The Just Waters project is a research initiative, funded by UM’s Ignite program and supported by the Centre for Human Rights Research (CHRR). It brings together researchers from seven faculties and 10 departments, spanning the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities.

Jaimie Isaac, an accomplished artist, curator and scholar, is a member of Sagkeeng First Nation on Treaty 1 Territory with mixed Anishinaabe and British heritage. Currently serving as an artist-in-residence with the “Just Waters” project, Isaac pursues her creative work while offering workshops and research participation.

Led by Dr. Adele Perry, Distinguished Professor in the Faculty of Arts, the project focuses on three key areas:

• Climate change and water
• Indigenous peoples and water (in)justice
• Histories and futures of water

In collaboration with various research centers and organizations, “Just Waters” is advancing water research through advocacy, knowledge mobilization, policy recommendations and nurturing related interdisciplinary projects.

Jaimie Isaac, Artist-in-residence, Just Waters project

Art as a tool for understanding water justice

As artist-in-residence, Isaac’s goal is to explore the question “What if the river was a person?” through her creative project “Nibi”. By using existing film, audio and projection, her work proposes the concept of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg gaining personhood, amplifying the efforts of those who have long advocated for these waterways. At its core, the project reflects a collective belief that water is sacred.

Her interdisciplinary approach also includes screen printing film stills onto nautical cloth, capturing various forms of water and waterways—bringing a unique artistic approach that invites reflection on our relationship with water.

Curatorial expertise and global impact

Isaac’s extensive curatorial experience includes leadership roles at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. She holds a degree in Art History from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts from the University of British Columbia, where her studies focused on decolonizing gallery and museum practices.

Isaac’s expertise as a curator and lecturer has taken her around the world, including Norway, Finland, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Chicago and New York. Through mediums including film and public art to installations and mixed media, her work focuses on areas of Reconciliation, decolonization, Indigenous feminism, environmental justice and cultural resurgence.

Creative ways to engage with water research

On March 26, Isaac is hosting an Action through Artwork workshop on the Fort Garry campus, where participants will learn about the Lake Winnipeg watershed and screen print images onto silk canvases. The canvases will be sewn together to create a larger art piece. You can secure your spot in the workshop and learn more on the workshop registration page.

The dialogue continues March 27—Join CHRR’s Critical Conversations Speaker Series for a free evening event at WAG-Qaumajuq. Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and citizen of Fisher River Cree Nation, will join Media Indigena’s Rick Harp to discuss the mental health implications for communities whose connections to water are disrupted.

To learn more about Isaac’s work and how to get involved with the Just Waters project, visit the CHRR website and follow them on Instagram for updates on upcoming events and workshops.

UM is committed to fostering research by, for and with Indigenous Peoples, as demonstrated in the institution’s Strategic Research Plan, 2024-29. Each of the four new Canada Research Chairs are either Indigenous scholars or are engaging in research involving Indigenous researchers and/or communities. Their work incorporates Indigenous perspectives, knowledges, paradigms and tools that represent First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples and honours their distinctions.

“UM is excited to welcome the newest group of incredible CRCs,” said Mario Pinto, Vice-President, Research and International. “These researchers represent a cross section of exciting research in various disciplines – from physics to social justice – advancing critical work from an Indigenous perspective. UM has invested wisely!”

The CRC program recognizes world-class researchers to reinforce academic research and training excellence in Canada and attract top talent. Chair holders are focused on humanities, social sciences, engineering and the natural sciences, and health sciences. UM has a total allocation of 50 CRCs.

New Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs

Lucy Delgado – Faculty of Education

Lucy Delgado

Michif and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer Education as Wellness 

Delgado is focusing on Michif (Métis) youth identity, Indigenous education, queer theory and will be building on her research program by partnering with educators in Manitoba. Through a Métis conceptual framework, emphasizing “Being a Good Relative,” grounded in wahkotowin (kinship relations) and kiyokewin (visiting) and informed by antiracist and anti-oppressive theories, this research will be grounded in joy and community building amongst 2S/IQ Michif peoples to amplify community voices.

