit.
We pay our respects to all Indigenous Peoples of this land. Through their spiritual and practical relationships with the land, a rich heritage for our learning and our life as a community has been created and maintained. We recognize that the transition to a low-carbon future must be led by Indigenous Peoples and that there will be no justice unless we acknowledge and repair our relationship with the land.
We are committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and acknowledge that we are always learning and unlearning practices that minimize harm and lead to the development of trust between us and Indigenous Peoples across Nations and urban centers.
