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Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award

Mike-ElrickMike Elrick was an Upper Grand DSB teacher who demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership in his work on environmental issues within our board. In addition to running the Community Environmental Leadership and Headwaters Programs for fifteen years, he also chaired the board-wide Environmental Issues Committee and was involved in numerous other initiatives within our board. Mike role modeled environmentally friendly practices from biking to school to washing mugs for staff meetings. Mike passed away in November 2009 from lung cancer.

Each year, the UGDSB is honouring Mike’s memory with the “Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award” for staff and volunteers who have demonstrated environmental leadership within their school community or our school board.

The recipient of this award would be someone who demonstrates the following:

If you know of a UGDSB staff member or volunteer who you feel would be a worthy recipient of this award, please complete a nomination form in the spring when the application becomes available. The award recipient will get financial support for an environmental project or program within their school.

Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award 2023

Congratulations to Jenny McGregor, a secondary teacher at John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute, for being this year’s recipient of the Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award.

This award goes to staff and volunteers who have demonstrated environmental leadership within their school community or our school board. 

McGregor has spearheaded and participated in many green initiatives at John F. Ross CVI that empower students and staff with the responsibility to ensure a greener and more sustainable future in their school community.

McGregor has diligently worked to make John F. Ross an EcoSchool this year; with the help of students and staff she runs the school recycling program, ensures that classrooms have GOOS (good on one side) bins for reuse of paper. She logs all of the school data to ensure that Ross’ achieves their EcoSchool targets. She runs the Eco Club and the tree planting program.

Mcgregor is passionate about providing students with the opportunities to learn how others in the Upper Grand community are practicing sustainability by having students participate in webinars and hear from guest speakers who are activists in the cause.

McGregor came up with the school’s first Eco Fair where local vendors and staff demonstrated sustainability. Each station had hands-on activities for all students and helped educate students around sustainability and the UN Global Goals. The event was a huge hit with more than 700 students in attendance and will likely take place annually going forward. 

Her students and staff know McGregor to be a passionate advocate for green initiatives and sustainability and couldn’t imagine anyone better for the award. 

This photo features Jenny McGregor posing outside, holding the Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership award.

Past Winners of the Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees for their Leadership in Environmental Action!