Joe Vipond has worked as an emergency physician in Calgary for fifteen years. In 2013 Dr. Vipond, as a member of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, joined a small group of committed individuals in the effort to accelerate the phase out of Alberta coal-fired electricity. A short two years later, in November, 2015, the Alberta Government announced the closure of all 18 plants by 2030, representing forty-four megatonnes of Carbon Dioxide, possibly the single largest climate policy in North America to date. This group now has launched a Canadian Coal Phase Out campaign. Joe grew up in Calgary and continues to live there with his wife and two young daughters.