2023

  • Emily Burkholder – Emily is working towards a Master of Resource Management – Planning at Simon Fraser University. She has previously completed a degree in International Development, an MA in Interdisciplinary Studies and a certificate in Sustainable Food Systems and Security. Emily has extensive experience studying food waste reduction and food system planning. Her capstone project is examining circular food economies. Emily looks forward to a career in waste reduction and food system planning.
  • Mackaila Ching – Mackaila is in 3rd year Bachelor of Environment – Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. Through her co-op program, Mackaila spent last summer working at Cowichan Valley Regional District as an Environmental Resources Assistant in the Recycling & Solid Waste Division. This provided a deep dive into many of the activities associated with municipal solid waste management. – Mackaila is looking forward to contributing to local government efforts in moving toward net zero waste.
  • Aur Hager – Aur is in 3rd year Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering at the University of Northern BC. Since high school and through her undergraduate time, Aur has been an active volunteer in environmental, social, professional and campus activities. She has recently worked on a number of sustainability and conservation activities with the Youth Climate Corps. This group works under Wildsight, an environmental non-profit based in the East Kootenays. Aur is looking towards a career in environmental protection consulting.

2021

  • Lori Clyde – Lori is in the second year of a diploma course in Integrated Environmental Planning at the School of Environment and Geomatics at Selkirk College in Nelson. Lori’s varied background includes aircraft technician, carpentry, a residential gardening business and environmental educator. She is looking for and working towards a role in protecting natural landscapes and resources.
  • Ibukun Olasanmi – Ibukun is in the research phase of a PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George. Ibukun’s research is directed toward the use of biosurfactants in the bioremediation of contaminated soils.  She has worked as an environmental scientist with SLR Consulting and as a Professional Agrologist. Ibukun is also very active in community and school organizations and is a Student Senator on the UNBC Senate.
  • Emily Townsend – Emily is enrolled in a Master of Arts in Environment and Management  at Royal Roads University in Victoria and Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey.  She is specializing in sustainable food management. Emily’s interest in sustainable food management came from growing up in developing countries in South America and Africa where scarcity was not unusual.  A degree in Environment and Sustainability from UBC led to her co-founding “coFood Vancouver”, an apprenticeship on a Saltspring Island organic farm, and working at Growing City, a waste management and recycling services company. Emily’s goal is to help reduce food waste while providing the necessary means to all.

2020

  • Jason Pang – Jason is in the second year of a BSc program in Global Resource Systems in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC.  In high school, Jason was very active in school and community sustainability and waste diversion efforts.  He had leadership roles with the Richmond Green Ambassadors team and the Richmond Earth Day Youth Summit.  In 2018 he was named one of Canada’s top 25 Environmentalists under 25 and to the North American Association for Environmental Education 30 under 30 Environmental Educators and received RCBC’s Youth Achievement Award. At UBC Jason is Associate VP, Sustainability of the UBC Alma Mater Society focused on reducing UBC’s and individual student’s environmental footprint. Jason hopes for a career as a sustainability consultant supporting businesses in their zero waste initiatives.

2019

  • Kevin Fowler – Kevin is in the second year of a diploma program in Environmental Protection Technology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. His co-op work term this past summer was as an Engineering Assistant with the Landfill Gas Team at Vancouver Landfill. Kevin helped to organize a recent interactive workshop called Trash Talkers which focused on waste consumption and proper disposal. He hopes to work in a field related to sustainability or renewable resources.
  • Theresa Coles – Theresa is in the diploma program in Environmental Protection Technology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her interest in solid waste came from early scouting activiities and volunteering during high school. Her classmates elected her coordinator for their annual shoreline clean-up, an activity where students get introduced to the concepts of waste audits. Theresa is considering a career in community education.
  • Nicola Herman – Nicola is in the second year of a diploma program in Integrated Environmental Planning Technology at Selkirk College in Castlegar. Nicola cofounded a cafe in Kimberley that, as founding objectives, chose to minimize its waste generation and be as sustainable as possible. She is active with several campus and community organizations focussed on sustainability issues. She is planning to continue her education in the Ecological Restoration program at BCIT and hopes for a meaningful career in the waste management sector.
  • Karla Dahlgren – Karla is in the fourth year of the Northern Environmental Conservation Sciences Degree program at the Yukon College. Before returning to school, she worked with a health and safety consulting company on a long term project at the Edmonton Waste Management Centre. This project provided exposure to many facets of solid waste management and encouraged Karla to finish her degree in environment and conservation. She is involved in school and community events as a participant, spectator and volunteer. After graduating in 2020, Karla hopes to continue her career in the solid waste management and environmental protection fields with a special interest in leachate management.

