ECO IMPACT 2025 Awards: Celebrating Excellence in Environmental Stewardship
ECO Canada recognized environmental excellence and sustainability efforts at the ECO IMPACT 2025 event in Calgary, Alberta, on February 12-13. ECO IMPACT 2025 featured an informative learning series and concluded with an Awards Gala honoring exceptional contributions from Canada’s Environmental Professionals.
The ECO IMPACT 2025 Awards were a huge success, and we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who nominated, voted, and participated in this year’s event. Your involvement is what makes the awards so meaningful, and we are proud to highlight the outstanding achievements of our award recipients.
And the Awards go to…
Environmental Professional (EP®) Award: Barry Lough
Barry J. Lough, a skilled meteorologist with a B.Sc. in Physics and Meteorology from the University of Alberta. With experience at Environment Canada, Duke Energy, and Calvin Consulting Group Ltd., Barry now serves as CEO, advancing air quality standards. He created StuffintheAir.com to simplify meteorology, offering resources for students, educators, and anyone curious about weather forecasting.
Combining technical expertise with a passion for education, Barry uses his site to make weather science accessible and explore careers in meteorology, weather patterns, and their global impact.
Click here to learn more about Barry Lough and all the incredible nominees for the Environmental Professional (EP®) Award: https://youtu.be/Mzmm7ob8wUg
Environmental Professional in-training (EPt) Award: Justine Ammendolia
Justine Ammendolia is an EPt and PhD student at Dalhousie University, focusing on environmental plastic pollution and developing strategies for its mitigation. Her passion for conservation began in 2014 when she received the National Geographic Young Explorer Grant to study Arctic seabirds in Greenland.
Since then, Justine has published over a dozen scientific articles and presented her findings to policymakers, classrooms, and global organizations. Her research, supported by national and international grants, earned her the 2024 ECO IMPACT Student Paper Award for her work on Canadian single-use plastics. Justine also mentors aspiring scientists, working with organizations like National Geographic, The Nature Conservancy, and the Chief Science Advisor of Canada’s Office.
Learn more about Justine Ammendolia and the Environmental Professional in-training (EPt) Award nominees by clicking here: https://youtu.be/AuCMx2Smv3g
Environmental Professional Auditor Award Honouree: Connie Lum
ECO Canada is proud to present the 2025 EP® Auditor ECO IMPACT Award to Connie Lum, an outstanding Environmental Professional (EP®) recognized for her contributions to both the environmental field and her community. As the founder of Envirolum Consulting Inc., Connie offers environmental management and occupational hygiene consulting services, while also advocating for sustainability.
Connie has been a key leader in the Kitchener-Waterloo EP® Chapter, organizing events and mentoring emerging professionals. Her work extends to community projects, including a local recycling hub that has expanded to multiple centers. As Sustainability Lead for the Eastwood Neighbourhood Association and a collaborator with Reep Green Solutions, she actively supports the circular economy.
Click here to learn more about Connie Lum’s sustainability efforts and achievements here: https://youtu.be/TUcjJqmJBkc
Top Employer Award: DIRTT Environmental Solutions
Founded in 2004 and based in Canada, DIRTT specializes in custom prefabrication, turning unique visions into flexible environments for work, learning, and healthcare. Our design philosophy centers on disassembly, allowing easy reconfiguration and repurposing of components without the need for costly renovations or waste.
As demand for efficient, sustainable construction grows, DIRTT leads the way in environmental sustainability—selecting eco-friendly materials and minimizing construction impact through innovative manufacturing processes.
To learn more about The Top Employer Award recipient and nominees, click here: https://youtu.be/RIQ52q2DMH0
Community Impact Award: MFC Games
The MFC Games initiative is an exciting and impactful environment educational program designed to inspire Grades 4-9 students to explore the principles of sustainability and renewable energy. Co-founded by high school students Justin and Aaron Tan in 2022, the program offers hands-on experiences with Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC), which harness the power of microbes in soil to generate electricity.
This year, MFC Games is collaborating with Nature’s Ride in the roll-out of their activities. Nature’s Ride has a history of leveraging the University of Calgary community to deliver environmental education and bring experiential learning to different community groups.
