Burnaby recognizes 2025 Environment Award champions

The City of Burnaby is proud to recognize the recipients of Burnaby's 2025 Environmental Awards. This year, we are presenting three Environmental Awards to recognize people and projects that have made significant strides in promoting environmental sustainability and resilience within our community. We’re also recognizing the achievements of four Environmental Stars, for projects that spark broader environmental inspiration and action. Thank you to the 2025 awardees for their extraordinary contributions to sustainability in Burnaby.

2025 Environmental Awards

Maria Preoteasa, in the category of Community Stewardship

Maria established the Food Forest Outdoor Learning Space at SFU. This project mapped vegetation to track ecosystem health, enhanced biodiversity, and maintained an index of plant species. The Food Forest became a hub for activities such as tree planting, eco-art workshops, and a venue for the SFU Archeology 200 course, “Indigenous Ways of Knowing and Being on the Land.” This initiative not only enriches the educational experience but also serves as a model for Burnaby's Food Systems Strategy, contributing to urban agriculture and food security.

Guichon Creek Daylighting and Fish Barrier Mitigation Project, in the category of Planning and Development

An example of environmental stewardship and innovation, this project restores the natural habitat of Guichon Creek. This daylit section of Guichon creek is part of a plan to daylight as much of the creek as possible, restoring a critical salmon habitat while replacing aging infrastructure. A model for sustainable development, Guichon Creek shows how collaborative action and planning can benefit the environment, through a resilient and thriving ecosystem.

SFU’s Embedding Sustainability and Climate Action Framework, in the category of Business Stewardship 

This project ensures that leaders at SFU can meet climate action goals while being supported by the Central Sustainability and Climate Office, communication teams, and the wider SFU community. This collaborative approach helps senior leaders carry out the actions outlined in the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.

2025 Environmental Stars

Aruna Khan, Cariboo Heights Forest Preservation Society, in the category of Community Stewardship

Aruna is a founding member of the Cariboo Heights Forest Preservation Society. She thrives on working with people from all backgrounds and has been instrumental in fostering cooperative relationships with the community, City of Burnaby staff and City Councillors to raise awareness about the Cariboo Heights forest and its conservation significance. Aruna dedicates countless hours each year to ensure the Society's success. She also leads nature walks to educate the public about native plants and the threats posed by invasive species. Aruna envisions the Cariboo Heights forest as a protected, thriving ecosystem for future generations to enjoy and appreciate.

Janice McAndrew, Stoney Creek Environment Committee, in the category of Community Stewardship

As a member of the Stoney Creek Environment Committee, Janice’s dedication to monitoring water quality and salmon populations at Stoney Creek helps the committee understand the local ecosystem. Janice’s diligent water quality monitoring and her creation of a database helps track environmental incidents and inform community conservation efforts. Her work helps maintain a healthy ecosystem at Stoney Creek, and benefits both wildlife and residents.

BCIT Library, in the category of Green Choices

The BCIT Library staff team go above and beyond to bring sustainability to the forefront through regular, numerous in-person and online offerings. These events provide students and staff with an opportunity to increase their awareness of environmental issues, engage with peers and experts, and learn how they can contribute towards climate action.

Vivienne & Alexandra Szentirmai, in the category of Youth

Vivienne and Alexandra are twin sisters and Grade 11 students at Burnaby Mountain Secondary School, where they co-lead the school’s Earthwise Club. The Earthwise club collaborates with SFU’s Faculty of Environment, where an SFU student works with high school clubs to start and implement a sustainable or environmental project of their choice in their school and community. As part of this partnership, Vivienne and Alexandra aim to raise awareness and reduce single use plastics being used at their school cafeteria. With a budding interest in environmental stewardship, these sisters are looking ahead to future educational opportunities and careers in environmental sustainability.

Learn more about the winners: Environmental Awards

Image credit: Back row left to right: Joe Cosh (BCIT Guichon Creek project), Candace Ratelle (SFU Embedding Sustainability and Climate Action Framework), Alison Griffin (BCIT Library). Front row left to right: Maria Preoteasa, Janice McAndrew, Aruna Khan. Not present: Vivienne and Alexandra Szentirmai.