Environmental Awards Program

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Award Process

Awards may be presented in six categories:

• Business Stewardship
• Communications
• Community Stewardship
• Green Choices
• Planning and Development
• Youth

There are two levels of awards:

• Environmental Award - Recognizes environmental achievements of a larger scale, such as long-term commitments to an organization or cause, leadership, and projects of a significant size and relatively complex scope that have a broader community impact.
• Environmental Star - Recognizes environmental achievements of a smaller or more individual scale that may serve to catalyze larger initiatives and inspire others.

A maximum of one Environmental Award and two Environmental Stars will be awarded per category.

The criteria for each award category is presented in the 2020 Terms of Reference. For more information, or if you have questions about the program or the nomination process, please contact the City of Burnaby Planning Department at 604-294-7400.

Background

Since 1996, the City’s Environmental Awards Program has recognized the outstanding contributions of individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, and businesses to advancing environmental sustainability and protecting and enhancing the natural environment in Burnaby. The City’s Environment Committee reviews nominations and recommends recipients to City Council for approval. 

The City of Burnaby is pleased to acknowledge the following individuals, community groups, institutions, and businesses who have made significant contributions to the sustainability of Burnaby’s environment:

2020 Environmental Awards

Elmer Rudolph, in the category of Community Stewardship, for his outstanding commitment to community action for environmental protection and rehabilitation of the Brunette River.  

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  • Elmer Rudolph has shown outstanding commitment to community stewardship, conservation and environmental protection with efforts that have rehabilitated Burnaby’s natural environment.

    Since being recognized with an Environmental Award in 1996 — the very first year of Burnaby’s awards program — Mr. Rudolph spent the following 24 years volunteering to protect Burnaby’s diverse ecosystems. Mr. Rudolph is a former member and president of the Sapperton Fish & Game Club, where he has volunteered since 1984 leading conservation initiatives and rehabilitation programs in the Brunette watershed. He has consistently demonstrated his commitment to community stewardship through his actions and advocacy for pollution prevention and the ecological health of the Brunette River and Burnaby Lake. Mr. Rudolph has worked on rehabilitation projects that include the installation of large woody debris and in-stream weirs, and the cleaning out of spawning beds to provide opportunities for successful salmon reproduction.

    In 1997, Mr. Rudolph played a key role in starting a community fish hatchery in Burnaby, which has enhanced salmon populations in the Brunette River watershed, including significant salmon-bearing streams in Burnaby such as Eagle Creek, Still Creek, Stoney Creek, Beecher Creek, Guichon Creek and Deer Lake Brook. The community hatchery operates through the Salmonid Enhancement Program of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, which works to conserve fish stocks, rebuild the salmon population and improve fish habitats. Each year, Mr. Rudolph volunteers his time to work on salmon rehabilitation projects, coordinate and manage volunteers, and advocate for the protection and conservation of salmon. He also spends time engaging youth in initiatives and educating them on the importance of species conservation and is a longtime supporter of the Stoney Creek Environment Committee's Great Salmon Send-Off.

    Mr. Rudolph has played an exemplary role in community stewardship for the Brunette River and has inspired those who have worked alongside him, as well as his community. His dedication, leadership and commitment to protecting Burnaby’s diverse ecosystem has made a positive impact on species conservation while demonstrating the importance of community action for environmental protection.

HUB Cycling Burnaby Committee, in the category of Green Choices, for their outstanding advocacy and support of active transportation and safe cycling infrastructure in Burnaby.

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  • In 1998, HUB Cycling was established in an effort to improve cycling conditions around Metro Vancouver. Their mission is to educate people through action by hosting events to promote the benefits of cycling for healthier, happier and more connected communities. The HUB cycling network currently has 3,000 members and over 40,000 direct supporters, with 10 volunteer committees spread across Metro Vancouver.

    The Burnaby Committee of HUB Cycling has supported Burnaby’s vision for active transportation by advocating for many cycling facility improvements, including a separated cycle path to connect the Sea to River Bikeway over the Gilmore Avenue overpass of Highway 1. Beginning in 2014, their support for this project helped raise awareness for the separated cycle path to improve the safety of existing cycling infrastructure. Specific activities included building public support for this project through cycling campaigns, which included 250 postcards sent to City Council supporting the separated cycle path, along with letters from major employers and individual employees in support of the project. They also made recommendations that informed the final design of the project. Approved by City of Burnaby Council in February 2019, construction of improvements to the overpass are now underway.

    The Burnaby Committee of HUB Cycling continues to play an important part in advocating for safe infrastructure, working towards community linkages and promoting active transportation in Burnaby.

2020 Environmental Stars

Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network, Azzam Haq and Emily Ng, in the category of Youth, for their outstanding leadership and commitment to environmental sustainability.

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  • The Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network (BYSN) is a youth-led organization that strives to create networks among Burnaby high school students for education and awareness of environmental issues and sustainability. The BYSN is composed of a new group of student leaders each year.

    Azzam Haq was a student at Burnaby South Secondary School last school year and one of the leaders of the Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network. He led the Burnaby South Green Team in starting a school wide gardening program, managed the school’s greenhouse and promoted pollinator friendly gardens at his school. He oversaw monthly workshops at various Burnaby schools with topics that focused on food security and sustainable diets. Every week, Azzam ran lunchtime meetings to raise awareness and discuss different environmental issues, such as plastic pollution and sustainable lifestyles that focus on waste reduction. Azzam also took the initiative to re-install the collection program for soft plastics in the school district to reduce waste and properly sort recyclable materials.

    Emily Ng has been actively involved in her school community, leading both the Burnaby Youth Sustainability Network and Alpha Secondary’s Enviro Club to engage students in environmental and conservation initiatives that focus on protecting local species. She also helped secure a government grant so her school could lead a hydroponics study designed to protect local salmon species. Emily promoted sustainable consumption and awareness around reducing waste by organizing school events such as the Bring Your Own Cup hot chocolate sale, as well as the thrift store project for repurposing used items. Emily is passionate about sustainability issues and is always looking for innovative ways to minimize pollution to the environment and is currently exploring the use of food waste as an alternate and sustainable method for dying fabric.

    Although the public health emergency in BC disrupted the school year, the achievements of these two members of the BYSN are worthy of recognition.

Past Recipients

View a complete list of past recipients.