2015 Awards of Excellence in Environmental Education
The Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM)
wants to recognize the contributions of outstanding individuals and organizations
engaged in environmental learning across the country!
EECOM's Canadian Awards of Excellence in Environmental Education and
Communication recognize individuals and organizations who have collectively
influenced hundreds of thousands of Canadian citizens, and helped implement one
of EECOM’s key goals - to advance environmental learning, ensuring Canadians are
environmentally literate, engaging in environmental stewardship and contributing to a
healthy future.
Nominate an Outstanding Environmental Educator or
Communicator in Your Community!
EECOM is pleased to announce its eighth annual program of awards for excellence in
environmental education. Any individual or organization, regardless of whether they are
a member of EECOM, can nominate an outstanding Canadian individual and/or
institution for an award. Nominations will be accepted in either English or French and all
nominations will be evaluated by those fluent in both languages. Not every category of
award is presented every year.
Deadline for nominations is July 25th, 2015. Awards will be announced to the public at
the Earth Matters 2015 Conference: October 15th - 17th 2015.
Give a deserving colleague a great gift – nominate them for an award!
Award Categories (7)
1. Outstanding Youth Leader
Any youth leader under the age of 30 that has taken leadership or action with an
environmental education or communication initiative with the following criteria:
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fostering a greater understanding of ecological principles or environmental issues;
fostering of environmental ethics;
developing skills;
implementing environmental action projects, etc.
2. Outstanding K-12 Class, Teacher, School, or School District
Any class, teacher, school, or school district that has gone above and beyond the call of
duty by developing and implementing innovative environmental education or
communication programs with the following criteria:
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fostering a greater understanding of ecological principles or environmental issues;
fostering of environmental ethics;
developing skills;
implementing environmental action projects, etc.
Submissions with curriculum relevance and involving some volunteer time by the
students and/or teacher(s) will be given special consideration.
3. Outstanding Post-Secondary Institution, Department, Program, or Club
Any post-secondary educational institution, department, program, or a club at an
institution, that has demonstrated excellence in developing and implementing
innovative environmental education or communication programs with the following
criteria:
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fostering a greater understanding of ecological principles or environmental issues;
fostering of environmental ethics;
developing skills;
implementing environmental action projects, or reducing the human use of energy
or resources.
The work may involve a specific course, project or an on-going commitment to
environmental education.
4. Outstanding Private Company
This award is to recognize a business enterprise, which has made a major contribution
to furthering environmental education or communication and environmental quality at
the global, national, provincial/territorial, or community level, or within the workplace.
Please note any measures being taken by the company to make its operations more
"environmentally friendly".
5. Outstanding Governmental Governing Body or Individual
Any governing body or individual that has significantly contributed to an environmental
education or communication project; demonstrated an increase in public awareness
about the environment; and/or acted as a catalyst to foster environmental education
initiatives. Project scope could range from in-house to national or international. The
project should have concrete results in terms of engagement of the target audience
and/or contributions to knowledge/research in environmental education or
communication. ‘Government’ may include: self-governing bodies, municipal
government, provincial/territorial government, federal government, or Métis, First
Nation and Inuit governing bodies.
6. Outstanding Non-Profit Organization or Individual
A non-profit organization or individual associated with such an organization that has
made a significant contribution to environmental education of communication in one or
more of the following:
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visible contributions in environmental education or communication (research,
innovations, curricula, legislation, etc.);
● outstanding environmental action, contribution or stance with respect to
environmental education or communication;
● excellence in reporting environmental issues for the purpose of public education.
7. Outstanding EE Membership Organization
This award is to recognize the importance, vitality, and accomplishments of
environmental education or communication organizations across Canada.
Environmental education membership organizations should meet one or more of the
following criteria:
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consistent and on-going services to enhance environmental education or
communication, such as conferences, newsletters, etc;
● completion and implementation of strategic long range plans for the organization;
● development of new initiatives that have enhanced the quality and availability of
local or global environmental education or communication programs;
● establishment of partnerships with other organizations to promote and enhance
environmental education or communication capacity and/or program delivery.
Nomination Procedures
Letters of nomination should be no longer than two (2) pages maximum and be
submitted as Word documents or PDF.
