In a series of short profiles, Capital Current introduces some of the people working hard to improve life in Ottawa.
Who is Rae Landriau?
Rae Landriau is an activist, volunteer, author and master’s student in geography at Carleton University. They were recently awarded the 2023 Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award from Volunteer Ottawa. Landriau also founded Create Change Collective, a platform where they share their climate-focused projects.
What’s their background?
Landriau grew up in Bells Corners and developed a passion for the outdoors spending time in the Greenbelt as a child. In high school, they were drawn to exploring graphic design in the student yearbook and were involved in Girl Guides, further fostering a love of nature.
Landriau studied environmental science at the University of Ottawa, where they held leadership positions in numerous clubs and societies, including Delta Delta Delta International Women’s Fraternity and the Environmental Science Association.
They credit the people they met through these clubs for encouraging them to continue volunteering.
What are they known for in Ottawa?
Landriau has volunteered in more than 15 organizations in the last six years, including Youth Climate Lab, Rising Youth and Youth Action Now.
Through the Create Change Collective, Landriau has started several campaigns, such as an Ottawa transit guide, a plastic-free month and a collaborative zine featuring climate-themed artwork by youth in Ottawa.
They also designed an interactive illustrated activity book called Running Water, which was distributed to schools across Canada with the support of Ocean Wise.
Currently, Landriau is studying the impact of contaminants from drilling waste disposal sites in the Northwest Territories with Chancellor’s Professor Chris Burn, supervisor of Carleton’s Graduate Programs in Northern Studies. The project is co-created by community members in the NWT.
“[Co-creation] just changes the lens of how to be a better advocate for your community but also [how to] work with them rather than just for them,” Landriau said.
What do people say about them?
In 2022, Ottawa Magazine featured Landriau on its Future List, highlighting young leaders doing exceptional things in the community.
“When I think of the phrase ‘you can do anything you put your mind to,’ Rae is the first person to come to mind,” said Anjaliya Sonnilal, Landriau’s close friend.
Landriau advocates for radical collaboration — a practice through which organizations build unlikely partnerships with diverse voices to break down barriers. In spring 2022, they led “a thoughtful discussion on radical collaboration” for a workshop hosted by Impact Hub Ottawa.
What’s something people don’t know about them?
As a child, Landriau was the neighbourhood “pool-rat” and often stayed at the pool until closing. Landriau later became a lifeguard and taught others how to swim.
“Everything about my life was just being outside in nature,” they said.