2018

  • Lucas Burrows – Lucas is in the final year of Civil Engineering at UBC. Last summer he worked as a Research Assistant for Dr. Victor Lo’s research group in Environmental Engineering. He worked specifically on a Microwave Enhanced Advanced Oxidation Process for the treatment of organic slurries such as wastewater sludges and food processing wastes. He is looking for the opportunity to work on projects which the public benefits from and uses daily.
  • Gabriel Sanches Arruda – Gabriel is from Brazil and is working on a diploma in Environmental Protection Technology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. He has worked on all aspects of a waste audit at Kwantlen and is a volunteer with Langley Environmental Partners in water quality monitoring. His career goals involve contributing to environmental assessments that will help our country develop in an environmentally sustainable and economically viable way.
  • Terri McRitchie – Terri is a student in Integrated Environmental Planning at Selkirk College. Last summer she worked at invasive species management and riparian restoration. She has worked as a professional scuba diver for the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary which included underwater videography. She created a short video displaying the effects of garbage accumulation on lake bottoms.
  • Kylie Kerik – Kylie is completing a degree in Environmental Engineering at the University of Northern BC. She has been very active in the Environmental Engineering Student Associations at UBC and UNBC. She spent two summers with Tetra Tech working on waste audits, analyses and community outreach. She was Zero Waste Co-ordinator during her year at UBC involved with contamination in organic wastes and reduction of single use items. She is a student member of SWANA and is looking for a career in solid waste in consulting or local government.
  • Alanna Friesen – Alanna is taking Environmental Protection Technology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her interest in solid waste was triggered when her co-op placement was at Vancouver Landfill as a Landfill Gas Technician. She is a student member of SWANA and has taken a Landfill Fire Course. She is a member of Students Active for the Environment at Kwantlen.

2017

  • Talor Osberg – Talor is a second year student in the Integrated Environmental Technology program at Selkirk College in Castlegar. Through her studies and involvement in ecosystem restoration with the Kootenay Native Plant Society she became interested in solid waste legacy problems and the restoration of these sites. Talor’s career goal is to encourage people to reduce consumption, improve disposal habits and to create sustainable waste management solutions into the future.
  • Graham Fonseca – Graham is a 4th year Environmental Engineering student in a joint program at UBC and UNBC. Graham’s co-op work terms have included assisting graduate students using biochar as a soil amendment, developing an online tool to calculate an individual’s ecological footprint and assisting with solid waste management programs for a number of BC First Nation communities. Graham hopes to become an environmental engineer and work in a company that offers innovative ideas to solve issues around solid waste and greenhouse gas management.
  • Yun (Nina) Tong – Nina, from Calgary, is a 3rd year Civil Engineering student at UBC. Inspired by a second year sustainability course she sought and obtained a co-op research position helping to develop two civil engineering sustainability courses. She is currently working as a co-op student with Metro Vancouver’s Solid Waste Services helping them move toward their Zero Waste goals. Nina has volunteered locally with Engineers Without Borders’ Sustainability Venture to reduce food waste, with the Stanley Park Ecological Society as an Eco-ranger and at Trout Lake Farmer’s Market. After graduation, Nina hopes to return to solid waste, especially in the public sector, to improve the accessibility of recycling programs.

2016

  • Amit Kumar – Amit is from Patna, India  and is a Ph.D. student at the Urban Mining Innovation Centre at the University of British Columbia.  After completing his master’s degree he is transferring his skills from the mineral processing industry to the recycling industry.  He is studying the major challenges of electronic waste management and recycling systems and his current research involves the recycling of waste LED lamps.  He is also looking at the possibilities of recovering rare earth metals from coal power plant waste.Amit has been working to establish and build a network and partnerships with different universities and different countries to collaborate on research in e-waste management.  Locally he is working with some UBC undergrad students to investigate various waste streams including demolition, household and organic  in order to produce a lesson plan for creating awareness in middle and high school students regarding proper waste management.His career goal is to continue developing and testing new methods for recycling metals and non-metals in order to close the material loop.

2015

  • Sardar Yafee Muntasir – Sardar is from Dhaka, Bangladesh and is working towards a MASc in Civil Engineering at UBC, specializing in Pollution Control and Waste Management. Sardar’s research project is focused on the safe handling of bottom ash fines from Metro Vancouver’s Waste-to-Energy Facility. Sardar is a SWANA member and has volunteered at APEGBC and BCWWA conferences. He is a teaching assistant for Jim Atwater’s solid waste management courses and was elected president of the the Bangladesh Student Association at UBC. Sardar hopes to become a consultant in the environmental engineering field and would like to be involved in projects to reduce pollution levels in his home city.
  • Vanessa Turner – Vanessa is working towards a diploma in Chemical & Environmental Technology at BCIT with the goal of becoming a chemical engineer working to design and and implement waste disposal and management systems. Vanessa is an executive member of the BCIT Sustainability Club and has helped with waste audits, recycling education and shoreline clean up. She works for an online furniture store and helped to implement programs to assist customers in managing damaged, defective or unwanted furniture in a responsible manner.
  • Chelsea Mathieson – Chelsea is studying Integrated Environmental Planning at Selkirk College in Castlegar, BC. Chelsea grew up in an intentional community near Nelson which helped to fuel her interest in sustainability and waste and resource management. She is an active volunteer with local and national environmental and political organizations. Her goal is to work for a company bringing innovative ideas forward to solve complex waste management problems.

