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Environmental Achievement Awards
The City’s Environmental Achievement Awards recognize individuals, organizations and educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to promoting, conserving and enhancing Coquitlam’s natural environment.
Nominations for 2024 closed in March, and the City held its award celebration on Saturday, June 1.
Thank you to all who participated, and please read details on this year's winners below.
2024 Environmental Achievement Award Winners
Thomas and Daniel Whittle have been maintaining Harper Park and its trails keeping them free of debris and litter for the enjoyment of visitors and local wildlife.
Derio Urbani is an active participant in Coquitlam’s Adopt-a-Street program and is dedicated to keeping streets clean and safe for all to enjoy serving as an inspirational role model.
Thomas Kempin is an active member of the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society and plays an integral part in educating and guiding young volunteers in creek protection.
Carla Parr-Pearson started the Tri-Cities Bear Aware Community Group in 2019. Carla’s work in door-to-door outreach and educational events in parks has taught thousands of the city’s residents how to avoid conflict with bears.
Josephine Tsen educates and trains a new generation of climate champions, running climate action workshops through the Cool Hood Champs program. Josephine challenges and empowers individuals with the tools necessary to make environmental lifestyle changes.
Lynn Truong inspires students to become environmental leaders through the Eco Bears Club, organizing litter-clean-ups, empowering them to seek sustainable solutions to improve energy conservation and reduce waste and encouraging them to be conscious consumers.
Gleneagle Secondary Green Team are environmental ambassadors who oversee trails, nurture community gardens and educate the public about the salmon in our creeks. Their dedication to sustainable living, community engagement and environmental stewardship exemplifies the values needed to create a greener city.
The Web of Life have dedicated over 2,000+ hours and counting on environmental protection, bringing people together with the common goal of cleaning up our environment. These volunteers have helped remove more than 50,000 pounds of illegally dumped waste from local watercourses.
Joanne Peressin is a primary school teacher who has been sharing her passion for environmental education in the classroom for nearly 20 years. Every year, her students nurture the development of salmon, later releasing them into the Coquitlam River to restore the salmon populations.
- Environmental Conservation/Protection
- Examples: Invasive species removal, watershed/stream protection, species protection, habitat improvements, environmental rehab
- Environmental Education and Public Awareness
- Examples: Delivering educational programs, public outreach, public or school based green clubs
- Sustainability
- Examples: waste reduction and recycling, climate action, water conservation, food security/gardening, sustainable transportation, etc.
- Environmental Responsibility
- Examples: Street, park or stream clean up, storm drain marking.
- Individual Green Sprout – ages 3-12
- Individual – ages 13-18
- Individual – 19 and over
- Teacher or Educator
- Youth Group – School or Club
- Adult Group – Organization, Service Club, etc.
- Lifetime Achievement - 20 years or more of volunteer experience
- Nominees do not need to be residents of Coquitlam, but the activities for which they are being nominated should occur in Coquitlam or should be of benefit to our community.
- Public recognition by City Council
- Invitation to attend the annual Environmental Volunteer Celebration
- Certificate of achievement
- Prizes
Criteria
Nominations can be made for work that supports any of the following:
- Environmental conservation/protection, such as invasive species removal, watershed/stream protection, species protection, habitat improvements and environmental rehab
- Environmental education/public awareness, such as delivering educational programs, public outreach, public or school based green clubs
- Environmental sustainability, such as waste reduction and recycling, climate action, water conservation, food security/gardening and sustainable transportation
- Environmental responsibility, such as Street, park or stream clean up and storm drain marking
Evaluation of the nominations will consider the scope of the project or commitment, initiative and leadership, how far the actions reach, and ongoing commitment and impact into the future.
A sample of volunteer actions and projects from previous years includes: shoreline cleanups, litter cleanups, salmon habitat restoration, storm drain marking, nest box maintenance, guided public hikes, pollinator gardens, educational events, invasive plant removal and stewardship activities. Eligible volunteers and organizations can also nominate themselves.
History
Since 2004, the Environmental Achievement Awards have recognized the contributions of more than 75 groups and hundreds of volunteers who have taken on initiatives year-round that support environmental sustainability. Some of the volunteer actions and projects recognized in previous years include: shoreline and litter cleanups, salmon habitat restoration, storm drain marking, nest box maintenance, guided public hikes, pollinator gardens, educational events, invasive plant removal and stewardship activities.