Two educators from Wellington Heights Secondary School in Mount Forest have been recognized for their outstanding work in environmental education, earning the 2025 Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award.
Matt Timberlake and Jen Cork were nominated by their colleagues and selected by the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) for their ongoing efforts to promote sustainability and connect students with the natural world. Together, the pair co-lead the Community Environmental Leadership Program (CELP), a unique, semester-long outdoor learning initiative based at Luther Marsh.
CELP allows students to step outside the traditional classroom and into nature, where they take part in real-world, hands-on activities focused on environmental issues. Under Matt and Jen’s leadership, the program also partnered with Wellington County’s Green Legacy program this year to help transplant a remarkable 75,000 tree seedlings.
The Mike Elrick Environmental Leadership Award is presented each year to a UGDSB staff member or volunteer who demonstrates a strong commitment to sustainability and encourages others to do the same. The award honours the memory of Mike Elrick, a respected educator who passed away in 2009 and is remembered for his passion for environmental education.