Delgado’s research will:            

• Determine the ways Michif and 2S/IQ perspectives, histories and stories are addressed in Manitoba K–12 education.
• Develop tools and techniques for different educational safe spaces in both formal and informal learning settings to improve the experiences of Michif and 2S/IQ learners.
• Design research and gathering spaces that prioritize joy and celebration of self and culture to re-claim knowledge and co-create research that meets Michif ethical commitments.

Delgado was recently awarded a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant to fund her work on the impact of Métis-specific spaces on the health and wellness of Métis women and Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer people.

Learn more about Lucy Delgado.

Jeremy Patzer – Department of Sociology and Criminology

Jeremy Patzer

Comparative Indigenous Rights 

Patzer is engaging in new collaborative work with Indigenous communities from Canada, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Finland to study the complexities and barriers faced by Indigenous rights activities.

Patzer’s CRC program aims to use sociolegal data and interviews with Indigenous rights advocates to deepen understanding through comparative study. This work will emphasize a transdisciplinary approach based on Indigenous experiences and will compare Indigenous rights, not only by jurisdiction or group, but also by activity and the type of struggle. This approach recognizes diverse avenues for rights assertion within law and politics.

Patzer is Métis, Saulteaux and German with roots in the West Interlake region of Manitoba. (Indigenous family names are Spence, Monkman, Pottinger, and Dumas.) A citizen of the MMF, Patzer co-owns the family farm in the Vogar Métis Local, just outside Lake Manitoba First Nation, and has family ties to members of Peguis and Sagkeeng First Nations.

Dr. Patzer’s work will:

• Compare different types of struggles.
• Identify opportunities for and obstacles to success.
• Examine their effects on strategies and aspirations of advocates.
• Collaborate with Indigenous peoples to co-produce knowledge and equip and empower for more effective rights advocacy.

Learn more about Dr. Patzer.

Warren Bernauer – Department of Environment and Geography

Warren Bernauer

Energy Transitions and Social Justice in the North

Barnauer’s CRC program will examine inequities, conflicts and the social justice effects of moving away from fossil fuels, focusing on Northern Indigenous communities and conflict over critical mineral extraction and electricity generation.

Using participatory action research methods, Barnauer will work with Indigenous partners to explore the possibilities and challenges of a just transition away from fossil fuels. He will focus on conflicts and injustices in current energy transition approaches and identify alternatives that emphasize improved resource management and economic development. Specific projects will support Indigenous involvement in decision-making about mineral extraction, waste management, electricity production and alternative economic approaches. The North is changing, and this research ensures Indigenous peoples will influence this transformation.

Dr. Bernauer’s research will:

• Examine conflicts and injustices in the current approach to energy transition.
• Identify alternative approaches to energy transition policy in Northern Canada.
• Work in partnership with Indigenous communities and advisors with expertise to highlight the complexity at the heart of pressing social, economic and ecological issues.

Learn more about Dr. Bernauer.

Kyle Shiells – Department of Physics and Astronomy

Kyle Shiells

Nuclear Femtography

The study of nuclear femtometers, which are a million times smaller than an atom and are used to describe tiny dimensions, has become a frontier involving researchers in multiple disciplines. Shiells’ research focuses on better understanding protons. He will use advanced statistical and mathematical methods to address complex challenges and help solve the mysteries of the proton.

Shiells’ CRC program aims to merge cutting-edge theory with new and existing data to answer important lingering questions about protons, including:

• How does the proton acquire its spin?
• How are the quarks and gluons distributed within the proton?
• How does the proton acquire its mass?

Learn more about Dr. Shiells.

Canada Research Chair Renewals

Britt Drögemöller – CRC in Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Drögemöller.

Andrew Halayko – CRC in Lung Pathobiology and Treatment. Learn more about Dr. Halayko.

Lisa Lix – CRC in Methods for Electronic Health Data Quality. Learn more about Dr. Lix

Published in Science, the UM-led study predicts a near-unrecognizable Arctic landscape by 2100 if global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) remain unchanged.

Led by Julienne Stroeve, Canada 150 Research Chair in Climate Forcing of Sea Ice, and Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Sea Ice, Freshwater-Marine Coupling and Climate Change, the research highlights that the Arctic is heating at four times the global average rate, posing significant environmental and socio-economic challenges.