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Electronic supplementary materials only please.
No supplementary materials (e.g. CD-ROM's, videotapes, copies of published
materials) will be accepted this year, in accordance with the electronic nomination
process. Instead, nominators are encouraged to email supporting photos or media
articles, or include Internet links of material available on the web. Photos should be
a minimum of 300 dpi (for publication quality), and attachments should be limited
to a maximum of two (2).
1. Name of person or organization nominated (as you would like to see it on the award)
2. Award Category
3. Abstract of nomination (250 words or less in third person, English or French- to be
used for social media purposes)
4. Description of accomplishments of nominee
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Environmental Education or Communication Outcomes
Audience and Scope
Mentoring and Replicability
Sustainability and Years of service
Partnership and Affiliations
5. Why do you believe these accomplishments represent an outstanding contribution to
environmental education and communication?
6. Your name, mailing address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address.
Deadline
Deadline for submissions: July 25th, 2015
Submission
All nominations should be emailed directly to:
EECOM Awards Committee awards@eecom.org
PLEASE NOTE: Nomination document (answers to questions 1-6) should be no more
that two (2) pages.
Questions? Specific questions regarding the awards program should be addressed to:
EECOM Awards Committee awards@eecom.org
Past Award Recipients
2014 Winners
David Bell: Excellence in International Environmental Education or Communication
Niagra College, Niagra Sustainability Initiative: Outstanding Post-Secondary Individual or Institution
Petty Harbour Mini Aquarium: Outstanding Non-Profit Organization
Karen McIver: Outstanding Non-Profit Individual
Columbia Basin Trust: Outstanding Governmental Governing Body or Individual
Helen Spencer: Outstanding K-12 Student, Class, Teacher, School, or School District
2012 Winners
Les Employées de la Biosphère (The Employees of Biosphere) : Outstanding Government Agency
Michael J. Mappin: Outstanding Post-Secondary Individual
Peter B. Gustavson School of Business: Outstanding Post-Secondary Institution
Johanna Gordon-Walker: Outstanding K-12 Teacher
Agrium Incorporated: Outstanding Private Company
Science World (BC): Outstanding Non-Profit Organization
Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN): Outstanding EE Membership
Organization
Jean Robitaille: Excellence in International EE and/or Communication
2011 Winners
City of Calgary Environmental Education Initiatives: Outstanding Government Agency
Grant Linney: Outstanding K-12 Educator
Learning for a Sustainable Future: Outstanding Non-Profit Organization
Canadian Wildlife Federation: Outstanding Non-Profit Organization
Catherine Dumouchel: Outstanding Contributions to EECOM
2010 Winners
Dr. Catherine O'Brien: Outstanding Post-Secondary Individual
Halton's Green Cart School Program: Outstanding Government Agency
Earth Rangers: Outstanding EE Membership Organization
Steve Dunsmuir: Outstanding K-12 Educator
Julie Huntington: Outstanding Non-Profit Individual
Craik Sustainable Living Project: Outstanding Non-Profit Organization
2009 Winners
Manitoba Hydro Outstanding Private Company
Patrick Robertson Outstanding Governmental Individual
AQPERE (Robert Litzler) Outstanding Non-Profit
Emile Gautreau Outstanding Non-Profit Individual
SOEEA Outstanding EE Membership Organization
Grant Gardner Outstanding Contribution to EECOM
Belfountain Public School Outstanding K-12
2008 Winners
Dan Murphy
Opaskwayak Education Authority - Land Based Program
Schools on Board Outreach Program of ArcticNet at the University of Manitoba
Gareth Thomson
Gail Moyle
Earth Day Canada
Brenda Penak
J'adopte un cours d'eau
2007 Winners
Pablo Defossés (Category: K-12 Teacher)
Ontario EcoSchools (Category: Non-Profit Organization)
Cathy Dueck, Supervisor, Ecology Park, Peterborough (Category: Non-profit Individual)
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (Category: Outstanding K-12 School District)
Childrens’ Garden and Exploring Toronto Programs, City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and
Recreation Division (Category: Government Department or Agency)
Dr. Alan Warner (Category: Post-Secondary Individual)