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Environmental Achievement Awards
2026 Nominations Open - Deadline: March 13
Nominate them Today
The City’s Environmental Achievement Awards recognize individuals, organizations and educators who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to to protect and enhance our natural environment.
Criteria
Nominations can be made for work that supports any of the following:
- Environmental conservation/enhancement, 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.
Online Nomination Form
Please take your time to review the categories below and then complete the Online Nomination Form. Remember, you can nominate yourself, and someone who has been nominated before or who has won previously.
Consider uploading images and documents that support the nomination. You can also email, mail or drop off supporting documents such as newsletter articles, video clips, social media posts and letters of support to strengthen your Online Nomination Form.
Email: EnvironmentalEducation@coquitlam.ca
Mail or Drop-off: Coquitlam City Hall, Reception, 3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2, Attention: 2026 Environmental Achievement Awards.
- 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.
- 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.
- Public recognition by City Council
- Invitation to attend the annual Environmental Volunteer Celebration
- Certificate of achievement
- Prizes
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.
2022 Environmental Achievement Award Nominees
- Adopt-A-Trail Trio - Long-term participation in the Adopt-A -Trial program ensuring the protection, preservation and enhancement of Mariner Park for local visitors and wildlife.
- Todd Briggs - Participation in Adopt-a-Trail helps ensure Mundy Park is safe and clean, and inspires others to do the same.
- Coquitlam Broombuster - Removing Invasive Scotch Broom, engaging the public, helping restore natural habitats and bringing awareness to the impacts of invasive species.
- Melanie Debeau - Participation in Adopt-A-Trail at Blue Mountain Park ensures safe use and cleanliness by visitors and protects local wildlife.
- The Early Birds - Volunteering to maintain safety and cleanliness of DeBoville Slough.
- Shelley Frick - Passion for the environment shared through continuous work in various outdoor educational programs, inspiring the next generation to become environmental stewards.
- Hoy/Scott Watershed Society - Protecting our major stream systems and maintaining the health of salmon and their ecosystem, as well as promoting the education and enjoyment of our local visitors.
- Jenny Hui - Gentle approach with insects, friendly attitude and sharing of knowledge with the Park Spark program.
- Brenda Ilic - Participation in Park Spark and Adopt-A-Trail helps keep our Town Center Park and Lafarge Lake safe and clean, and inspiring others to do the same.
- Kelsey Keller - Sharing passion for the environment with classroom, inspiring colleagues and sparking participation, curiosity and imagination in the next generation of environmental stewards.
- Rayan Khan - Passion for sustainability shines through in volunteering with Inspiration and Poirier Gardens.
- Luka Kovacic - Passion for Stoney Creek and educating others have raised awareness and will inspire other youth to care for their environment.
- George Kovacic - Participation in the Stoney Creek Environment Committee has raised awareness of the creek and the importance of improving fish habitat.
- Thomas Greg Lamarre - Participation in Park Spark programs such as Inspiration Garden and maintaining our trails at Mackin Park.
- Celena and Adrianna Mazzarolo - Taking care of Mountain View Park, raising awareness, inspiring others and protecting the environment.
- Project Salamander - Educating and engaging students, sparking their participation, creativity and imagination, while conserving the environment.
- John Saremba – As the Bat Program Coordinator with Burke Mountain Naturalists has had a significant impact on organizations within Coquitlam and advocacy for the environment, inspiring others.
- Steve Smith - Participation in the Minnekhada Park Association—to protect, preserve and enhance its natural environment—has positively impacted the community by creating awareness, advocating for respect in the park and supporting local bat populations.
- Stoney Creek Environment Committee - Continuous participation in protecting, preserving and enhancing Stoney Creek so local visitors and wildlife are able to enjoy it for years to come.
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.