2014

  • Roxanne Duigou –  Roxanne is studying Civil Engineering Technology at Camosun College in Victoria where she maintains a solid ‘A’ GPA. Since 2011 she has spent summer breaks in Haiti where she has been developing a waste diversion and alternative building technology utilizing waste polystyrene as a seismically resilient building material. The initiative has diverted an estimated 4000 pounds of polystyrene meal trays from the waste stream and constructed three 240 square foot homes. Roxanne hopes to expand this process in earthquake ravaged Haiti and implement it in other areas of the globe with similar waste, social and infrastructure issues.  In Victoria, Roxanne volunteers with a number of sustainability organizations and is a student member of SWANA.
  • Arlene Janousek – Arlene is studying for a Master of Resource Management degree at Simon Fraser University and aspires to working as a certified environmental planner. Arlene’s research will address a gap in our present knowledge concerning food waste management in conventional and organic food supply chains. Do organic food supply chains produce more or less waste than conventional food chains and do waste management practices differ between the two supply chains. Arlene is active with her faculty’s Student Association and gets her hands dirty with the student union gardening program. She has worked with the North Okanagan Food Action Society and writes website articles for Ecology Ottawa highlighting environmental initiatives.
  • Curtis Jung – Curtis is in his final year of the joint Environmental Engineering degree program at the University of Northern BC and at UBC. Two summers ago Curtis worked with the Comox Valley Regional District helping to develop a financial model for the community’s waste management system. Last summer he worked with AECOM including active participation in the National Solid Waste Benchmarking Initiative. Curtis is hoping to be involved in the technical design of landfills and investigating long term funding options for solid waste management.

2013

  • Aline Bennett – Aline is at UBC working on her Master of Applied Science Degree in Civil Engineering in the Pollution Control and Waste Management group. Prior to UBC , Aline completed a degree in Bioresource Engineering at McGill University in 2010 and then worked for the town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec as their Environment and Sustainability Coordinator. In this position she coordinated her town’s efforts towards zero-waste goals with those of Montreal and is now watching the implementation of organics waste programs and public recycling bins and battery collection in public buildings that she helped to develop. After completing her degree Aline hopes to work in consulting and eventually work for herself as a globally minded engineer.
  • Rosie Child – Rosie is working on a BA in Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She has served as a director on the UVic Sustainability Project, student representative on the UVic Sustainability Advisory Committee and has volunteered with the Pacific Mobile Depot, an extended recycling service. Rosie hopes for a career in recycling and waste management at the municipal level.

2012

  • Frank Nkansah-Boadu – Frank graduated in Chemistry and Civil Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. He is currently working on a Masters of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering at UBC. During his school years he worked with an NGO he helped create and as a research assistant on a number of compost and environmental enhancement projects. Frank spent four years after graduation with Zoomlion Ghana Ltd, the leading solid waste management company in Ghana, designing and implementing collection services and building R & D partnerships with academia and government. Frank hopes to facilitate research, technology and innovation in developing counties as an international waste management professional.
  • Claire Horwood – Claire is studying Environmental Technology at Camosun College in Victoria. She previously studies Occupational Health and Safety and worked in this field in northern Alberta. This work created an interest in waste management policies and procedures and led her to continue her education in in environmental studies. She is very active in campus sustainability issues including a farm box program, native plant garden restoration, biodiesel from cooking oil and compost education. Claire hopes to be an environmental consultant or policy analyst in waste reduction and climate change.
  • Trevor Dore – Trevor is working towards a degree in Environmental Geography at Simon Fraser University. He helped to develop and implement waste reduction and recycling programs at several companies and organizations he worked with. He was a participant in the Sustainable Living Leadership Program sponsored by the Rivershed Society of BC. Trevor plans to pursue a career in planning to promote sustainability and effective resource usage.