Dr Julienne Stroeve

Accelerating Changes and Their Consequences

“The Arctic is warming at four times the rate of the rest of the planet,” said Stroeve. “At 2.7 degrees Celsius of global warming, this scenario would dramatically reshape the Arctic, the fastest-warming region on earth.”

Key projections of the study include:

• Almost every day will be hotter than the extreme temperatures of the past.
• The Arctic Ocean will be ice-free for several months each summer.
• The part of Greenland’s ice sheet that stays above freezing for over a month will be four times larger than before, accelerating rising sea levels.

While these transformations pose severe risks, the researchers emphasize that immediate and coordinated global action can help mitigate the impacts and preserve the Arctic’s crucial role in the Earth’s climate system.

Solutions for a Sustainable Future

This study underscores the opportunities for proactive intervention to avoid these dire environmental consequences. Governments, industries, and individuals all have roles to play in reducing GHGs, expanding conservation areas, and integrating Indigenous knowledge into climate strategies.

“If we act now with bold climate policies and innovative technologies, we can still make a difference,” says Stroeve. “The Arctic is a key part of the global climate system, and its future truly lies in our hands.”

Continued scientific research is crucial in shaping effective policies. Monitoring Arctic changes will improve climate models and adaptation strategies.  

“We must combine scientific advancements with community-driven solutions,” Stroeve says. “By working together, we can develop strategies that not only protect Arctic ecosystems but also support the people who depend on them.”

Global Climate Action and Collaborative Research Needed

The research, supported by funding from the Canada 150 Research Chairs Program and other institutions, utilized data from NSIDC’s Sea Ice Today and Ice Sheets Today projects to provide a comprehensive overview of Arctic changes. Collaborators included the University of Ottawa, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Hamburg.

While these transformations pose severe consequences, the researchers emphasize that immediate and coordinated global efforts can help mitigate the impacts and preserve the Arctic’s crucial role in the Earth’s climate system for future generations.

This influential board is made of up of noted academics, community leaders and experts from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. They play a vital role in conducting investigations, public hearings and mediation around environmental management in Manitoba. Their recommendations play a key role in helping the Minister of Environment and Climate Change in shaping policy decisions that will influence the province’s environmental future.

Congratulations to these UM alumni and faculty:

Aimee Craft, Chair – Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law and the Department of Native Studies, University of Manitoba. Craft holds a Bachelor of Arts jointly from the University of Manitoba and Université de Saint Boniface, Master of Law and Society (Victoria), Bachelor of Law (Ottawa).

Cameron Armstrong – (B.Sc., Manitoba) Program specialist at the Youth Climate Lab.

Mark Hudson – Professor, Department of Sociology and Criminology and co-director of Global Political Economy program, University of Manitoba.

Durdana Islam – (PhD, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, Manitoba) Project director and climate planner at Narratives, founder of the Waverley Climate Action Team.

Donald Labossiere – (B.Sc., Manitoba) Former director of environmental compliance and enforcement at Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship.

Jennifer L. Schultz – Associate Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba.

John Sinclair – Professor, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth and Resources and Director of UM’s Natural Resources Institute.

Dr. Madeleine Orr, a world-leading sports ecologist will give the keynote address at the University of Manitoba’s Sustainability Night on Feb. 27, with her talk titled ‘Climate change vs. sport: Keeping the score on adaptation and activism’. 

A public speaker and climate action advocate, Orr’s research focuses on the relationship between sport and the natural environment with special attention to climate change, risk adaptation, sustainability and just transitions to more inclusive and sustainable futures. The threat climate change poses to sport is clear, but with billions of participants and fans around the world who rely on the sector for entertainment, jobs, fitness and health, this is one industry we can’t afford to lose. Orr’s book, Warming Up: How Climate Change is Changing Sport, shows it doesn’t have to be this way. There are ways to mitigate, and perhaps counter, even the worst elements of climate change.

“Climate change does not affect people equally. Research indicates Indigenous, Black, and racially marginalized communities, people with disabilities, and socially vulnerable groups experience disproportionate impacts from pollution, natural disasters, poisoned resources, and extreme weather. Systemic inequities are intertwined with climate change, as well as present in the world of sport,” says Tina Chen, Vice-Provost (Equity), whose office is co-hosting the event 

“Bringing all of these together reminds us of the importance of thinking intersectionally as we take steps at UM to mitigate the impacts of climate change on diverse communities.” 

