Stan Hodgkiss Outdoorsperson of the Year Award

Sonya Richmond

Sechelt, B.C. (when not on a trail somewhere in Canada)

Analyst at Birds Canada with a PhD in forestry. Creator of Come Walk With Us, a national outreach project to inspire young Canadians of all backgrounds to explore nature and become their communities’ conservation stewards.

FROM THE NOMINATORS

In 2019, Sonya Richmond sold her house and suspended her career to self-fund an expedition and conservation outreach campaign to traverse the 27,000-kilometre Trans Canada Trail. Her goal: to visit (along with her partner, Sean Morton) 15,000 communities and to inspire people of all ages, abilities, cultures, genders, orientations and identities to reconnect with nature. As of December 2021, Richmond had hiked more than 10,000 km, delivered more than 100 presentations, published over 700 blog posts, made thousands of Facebook and Instagram posts, and received national and international attention.

MOTIVATION

I decided to take the career I had dedicated to conservation in a new direction — one I hoped would inspire others. My goal is to use an epic journey to capture the imaginations of people in the digital world by showing them the wonders of Canada’s natural world. Nature is both our inheritance and the legacy we leave to future generations. I seek to inform, educate and inspire Canadians — especially youth — to renew their interest in nature and to empower them to become contributing scientists, engaged community leaders and lifelong conservationists.

Stan Hodgkiss Outdoorsperson of the Year Award

Stan Hodgkiss Outdoorsperson of the Year Award Since 1975, the Outdoorsperson of the Year Award has been presented every year to a Canadian who has demonstrated an active and enduring commitment to conservation. The award was renamed in honour of CWF’s founding president Stan Hodgkiss.

Doug Clarke Memorial Award

Past Presidents’ Canadian Legislator Award

The Past Presidents’ Canadian Legislator Award was established in 1988 by former Canadian Wildlife Federation leaders. This award is presented annually to an elected provincial, territorial or federal legislator in recognition of a significant contribution to the conservation of wildlife in Canada.

Robert Bateman Award

In commemoration of its 50th anniversary and in salute to an extraordinary artist and nature lover, the Canadian Wildlife Robert Bateman Award. Federation established this award to recognize those who, through artistic expression, have furthered the awareness of and appreciation for Canada’s wildlife and habitats and their conservation.

Roderick Haig-Brown Award

Presented to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to furthering the sport of angling and the conservation, development and wise use of Canada’s recreational fisheries.

Roland Michener Conservation Award

This award was established in 1978 by the Canadian Wildlife Federation as a tribute to former governor general Roland Michener (1900-1991). An outstanding outdoorsperson and role model for a generation, he served as an honorary president of the CWF. The award is presented to an individual or organization demonstrating a commitment to conservation through responsible activities that promote, enhance and further the conservation of Canada’s natural resources.