Elaine Golds, a prominent Tri-City environmental activist, has been awarded the Douglas College 2016 Honorary Fellow Award, the college's highest distinction.
At a special event held last Thursday at DC's New Westminster campus, Golds was presented with the fellowship for her work promoting environmental conservation in the Tri-Cities as well as her work with Burke Mountain
aturalists in spearheading numerous causes, such as protecting Colony Farm Regional Park and Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, and the ending of logging in Metro Vancouver’s old-growth watersheds.
"I am blown away by it, quite frankly. I've never felt so celebrated in my entire life," said Golds whose family members were in the audience and who was nominated by Mike McPhee, a Douglas College instructor with whom she worked with on the Colony Farm steering committee in the 1990s.
According to a press release from the college, Golds’ commitment to the Metro Vancouver community and environment earned her the award and is something to be admired.
“This type of dedication and passion is what we aspire to instil in our students,” said Kathy Denton, college president.
Born in Moose Jaw, Sask., Golds graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor of science degree. She obtained her PhD in biochemistry from McGill University, where she also worked as an assistant professor before moving to Port Moody in 1989.
Golds, who is The Tri-City News' Green Scene columnist, has also been honoured with Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the BC Community Achievement Award, a Port Moody Freedom of the City Award and the Pacific Salmon Foundation Hungerford Award for Conservation. She is currently president of the Burke Mountain Naturalists.
The Douglas College Honorary Fellow Award recognizes the outstanding achievement or distinguished service by an individual on a community, provincial, national, or international scale.
Golds joins previous DC Honorary Fellows Wally Oppal (2015), Julio Montaner (2014), Peter Legge (2013), David Neima (2012), and Bill Hughes and Tim Agg (2011).
