An environmental science teacher at Centre Wellington District High School has won the Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award.
“It’s an honour for sure,” said award winning teacher Heather Cameron.
“The people that have come before me who have won the award have … done so much and are inspiring people to keep you motivated, to keep going, because it’s definitely a tough area to stay positive in.”
Mike Elrick was an Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) teacher who demonstrated commitment and leadership in his work on environmental issues within the board, officials say. He passed away in November 2009 from lung cancer.
The Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award is for staff and volunteers who demonstrate environmental leadership within the school or school board.
The award has been given out for nine years and UGDSB environmental lead Karen Acton said Cameron has been nominated numerous times.
“We looked at the nominations and four teachers put her name in – that’s how strongly they felt she should win,” Acton said.
“It’s not only because she does so much at the school for the environmental team and [her] class, it’s because she embodies it as well.”
Cameron is one of three teachers in charge of the environmental club and she teaches environmental science.
She also helps to take care of the garbage and gardens at the school, along with teacher partners Chris Jess and Mary Johnston.
“Anything to do with the environment is what we take care of,” she said.
Cameron said taking care of the environment is always something that’s been important to her.
“I grew up in eastern Ontario so just outside of Algonquin park and my weekends with my parents were spent canoeing or skiing or doing things outside and just learning a general appreciation for nature,” she said.
“So to kind of teach that to these guys and hopefully they take a piece of that on with them, even if it’s as little as we’ve been trying to convince them not to get straws and lids when they get their disposable cups and stuff.
“Just things as small as that and teaching them that one little thing will make a difference and one person really can make a difference.”
After being nominated for the award for several years, Cameron she said she wasn’t expecting a win.
“I was just genuinely surprised,” she said.
