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Environmental Achievement Awards
2026 Nominations Closed
Nominations for the 2026 Environmental Achievement Awards are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a nomination form. Winners will be announced in June.
The City’s Environmental Achievement Awards recognize individuals, organizations and educators who who volunteer to make Coquitlam greener, cleaner or more sustainable.
Criteria
Nominations can be made for work that supports any of the following:
- Environmental stewardship, such as invasive species removal, watershed/stream enhancement, wildlife conservation, habitat improvements and environmental restoration
- 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.
- 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 stewardship, such as invasive species removal, watershed/stream enhancement, wildlife conservation, habitat improvements and environmental restoration
- 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
- 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.
2024 Environmental Achievement Award Nominees
Jeff Curtis and Vicky Chen
Jeff and Vicky are dedicated volunteers who hike Burke Mountain monthly, collecting litter to preserve the natural beauty of Coquitlam’s trails for everyone to enjoy.
The Early Birds – Phillip and John
Since 2011, Phillip and John have dedicated over 2,950 hours to patrolling the DeBoville Slough trails to remove litter and pet waste. Their presence in high-visibility vests ensures the area remains clean and safe while encouraging others to respect the environment.
Tina Fusco
Tina organizes community-clothing swaps in Coquitlam to divert waste from landfills and promote sustainable fashion. Her initiative encourages residents to "swap instead of shop" while educating them on the global impact of clothing waste.
Kathleen Hatami
Since 2023, Kathleen has volunteered over 50 hours at the Inspiration Garden, leading workshops on sustainable practices like composting and permaculture. She shares her lifelong gardening expertise to empower residents and actively maintains local community garden plots.
Hoy/Scott Watershed Society
The Hoy/Scott Watershed Society is a volunteer-led group dedicated to the conservation and enhancement of salmon populations within Hoy Creek and nearby tributaries. Through habitat restoration, hatchery operations, and community education, they empower residents to take collective action in preserving Coquitlam’s natural environment.
Maja Lakhani
Maja is an environmental steward who founded the Bear Ambassadors to educate the community on how to co-exist with our local wildlife.
Greg Lamarre
Greg is a versatile volunteer who enhances Coquitlam’s natural surroundings through various stewardship programs, contributing over 180 hours to trail maintenance, garden care at the Inspiration Garden, and storm-drain marking.
Low Entropy Group
The Low Entropy Foundation reduces waste through its "Thrift & Fund" stores and a food hamper program that supports over 200 residents weekly.
Lower Mainland Green Team
Since 2011, the Lower Mainland Green Team has engaged nearly 800 volunteers in Coquitlam to restore local habitats through invasive species removal and litter clean-ups. Their collaborative efforts have cleared over 295 cubic meters of invasive plants, providing residents with the skills to become long-term environmental champions.
Verena and Helmut Ninaus
As active stewards of Harper Park since 2019, Verena and Helmut utilize their decades of local experience to maintain the area’s cleanliness and safety for communal enjoyment.
Stefanie Putzhammer
Stefanie is an active Park Spark volunteer who supports Coquitlam’s green spaces by leading guided walks, maintaining community gardens, and educating residents on local ecosystems at the Inspiration Garden.
Matthew Watts
As a young director and streamkeeper for the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society, Matthew leads salmon-enhancement efforts and conducts public outreach to protect our regional creeks.
Robbin Whachell
Robbin is a dedicated leader who supports wild salmon sustainability through her work as a Communications Director and streamkeeper for the Hoy-Scott Watershed Society. Since 2022, she has also led the Coquitlam chapter of Broombusters, organizing community efforts to remove invasive Scotch broom from Coquitlam’s parks.
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.