Click here for more detailed information on MFC Games and the Community Impact Award nominees: https://youtu.be/ViZvlKul88Q
Regional Business Yukon Sustainability Award: TinCup Wilderness Lodge Inc.
Tincup Wilderness Lodge offers a peaceful retreat in the heart of the Yukon, accessible only by air. Located on Tincup Lake near Kluane National Park and the Ruby Range Mountains, the eco-friendly lodge was rebuilt by owner Meinrad Humm from 2010–2017 with sustainability in mind. Powered by solar energy, the lodge features only essential structures, preserving the natural landscape. Guests can enjoy activities like fishing, kayaking, hiking, and wildlife watching in this pristine setting.
Click here to explore more about TinCup Wilderness Lodge Inc.: https://youtu.be/FEqiWjm9eOM
Small Business Yukon Sustainability Award: Future Proof My Building Consulting Inc.
Future Proof My Building Consulting Inc., based in Whitehorse, Yukon, offers recommissioning, commissioning, commercial energy auditing, thermal imaging, energy modeling, and project management services to ensure the quality of green buildings and industrial projects. Their work primarily focuses on optimizing control and mechanical systems in buildings.
Find out more about Future Proof My Building Consulting Inc. and the nominees for the Small Business Yukon Sustainability Award by clicking here: https://youtu.be/0nqzp97VEjs
Medium to Large Business Yukon Sustainability Award: Snowline Gold Corp.
Snowline Gold Corp., a Yukon-based gold exploration company, holds a portfolio of projects spanning 360,000 ha, with its flagship Rogue gold project located in the underexplored Selwyn Basin. The company has partnered with the Na-Cho Nyak Dun Development Corporation on green initiatives, including installing a solar array to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons. Snowline won the Robert E. Leckie Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2023 and 2024, recognized for efforts like progressive reclamation, optimizing drill pads, cleaning up legacy camps, and collaborating with Yukon Seed and Restoration on native seed banks and reclamation strategies.
Click here to explore more about Snowline Gold Corp. and nominees of the Medium to Large Business Yukon Sustainability Award: https://youtu.be/x5n_orzOjOU
Sustainability Trailblazers Award: Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative
The Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative (BVGEC) is Alberta’s first member-owned renewable energy developer, leading in sustainability with 455kW of solar capacity generating 860MWh of clean energy and offsetting over 600 tons of CO₂. Future projects, like a 250kW solar installation, aim to expand this impact.
BVGEC’s inclusive model allows communities to invest in and benefit from renewable energy, with profits funding projects for underfunded buildings. Its 291kW solar project at Baymag Inc. integrates renewables into high-emission industries. ECO Canada is honoured to highlight BVGEC’s efforts with the Sustainability Trailblazers Award.
Discover more about Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative and the Sustainability Trailblazers Award nominees by clicking here: https://youtu.be/xJFUy-9jpQ0
Environmental Student Paper Award: Karan Wadhwani
Finally, we are proud to recognize Karan Wadhwani with the Environmental Student Paper Award. Karan’s exceptional research has the potential to shape the future of sustainability, offering renowned insights in “Renewable Energy Development on First Nations Lands in Western Canada” Karan’s research focuses on the challenges of implementing renewable energy on First Nations Lands, particularly in the context of Canada’s need for clean energy. His work emphasizes the importance of reducing reliance on fossil fuels in remote and Indigenous communities and ensuring that the legal framework supports this transition.
Click here to learn more about Karan Wadhwani: https://youtu.be/YBuvZTqJKSM
Congratulations to All of Our Award Recipients and Nominees!
We would like to once again extend our congratulations to all of the award recipients and all nominees. Your hard work, passion, and unwavering commitment to sustainability continue to inspire others in the environmental field. The ECO IMPACT 2025 Awards are a testament to the incredible contributions you’ve made to our planet, and we’re excited to see what you’ll achieve next.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success! Your participation and support are invaluable as we continue to recognize and celebrate those who are paving the way for a sustainable future.
Stay tuned for future dates of ECO IMPACT 2026!
