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Two teachers, Coquitlam high school honoured for 'green' work

Joanne Peressin and Lynn Truong, as well as the Gleneagle Secondary Green Team, were recognized for the environmental work by the City of Coquitlam on June 1, 2024.
Janis Cleugh
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School District 43 (SD43) teachers, as well as Gleneagle Secondary’s Green Team were recently recognized for their contributions to preserving the environment.getty images

Two educators in School District 43 (SD43) were among the environmental champions who got kudos from the City of Coquitlam at an awards celebration on Saturday, June 1.

Joanne Peressin, a Grade 3 teacher at Nestor Elementary, won the Lifetime Achievement Individual Award for guiding her students through the life cycle of a salmon, including releasing the young fish into the Coquitlam River each year.

Lynn Truong, an educational assistant at Baker Drive Elementary, also clinched the Teacher or Educator accolade for inspiring students through the Eco Bears Club, organizing clean-ups, and encouraging kids to save power and be conscious consumers.

As well, Gleneagle Secondary’s Green Team picked up the Youth Group, School or Club award for overseeing trails, helping with community gardens and educating the public about salmon in the watersheds.

Others who picked up prizes at the biannual Environmental Achievement Awards event were:

  • The Whittles Family (Thomas and Daniel)
    • Individual Green Sprout (ages three to 12)
      • for keeping Harper Park and its trails free of litter
  • Thomas Kempin
    • Individual (ages 13 to 18)
      • for his creek protection with the Hoy–Scott Watershed Society
  • Derio Urbani
    • Individual (ages 13 to 18)
      • for keeping streets safe and clean
  • Carla Parr-Pearson
    • Individual (ages 19 and over)
      • for staring the Tri-Cities Bear Aware Community Group
  • Josephine Tsen
    • Individual (ages 19 and over)
      • for running the Cool Hoods Champs workshops
  • The Web of Life
    • Adult Group
      • for building community and cleaning up the environment by removing more than 50,000 pounds of illegally dumped waste from creeks and rivers

The honours come two years after the City of Coquitlam adopted its Environmental Sustainability Plan and as it’s currently drafting its first Urban Forest Management Strategy.

If you want to volunteer at environmental events, visit the city’s website. Residents and groups can also be responsible for a section of one of Coquitlam’s trails through the Adopt-A-Trail program.