(Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, August 12,2024) — Nature Canada’s Women for Nature program is 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 awarded six grants of $1000 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:

• Percy Ager from Cape Breton, NS. Percy will host seed-saving workshops, creating an accessible and inclusive agro-tourism space and bring together communities that they are a part of: Black, Queer, women, youth, disabled, Neurodivergent.
• Samuel LeGresley from Greater Moncton, NB. Samuel has created a 101 Guide for Wildflower Seed Librarians, replicating a model that was started in Ottawa. It was founded on 3 core principles: provide free access to native plant seeds, teach people about gardening responsibly, and ask seed recipients to reciprocate the gift of nature.
• Haley De Turse from Peterborough, ON. Haley has hosted 7 Nature Detective workshops through the nature outdoor experiential education with ‘Sun School’. She has partnered with district schools, New Canadian Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Friendship Centre, the public library, and local farmer’s markets to connect kids to nature. She has 35 workshops scheduled.
• Abinaya Gnanasekar from Oakville, ON. Abinaya will host day trips to Kortright Centre for Conservation (Vaughan, ON) with 20 newcomers/refugee women, in connection with York U and Regenesis.
• Luke Nguyen in Ajax, ON. Luke has developed Operation Eco-Pen’s The Indigenous Community and Healing Garden Project this season by enriching the garden, implementing educational programs, and empowering a new generation of environmental leaders.
• Humza Hassan in Toronto, ON.Humza is developing a series of 5 park and trail cleanup and educational events with Muslim community members, as part of Green Ummah.

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, Nature Canada
613-462-4024
[email protected]

For information on the Young Nature Leaders grant please contact:

Jodi Joy, Director of Development, Nature Canada
613-295-6769 | 1-800-267-4088
[email protected]

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.