Surrey – Every year the B.C. Wildlife Federation recognizes British Columbians who have achieved outstanding success in conservation and education with awards rooted in B.C.’s conservation heritage.
The Barsby Trophy for Conservationist of the Year and the Art Downs Award were established to honour two past BCWF leaders and their outstanding contributions to protecting B.C.’s natural heritage.
The BCWF Barsby Trophy Conservationist of the Year honours an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to conservation in B.C. This award was first presented in 1974 to Ted Barsby, a B.C. leader in environmental stewardship.
The 2020 Barsby Award is presented to Larri Woodrow for his decades teaching and mentoring recruits of all ages in outdoor skills and knowledge, and for his ongoing advocacy for the value of outdoor education in teaching self-confidence, humility, and self-esteem, especially to at-risk youth.
At 82 years, Larri Woodrow looks back with pleasure and gratitude at his time spent outdoors. He is honoured to win the BCWF Ted Barsby Conservationist Award for “what amounts to a lifetime love of nature.” Larri plans to continue to help others and advocate for B.C.’s natural systems “as long as he is able.”
The Art Downs Award honours excellence in writing and commitment to conservation and the environment. It is a memorial award established in 1997 in honour of Art Downs, the conservationist outdoorsman, writer and editor who founded the B.C. Outdoors Magazine to champion environmental issues in B.C.
The award is given to a writer of factual, well-researched articles that take governments and public and private companies to task when needed and bring about positive and significant change.
This year’s award is presented to Randy Shore, a balanced and insightful journalist, author, and science communicator, who brings facts to emotionally charged conservation issues.
As Randy Shore notes, “The Art Downs Award honours and encourages reporting that is factual and drives change by promoting science-based policy and individual responsibility.”
Randy Shore has never been afraid to take on sensitive conservation issues, doing detailed research and taking the government to task over fish management and many other challenging conservation issues.
The B.C. Wildlife Federation thanks Larri Woodrow and Randy Shore for their ongoing action in conservation and stewardship of B.C.’s wildlife and habitat!