Paul Samyn, editor of the Free Press, will be the master of ceremonies and lead a question-and-answer period with Orr to conclude the formal portion of the event. Paul has been a part of the Free Press newsroom for more than a quarter century.  As the 15th editor of the Free Press, Samyn is also the chairman of the National Newspaper Awards, a member of the National NewsMedia Council and serves on the J.W. Dafoe Foundation. 

“Sustainability Night is a great opportunity for the UM community to come together, network, and learn about the breadth of impacts related to climate change. These conversations are important as we educate the leaders of tomorrow to help make a more sustainable future for all Manitobans”, said Raman Dhaliwal, Associate Vice-President (Administration). 

Join us for an evening with Orr, followed by a Q&A and networking session with light refreshments. UM sustainability groups and community organizations will feature their initiatives and climate change projects following the event. 

Sustainability Night 2025 featuring Dr. Madeleine Orr 

Thursday, Feb. 27 
6 to 8 p.m. 
 
Robert B. Schultz Lecture Theatre, St. John’s College 
Purchase your $5 ticket to Sustainability Night. Light refreshments will be served throughout the evening. 

In past years, the Sustainability Awards were handed out on Sustainability Night, but this year, Sustainability Night will herald the call for nominations. The deadline for nominations is Mar. 7 at 4 p.m. and winners will be announced on Earth Day, Apr. 22. 

Sustainability Night is cohosted by the Office of Equity Transformation, Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Earth, Environment, and Resources, Office of Sustainability and the University of Manitoba Students’ Union. 

If you have any questions about Sustainability Night or the Sustainability Awards, please contact the Office of Sustainability at sustainability@umanitoba.ca. Please also send all accommodation requests to this email no later than Feb. 24. 

Orr will also be participating in other UM events during her visit – events are free and open to all to attend: 

Conversation on Climate Change and Sport
Friday, Feb 28
9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
220 Boardroom, Active Living Centre, Fort Garry Campus

We invite students, staff, and faculty interested in the relationships to between sport, leisure, and climate change to share experiences and ideas with world-leading sport ecologist, Madeline Orr. This is an informal event, focused on conversation. All are welcome to attend, and no preparation is required. Light refreshments provided

Conversation prompts include:

• As a person active in sport and leisure, how do climate change and environmental considerations impact you and your sporting or leisure community?
• What are some of impacts (negative or positive) of your sport or leisure activities from an environmental perspective?
• How can participants and/or sport organizations take action to mitigate negative environmental impacts?

Indigenous History Walk from Upper Fort Garry to St. Boniface
Friday, Feb 28
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Meet at Upper Fort Garry
Join us for land-based learning with an Indigenous history walk led by Brian Rice, professor in Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. This will be an opportunity for connection with land, history, leisure, environment and each other.

From a remote site in Antarctica, an international research team including Dr. Dorthe Dahl-Jensen from UM, has achieved a historic milestone. The scientists successfully drilled a 2,800-meter-long ice core, reaching bedrock beneath the Antarctic ice sheet and uncovering the oldest ice core ever retrieved.

The Beyond EPICA team of scientists

“This achievement is monumental for climate and environmental science,” said Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Arctic Sea Ice, Freshwater-Marine Coupling and Climate Change at the University of Manitoba. “This ice core provides the longest continuous climate record known, and we hope it will help us understand the connections between Earth’s carbon cycle and temperature changes throughout history.”

This breakthrough offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore Earth’s climate and atmospheric history, including the relationship between temperature and greenhouse gases during the most distant periods of the ice age.

“Congratulations to the Beyond EPICA team for this extraordinary discovery,” said Dr. Mario Pinto, Vice President (Research and International). “UM scientists continue to push the boundaries of knowledge and with bold research that will provide solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.”

The ice core is poised to reveal invaluable insights into the planet’s past climate patterns, which are believed to be linked to greenhouse gases preserved in the air bubbles trapped within the ice. It is hoped that this information will give the team clues about how the Earth will respond to rising temperatures.

“The success of this drilling campaign far exceeded our expectations,” said Dahl-Jensen. “We are eager to begin extracting the detailed climate information stored in these ice cores, collaborating with the broader team of scientists to unlock this crucial data.”

