Three Climate Champions were recognized with awards at the Earth Day celebration in Maple Ridge on April 18.
James Rowley of the Maple Ridge Climate Hub presented the awards, which are now in their fifth year of being presented.
“With these awards we celebrate people, businesses, and organizations in our community who are taking real action to fight climate change,” said Rowley.
“Today is about recognizing people who aren’t waiting for someone else to lead — they are simply doing what they can in their own way. And in doing so, they inspire all of us.”
• Meryl Herberts and Evan Crawford were described as “road warriors of the best kind.”
Herberts commutes to her workplace in New Westminster by bicycle, every day, in all seasons, rain or shine. By choosing to cycle and not drive, Herberts personally keeps about 3,000 kg of C02 from entering the atmosphere every year.
Crawford has cycled to work for decades, currently peddling four days a week to Surrey, no matter the weather or the time of day. Over the past six years, Crawford has covered close to 35,000 km by bike, keeping 12 tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere.
“In a city whose largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is cars powered by fossil fuels, you make it clear that safe, separated bike paths are not only reasonable, but necessary,” said Rowley.
• Ross Davies, has been the the education coordinator for the Kanaka Education and Environmental Partners Society (KEEPS) for 25 years, and can also be seen “bicycling everywhere in all kinds of weather,” said Rowley.
Davies has been involved with fisheries and ecology for over 40 years, sharing his knowledge and encouraging people to plant pollinator-friendly plants, to collect rainwater, and to connect with the natural world.
“His environmental advocacy has resulted in better, more climate friendly policies being enacted at the local, provincial and federal level,” said Rowley.
• Maple Ridge Public Library staff were recognized for initiatives like hosting climate-focused educational sessions and interactive exhibits like “LumiAir,” which let us compare historic air-quality to current readings and our local air quality to other communities.
The library has hosted Maple Ridge Repair Cafes where you can bring your broken stuff and volunteers fix it for free.
The library also lends solar panels, energy meters, air quality monitors, and thermal leak detectors.