(Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, June 15, 2023) — Nature Canada’s Women for Nature program with the support of CLIF Bar & Company are proud to announce the latest recipients of our Young Nature Leaders Grant. Each $1,000 grant is intended to encourage, foster and nurture young people to demonstrate their own leadership for nature.

“It brings me great hope and happiness to see these young people taking leadership in their local communities to help and heal nature,” says the Honourable Rosa Galvez, Honorary Chair of Nature Canada’s Women for Nature program. “Through their actions and advocacy, young Canadians across the country are creating a cleaner and brighter tomorrow.”

Celebrating this exciting effort to empower youth and nature lovers alike, Nature Canada expanded the Young Nature Leaders Grants program this year, now awarding ten grants of $1,000 each. The purpose of the program is to empower young people to take action for nature by putting them at the heart of it. This year’s recipients include:

• Brianna Barrett from St. John’s, NL. Brianna will create and distribute learning kits on local wildflowers, pollinators for local schools, libraries, and kids programs in her hometown.
• Elise Laferriere from Hudson, QC. Elise is developing a downloadable curriculum about human impacts on birds for elementary school-aged students to educate others about how to save bird lives.
• Jessica Lewis from Dartmouth, NS. Jessica will develop a guided insect identification course for young girls/youth in urban areas of Nova Scotia.
• Kassidy Matheson from Murray Harbour, PEI. Kassidy will host a series of workshops on native and invasive plants to engage her local community to learn about the plants that inhabit Prince Edward Island.
• Derek Nguyen in Ajax, ON. Derek will grow native Ontario pollinator plants to distribute to schools, and youth groups.

Nature Canada is awarding additional grants this year thanks to support from our continuing partnership with CLIF BAR®. This generosity is funding youth leadership initiatives that include education, youth programs and research into barriers faced by marginalized and racialized youth. Here are the CLIF BAR® Young Nature Leaders:

• Lauren Castelino from Toronto, ON. Lauren will develop and lead a hiking excursion in Southern Ontario for young women of colour to discover the outdoors.
• Aranya Iyer from Mississauga, ON. Aranya is the co-founder of Field Research in Ecology and Evolution Diversified that leads nature workshops in Algonquin Park for BIPOC students.
• Lauren Lawson from Toronto, ON. Lauren will develop and run a half-day workshop: Youth for BioDiverCities.
• Chevaun Toulouse from Sagamok First Nation, ON. Chevaun leads land-based cultural programming in the Sagamok Anishnawbek community on the north shore of Lake Huron.
• Megan Turluk from Kelowna, BC. Megan will organize day trips into South Okanagan national park for international students attending the UBC Kelowna campus and connect them with Indigenous Elders who will speak about key natural places and their local culture.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Nature Canada to connect youth from diverse backgrounds with nearby nature by supporting activities that promote equal access and participation for all,” said Hilary Hanley, Managing Director of CLIF’s Canada business. “Ensuring that young people can enjoy time in the outdoors is vital to their physical and mental health and the overall well-being of our culture.”

A big thank you to our previous Young Nature Leaders who volunteered on this year’s Selection Committee.

For media assistance please contact:

Scott Mullenix, Director of Communications
613-462-4024
media@naturecanada.ca

For information on the Young Nature Leaders grant please contact:

Jodi Joy, Director of Development, Nature Canada
613-295-6769 | 1-800-267-4088
jjoy@naturecanada.ca

About Nature Canada

Nature Canada was founded in 1939 because of the passion and initiative of Mabel Frances Whittemore, a teacher and nature lover whose main goal in life was to share her passion for nature with others. Today, Nature Canada represents a network of over 175,000 members and supporters and more than 1200 nature organizations across the country. Over the past 85 years, Nature Canada has helped protect more than 110 million acres of parks and wildlife areas in Canada and countless species that depend on this habitat and connected hundreds of thousands of Canadians – especially children – with nature through its activities.

About Women For Nature

Nature Canada‘s signature “Women for Nature” initiative raises awareness about the need to connect more Canadians of all ages to nature. Our members champion efforts to inspire youth and families to spend time in nature, to learn and experience our natural heritage and in doing so, ensure the health and well-being of our Canadian society.

About CLIF Bar

CLIF Bar & Company crafts foods with purpose for people and the planet, including CLIF BAR®, CLIF Kid®, and BUILDERS® brands. That’s why the company prioritizes organic and plant-based ingredients to create wholesome foods for any moment. Learn more by visiting Clifbar.ca or follow them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook at @ClifBar.