This month, CBEEN’s Awards of Excellence recognized six outstanding local educators from across the Columbia Basin region for their efforts in educating students and the public on environmental stewardship and sustainability.
“The 2025 award winners include primary teachers, community and Indigenous educators. All are committed to creating opportunities for people to connect with, learn about, and learn from our amazing local environment,” said Laura Jackman, Network Manager for the Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (CBEEN).
“We are grateful for their dedication to bringing outdoor learning opportunities for students, professionals, and community members throughout the Columbia Basin.”
CBEEN’s 2025 Awards of Excellence in Environmental Education were awarded to:
● Indigenous Educator – Mara Nelson (Ktunaxa Nation)
● Primary Teacher – Charlotte Soles (Castlegar)
● Community Educator– Graeme Lee Rowlands (Golden)
● Community Educator – Amy Cross (Cranbrook)
● Primary Teacher – Myia Malakoff (Castlegar)
● Primary Teacher – Bridget O’Malley (Rossland)
Primary teacher Myia Malakoff said, “Winning the CBEEN’s 2025 Award of Environmental Education Excellence means so much to me because it recognizes the passion, dedication, and creativity I pour into connecting little people with the natural world. This honour affirms the impact of my efforts and inspires me to continue fostering a deeper love and respect for the environment in my community.”
Indigenous educator Mara Nelson said, “This award touches something deep inside me – it honours the strength of my ancestors, my teachers and fellow learners. It carries the hope that I have for our language Isolate to live, breathe and rise in the voices of all those who will proudly speak Ktunaxa in the future. My immense gratitude to all who are walking alongside this incredible journey.”
Five of the six educators were recognized during an awards ceremony at the 2026 Outdoor Learning Conference held in Banff May 7-9, 2026. https://takemeoutside.ca/conference/
About Graeme
Graeme Lee Rowlands serves as Wildsight’s Director of Water and Climate, where he leads water and climate programming across the organization, including the Columbia River Field School, Teach the Columbia, Columbia River Conversations, and Youth Climate Corps.
A prolific writer and advocate, his work on the Columbia River Treaty, salmon restoration, reconciliation, and climate change has appeared in over 50 publications and has engaged dozens of organizations throughout the international Columbia River Basin.
As co-lead of the Columbia River Field School — an accredited summer program for students aged 15 to 18 — Graeme has guided 90 young people through immersive paddling expeditions that foster deep environmental stewardship and civic engagement, with many alumni going on to participate actively in Columbia Basin advocacy.
He was also instrumental in founding Youth Climate Corps BC, coordinating its inaugural pilot in fall 2020 and overseeing its growth into a province-wide initiative that has employed 150 youth and generated over 10,000 days of collective climate action work.
Throughout his career, Graeme has distinguished himself as a passionate educator and visionary leader, consistently empowering young people to pursue meaningful lives of purpose, optimism, and active participation in addressing the defining environmental challenges of our time.