2011

  • Ali Reza Abedini – Ali is working on a PhD in Civil Engineering at UBC having completed undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Iran.  His thesis topic, the development of an enhanced landfill gas model, will lead to a better tool for estimating methane gas production. Ali has been active in university activities in Iran and at UBC. He has worked for the Recycling Organization of the Municipality of Tehran and with the World Bank, managing a number of solid waste projects.  Ali is working part-time with Sperling Hansen Associates as he completes his thesis.
  • Terri-Gaye Rutty – Terri is working on a Master of Arts in Environment and Management at Royal Roads University in Victoria.  After her Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology, Terri has worked for the Vancouver Aquarium, YMCA of Greater Toronto and the Solid Waste Division of the City of Toronto where she has taken active roles in promoting waste reduction and sustainable management practices.  Her graduate project will investigate the greenhouse gas implications of the Toronto YMCA food system.
  • Erin Lawless – Erin is working on a double major in Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. She has been very active in a number of campus and community based organizations involved in environmental restoration and enhancement projects. Erin has worked as a Restoration Technician for Parks Canada and Environmental Operations Assistant at the Hartland Landfill in Capital Regional District.

2010

  • Belinda Li – Master of Applied Science (Geo-Environmental Engineering), University of British Columbia
  • David Randt – Bachelor of Geological Engineering (Geotechnical Specialization), University of British Columbia
  • Dale McAslan – Diploma of Integrated Environmental Planning Technology, Selkirk College
  • Anastasia Walus – Diploma of Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia/University of the North, British Columbia
  • Stephanie Whyte – Diploma of Integrated Environmental Planning Technology, Selkirk College

2009

  • Gareth Earl – Environmental Engineering, University of Northern BC
  • Suzanne Fordyce – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College
  • Candice Benner – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College

2008

  • Danielle Smyth – Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern BC
  • Lani McPherson – Bachelor of Applied Science – Environmental Engineering, UBC
  • Megan McColl – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning – Renewable Resources, Selkirk College

2007

  • Robyn Davidson – Bachelor of Science – Environmental Science and Biology, Simon Fraser University
  • Neil Nunn – Human Geography with Environmental Speciality, Simon Fraser University
  • Blair Fulton – Master of Applied Science – Pollution control and Waste Management Engineering, UBC

2006

  • Jeffrey Rees – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College
  • Kyla Peetoom – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College
  • Marissa Main – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College

2005

  • Xi Zhang – Master of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering, Pollution Control and Waste Management, UBC
  • Syed Zaki Abdullah – Master of Applied Science in Environmental Engineering Pollution Control and Waste Management, UBC
  • Kristopher Belanger – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College
  • Jayme Hadikin – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College
  • Tessa MacDonald – Diploma in Integrated Environmental Planning, Selkirk College

2004

  • Ana Carolina Silva, PhD, Mining Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Sarah Grainger, Masters of Applied Science, Pollution Control and Waste Management Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Monica Danon-Schaffer – PhD, Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia

2003

  • Rebecca Brown, Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science, Royal Rhodes University

2002

  • M.D. Iqbal Hossain Bhuiyan, Masters of Applied Science, Pollution Control and Waste Management Engineering, University of British Columbia

2001

  • Daniel Galland, Masters of Applied Science, Pollution Control and Waste Management Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Gillian Knox, Masters of Applied Science, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Arash Masbough, Masters of Applied Science, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Michael Riegner, Environmental Geography, Simon Fraser University

2000

  • Kirsty MacDonald, Master of Science, Environment & Natural Resource Planning, University of British Columbia,
  • Jessica Martin, Environmental Technonolgy, Camosun College
  • Janet Watt, Master of Science, Environment & Management, Royal Roads University

1999

  • Sandra Gill, Environmental Health – Bachelor of Technology, British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
  • Sarah Thompson, Resource Management Program, University of Victoria

1998

  • Philip Barton, Master of Applied Science, Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Chin Yu Lee, Master of Engineering, Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Kirsty MacDonald, Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia

 

1997

  • Joe Pittari, Geography, University of Victoria
  • Margaret Wojtarowicz, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Natasha Silva, Environmental Protection, Kwantlen University College

1996

  • Donna Bartel, Environmental Protection, Kwantlen College
  • Bud Fraser, Masters of Applied Science, Bioresource Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Patrice Heppell, Geography (Planning), University of Victoria
  • Ana Christina May, Masters of Applied Science, Chemical Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Kerri-Lynne Wilson, Environmental Protection Technology, Kwantlen College

1995

  • Bud Fraser, Masters of Applied Science, Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Patrice Heppel, Geography (Planning), University of Victoria
  • Jessica Mackie, Environmental Protection, Kwantlen College
  • Ana Cristina May, Masters of Applied Science, Chemical Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Cristina Ragona, Masters of Applied Science, Environmental Engineering, University of British Columbia

1994

  • Lynn Belanger, Masters of Applied Science, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Shala Evans, Environmental Protection, Kwantlen College
  • Don Johnston, Masters of Applied Science, Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Deborah Walsh, Environmental Technology, Camosun College
  • Nicholas Yaremchuk, Environmental Technology, Camosun College