The research project was made possible by the collaboration of scientific and logistical teams from across Europe. The project is funded by the European Commission, with support from national partners across Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

To learn more about Beyond EPICA Oldest Ice project, visit the project website:  https://www.beyondepica.eu/en/

Garbage containers near Falcon Lake in southeastern Manitoba used to be stored in wooden structures that helped to protect the bins and prevent wildlife from eating what’s inside, residents say.

The province replaced the enclosures a few years ago with metal bins that have plastic lids.

“If you can open the container with a crowbar, it’s not bear-proof.… That is basic bear smart 101,” said Michael Campbell, Professor of environment, earth and resources at the U of M.

To read more about this story, please visit CBC Manitoba.

July 22, 2024 was the hottest day in recorded human history, with a global average temperature of 17.16 C.

This followed the hottest June ever recorded, which followed the hottest May ever recorded. This all follows 2023, which was the hottest year on record at 1.48 C warmer than the 1850-1900 average according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

As a climate scientist, I am morbidly riveted by these events, checking climate data hubs with the same fervour and frequency that my friends and family check the hockey and football scores. However, when talking to those friends and family about these climate records, I often find that three big questions often arise: what do these numbers mean, how warm will it get and what is the point of no return?

In her speech at the presentation ceremony last week, the Environment & Geography professor explained how they use air bubbles trapped in the ice to determine methane and carbon dioxide levels when the ice was formed through history, and they use stable isotope markers in the ice to determine what the temperature was at the same time. Tracing those interactions over time shows how positive feedback loops have created instability and rapid change in climate. 

Their work shows that carbon dioxide levels are 35% higher than any time in the last 800,000 years, and that the planet’s temperature and climate systems are inextricably tied to greenhouse gases. Dr. Dahl-Jensen summarized the situation with, “this knowledge really calls for us to reduce emissions in the future. At present, humans are playing with the global climate system in an experiment where we are all trapped inside.”

Dr. Dahl-Jansen holds a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) housed in the Centre for Earth Observation Science (CEOS).

Dr. Dorthe Dahl-Jansen, 5th from the left in the back row, along with other Frontiers of Knowledge Winners, representatives of the BBVA and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).

The following winners of the 2024 Sustainability Awards were selected by a committee and received their personalized awards in early May. The Office of Sustainability would like to congratulate this year’s recipients and thank all the nominees for their contributions to sustainability at UM. 

Joyce Ji – 2024 Undergraduate Sustainability Award Winner

Undergraduate Sustainability Award 

The Undergraduate Sustainability Award recognizes an undergraduate student who has led an initiative or project to advance sustainability at UM. This initiative or project can be a part of coursework or take place outside of the learning environment. 

Award Recipient: Joyce Ji, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, Environmental Science 

Joyce Ji has been advancing sustainability through both her work and volunteering. She is a member of the UM Wetlanders and a volunteer at the Wetland Discovery Centre, both of which are supported by Ducks Unlimited Canada.  

Joyce is also a Youth Advisory Council member with Ducks Unlimited Canada, where she engages with youth to represent their voice around conservation and sustainability within the province.  

Joyce works with the Canada Water Agency and Narratives Inc. to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge Systems into policy and decision making around climate change and areas of environmental concern. 

Nazanin Khaksari – 2024 Graduate Student Sustainability Award Winner

Graduate Sustainability Award 

The Graduate Sustainability Award recognizes a graduate student who has led an initiative or project to advance sustainability at UM. This initiative or project can be a part of coursework or take place outside of the learning environment. 

Award Recipient: Nazanin Khaksari, Asper School of Business, Marketing 

Nazanin Khaksari’s research involves examining the psychological barriers to purchasing vegan food, particularly the stereotypes of femininity around veganism, including how marketing activities can mitigate this identity threat and encourage adoption of a vegan-based diet.  

In addition, Nazanin has integrated sustainability concepts into teaching about marketing sustainable practices in the industry and practical applications of sustainability concepts in innovative business ideas. 

Student Group Sustainability Award

UMEARTH – 2024 Student Group Sustainability Award Winner

The Student Group Sustainability Award recognizes a group of students who have led an initiative or project to advance sustainability at UM. This group has also made and will continue making a lasting positive impact on the environmental, economic and social well-being of students at UM. 

