Environmentalists Under 25 Awards

Background

The Lawson Foundation’s 5th Gens – a network of young philanthropists who are engaged in the Foundation’s work – have decided to focus their next initiative on youth and the environment!

The perfect partnership has been formed with The Starfish Canada, an organization that inspires young people across Canada to take leadership roles in their communities and to celebrate their peers contributing in the environmentalism movement.

For the past 8 years, the organization has been running the Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 program that celebrates young Canadians across Canada. This year, thanks to the partnership with the Lawson Foundation, an additional financial award of $50,000 will be available to some of the Top 25 young leaders to advance their environmentalism through their education, personal or professional development or project work.

Once the Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 have been named, they will be invited to make a pitch about themselves, their environmental ideas and/or projects and what the funds could potentially be put towards. The recipients of the awards will be selected by the Lawson Foundation’s 5th Gen and will share $50,000 in awards to support the advancement of their environmentalism.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday October 30

TORONTO, ON — Multiple young leaders 25 years of age or younger have won an award for their work in the environmental sector.

These six winners will be receiving The Starfish Canada | Lawson Foundation award for their work in environmentalism in their local communities. Each one has taken a unique approach to their work, ranging from wildlife conservation, climate change activism, bridging divides between northern and southern Canada, and upcycling materials for the fashion industry.

The Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 program celebrates environmental leaders across Canada. Every year, a panel of judges from across Canada selects this group of people that represent the incredible environmental work being done across local communities.

This year, The Starfish Canada teamed up with the Lawson Foundation to provide additional monetary awards to a subset of these finalists to support the advancement of their environmentalism, determined by the Lawson Foundation’s 5th Gens – a network of young philanthropists who are engaged in the Foundation’s work.

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Media Contacts:

Kyle Empringham, The Starfish Canada
kyle@thestarfish.ca
604.445.1989

 Amanda Mayer, The Lawson Foundation
  amayer@lawson.ca
  613.292.0569

For more information: https://lawson.ca/our-approach/special-initiatives/5g/top25-awards

2018 edition of the Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25


Download the PDF version of the Press Release

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
8th Annual The Starfish Canada
Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25

Recipients to be recognized for leading environmental change
in their local communities across Canada.

 VANCOUVER, BC, May 1, 2018 – The Starfish Canada will begin accepting nominations for the 8th Annual Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 achievement awards starting May 1st. The awards recognize youth under 25 years of age who have gone above and beyond to generate change or raise awareness about issues facing the environment and our changing climate.

Thanks to a partnership with the Lawson Foundation, this year some of the Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 will also receive an additional financial award that they can use to advance their environmentalism through their education, personal or professional development, or project work. The recipients of this additional award will be selected by the Lawson Foundation’s 5th Generation – a network of young philanthropists who are engaged in the Foundation’s work. The total amount available for awards is $50,000.

To submit a nomination, complete the application form on The Starfish website. Nominations will be accepted only between May 1 – 15, 2018. Nominations will close at 11:59 pm Pacific Time on May 15, 2018. Finalists will be selected based on criteria set out by The Starfish Canada, and will include past experience (relevant to the age of the candidate), passion for the environment, and overall positive impact in the community.  

  • Click here to nominate any candidate under the age of 25
  • Click here for full outline of rules and regulations for Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25
  • Click here to become a lifetime member of the Starfish Canada for only $5

Kyle Empringham, co-founder of The Starfish Canada, says “People and the environment are inherently interconnected. We can’t protect and preserve the environment without thinking about our collective influence on the natural world. The Starfish Canada wants to recognize those impacts, help others recognize them, and build on the incredible work young people are doing across the country.”

“This is an important and emerging area of focus for the foundation,” says Marcel Lauziere, President & CEO of the Lawson Foundation. “We are delighted to be collaborating with The Starfish Canada to recognize and support leadership and development opportunities as well as celebrate the important contributions of young people within an environmental context.”

Past recipients of this award include local advocates for the right to a healthy environment, explorers of Canadian wilderness, divestment campaign leaders and changemakers, and sustainability innovators in the hospitality industry.

Winners will be announced in late May/early June, followed by a celebration and at the Granville Island Improv Theatre in Vancouver on Monday, July 9, 2018.

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About The Starfish Canada
The Starfish Canada was named for a child who was chastised for returning starfish he found on the sand to the sea. The Starfish Canada was registered as a Canadian non-profit in 2014 and publishes environmental, solutions-based stories across Canada, with a focus on youth-based initiatives.

Canada’s Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 program
The Starfish Canada started the Top 25 Environmentalists Under 25 program in 2011.  The program works to recognize and celebrate leaders under the age of 25 who are working to create positive change in Canadian communities with regard to sustainable living and climate change. We believe that showcasing these individuals will help inspire other youth to become leaders in their communities.

About The Lawson Foundation
The Lawson Foundation is a Canadian national family foundation that invests in and engages with ideas, people, and organizations that contribute to the wellbeing of children and youth and their development as active and engaged members of society.

Media Contacts:

Kyle Empringham, The Starfish Canada
kyle@thestarfish.ca
604.445.1989

 Amanda Mayer, The Lawson Foundation
  amayer@lawson.ca
  613.292.0569

 

Staff Lead

Amanda Mayer

Amanda Mayer

Caitlin Blacklaws

Caitlin Blacklaws

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