Award Recipient: UMEARTH 

UMEARTH has made significant strides in advancing sustainability through two projects. This group of student leaders engineered and implemented clean drinking water systems in the under-resourced communities of El Bailadero and Montana Verde, Honduras.  

In addition, the group is constructing an all-season greenhouse to support local agriculture and serve as an educational hub for sustainable practices. UMEARTH combines practical solutions with educational initiatives to foster a culture of sustainability that extends beyond their immediate projects, leaving a lasting impact on the UM community and beyond. 

Jenny Trenchard – 2024 Staff Sustainability Award Winner

Staff Sustainability Awards

The Staff Sustainability Award recognizes an individual staff member’s effort to educate, advocate and advance sustainability within their department and/or unit. This person shows a keen interest in campus-related activities and sustainability as a whole. Sustainability may or may not be defined in this person’s job responsibilities. 

Award Recipients: Jenny Trenchard, Office of Vice-President (Indigenous) and Claire Venevongsa, Asper School of Business  

Jenny Trenchard has been a constant champion of sustainability as the Green Office Representative for the Office of Vice-President (Indigenous). She has methodically reduced waste at events, implemented departmental changes to further reduce waste through sustainable eating utensil “feast kits” as giveaways to reduce single use plastic waste.  

Claire Venevongsa – 2024 Staff Sustainability Award Winner

Jenny is an advocate for the Green Events Certification program, achieving a gold rating for hosted events in her department. She is passionate about sustainability, which is evident in how it is embedded in her day-to-day work and her efforts to communicate and influence her colleagues around her. 

Claire Venevongsa is a Green Office Representative for the Asper School of Business, where she has organized green events, film screenings, giveaway recycling parties, and Earth Day lunches. 

She supports and engages with faculty, staff and graduate students by providing resources and knowledge related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She is a continual advocate for sustainability, focusing her efforts on helping to promote the integration of the SDGs into event planning, research and other facets within the faculty. 

Faculty Sustainability Award

Dawn Sutherland – 2024 Faculty Sustainability Award Winner

The Faculty Sustainability Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional and continuous integration of sustainability into their teaching, research and engagement activities.  

This individual creates engaging opportunities for students through experiential learning, course design, innovative research and assignment creation. This person also shows a keen interest in campus-related activities and sustainability. 

Award Recipient: Dawn Sutherland, associate dean, Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Graduate Studies and professor, Faculty of Education  

Dawn Sutherland has a deep respect for being sustainable in the natural environment. She has embedded

sustainability frameworks into her Curriculum and Instruction courses (well before she knew it!) and embodies a lifetime commitment to working and writing tirelessly for equity in education for children and youth in care.  

Recently, she helped create video recordings capturing field-tested teaching strategies, assignments, activities, stories and sustainability-based framing devices for sustainability in higher education courses.  

In addition, Dawn has been involved in the training and support of instructors in the CSI and Power Up program at the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg, as well as the Destination Imagination project, where she is currently working with CanU to train facilitators in the program. 

Lifetime Sustainability Award  

Award Recipient: John Sinclair, professor and Director of the Natural Resource Institute, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources 

John Sinclair has been with the Natural Resources Institute since 1991, after completing his PhD in the Faculty of Environmental Studies at the University of Waterloo. Alongside his long-standing involvement in community sustainability initiatives, his research and teaching centres civic engagement is a critical component of resource and environmental governance. 

John teaches courses in environmental assessment, environmental governance, individual and social learning in resource and environmental management, and thesis research methods. In addition to his teaching and research, John was instrumental in drafting UM’s first Sustainability Policy, expressing the university’s commitment to sustainability and leading to the creation of the Office of Sustainability in 2013.  

He is a fierce advocate for sustainable campus operations and decision making, which aided his role as a founding member and longtime chair of the UM Sustainability Committee. Dr. Sinclair has shown outstanding leadership, passion, and dedication to sustainability over the years and has helped lay the foundation for UM’s current success in sustainability. 

Interested in nominating an individual or group for the Sustainability Awards? Keep an eye out for next year’s call for nominations at Sustainability Night 2025!