Awards & Recognition
The Council of Outdoor Educators of Ontario’s Annual Awards provide an important opportunity to recognize individual and group efforts, as well as to celebrate the many and varied expressions of outdoor education within our organization and the province of Ontario.
Congratulations to the Recipients of COEO’s 2026 Annual Awards!
The Amethyst Award
Devin Mutić
The Dorothy Walter Award
for Leadership
David Hawker-Budlovsky
The President’s Award
Hilary Coburn
The Honorary Life Membership Award
Deborah Diebel
The Doug Jacques Award
for Inclusion
Toronto Outdoor
Education Centres
The Robin Dennis Award
High Park Nature Centre
COEO Leadership Awards
Description and Criteria
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The Amethyst Award, in memory of Brent Dysart is presented to an emerging professional new to the field of outdoor education. This award recognizes individual potential in those beginning a career. The recipient of the Amethyst Award receives a complimentary one-year membership to COEO and free admittance to the annual fall conference.
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The President’s Award is presented to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the development of COEO and to outdoor education in Ontario. This award identifies an active outdoor educator who has volunteered their time to our organization through their participation on the Board of Directors, editorial support of Pathways, conference organization or other similar contribution.
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The Doug Jacques Award for Inclusion was created in 2024 in memory of Doug “Duck” Jacques, an advocate for inclusive outdoor education. Doug was a long-time COEO member, outdoor educator at the Bronte Creek Project, and founder of the Trailhead Program in Halton District School Board. He helped lead COEO to prioritize strengthening Indigenous relationships and an overall more inclusive approach as an organization. This award recognizes an individual or organization/program that has made outstanding contributions to the promotion and development of diversity, inclusion, and access to meaningful experiences in outdoor education in Ontario. This person or organization has amplified underrepresented voices and perspectives and has supported equitable access to outdoor experiences within COEO and/or they have endeavoured to create organizational and cultural change within outdoor education in Ontario as a whole. This award is open to non-members of COEO. The recipient of this award receives a complimentary one-year membership to COEO and free admittance to the annual fall conference.
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The Dorothy Walter Award for Leadership was created in 1986 to give recognition to an individual who, like Dorothy Walter herself, has shown an outstanding commitment to the development of leadership qualities in Ontario youth through outdoor education.
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The Honorary Life Membership Award recognizes the substantial and lasting contributions of long-time and esteemed members of COEO who are a vital part of its traditions and successes. Candidates for this award should meet the following criteria: 10 or more years of distinguished service in the field of outdoor education, held leadership positions within COEO for several years, nominated by three COEO members.
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The Robin Dennis Award was created in tribute to Robin Dennis, one of the founders of Ontario outdoor education in the 1950s and 1960s. It is presented to an individual, outdoor education program or facility that has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and development of outdoor education in the province. This award is open to non-members of COEO and the person making the nomination can also be a non-member of COEO.
Nominations
Each year COEO recognizes up to six individuals or organizations. Consider making a nomination to recognize and celebrate leadership in the field of outdoor environmental education.
Nomination Deadline
August 1st, of each calendar year.
Awards Night
Awards are presented at the Annual Fall Conference.
Nominations
Nominations open each Spring.
Please feel free to reach out to info@coeo.org with any questions.
Past Award Recipients
We continue to celebrate and honour the contributions of past winners of our Annual Awards.
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2025 Rachel Irwin
2024 Valerie Freemantle
2023 Sarah Gunnell
2022 Jennifer Oelschlagel
2019 Shanshan Tian
2018 Alexis Pownall
2017 Brooke Jones
2016 Andrew MacDonald
2015 Jenna Livingston
2014 Christopher Walker
2013 Petra Eperjesi
2012 Kelly McKinney
2011 Heather Andrachuk
2009 Wes Onofrio
2008 Amber Robinson
2007 Pamela Depooter
2006 Stacey Hislop
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2025 Angel Suarez Esquivel
2024 Ben Blakey
2022 Liz Kirk/Minka Chambers
2019 Natalie Kemp
2018 Karen O’Krafka
2017 Doug Jacques
2016 Randee Holmes
2015 Bill Schoenhardt
2014 Deborah Diebel
2013 Ron Williamson
2012 Scott Caspell
2011 Shane Kramer
2010 Kathy Haras
2009 Grant Linney
2008 Pam Miller
2007 Barb McKean
2006 Zabe MacEachern
2005 Patti Huber
2004 Clare Magee
2002 Mary Gyemi-Schulze
2001 Bonnie Anderson
2000 Jim Gear
1999 Glen Hester
1998 John Etches
1997 Ian Hendry
1996 Gina Bernabei
1995 Linda McKenzie
1994 Margit McNaughton
1992 Lloyd Fraser
1992 John Aikman
1991 Bob Henderson
1990 Mark Whitcombe
1989 Jan Stewart
1988 Dennis Hitchmough
1987 Sue Brown
1986 Barrie Martin
1985 Brent Dysart
1984 Alice Casselman
1983 Clarke Birchard
1982 Lloyd Fraser
1981 Bob Houston
1980 Dorothy Walter
1979 Jim Coats
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2025 Christina Bossart
2024 Ozhibi’ige nini (Peter Schuler)
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2025 John Hannah
2024 Judy Halpern
2023 Jen Dundas
2019 Brent Evans
2018 Tobin Day
2017 Pam Miller
2016 Paul Gifford
2015 Bonnie Anderson
2014 Tammy Hand
2013 Doug Jacques
2012 Martha Webber
2011 Tim O’Connell
2010 Katie Gad
2009 Walter Sepic
2008 Ron Casier
2007 Peter Goddard
2006 Barb Weeden-Carmichael
2005 Bruce Murphy
2004 Mike Elrick
2002 Grant Linney
2001 Bert Horwood
2000 Alice Casselman
1999 Linda Leckie
1998 Bob Henderson
1997 James Raffan
1996 Rob Heming
1995 Mary Jean Barrett
1994 Cathy Beach
1992 Grant Linney
1990 Jerry Jordison
1989 Jim Smithers
1988 Clare Magee
1987 Ginny Moor
1986 Dorothy Walter
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2025 Barb McKean
2024 Zabe MacEachren
2023 Pam Miller
2022 Bonnie Anderson
2019 Walt Sepic
2018 Brian Lisson
2017 Grant Linney
2016 Kyle Clarke
2013 Jim Gear
2012 Alice Casselman
2005 Glen Hester
2004 Bert Horwood
2000 Bob Henderson
1999 Mark Whitcombe
1994 Chuck Hopkins
1992 Rod Ferguson
1991 Audrey Wilson
1990 Ralph Ingleton
1988 Harris Gibson
1986 Jan Stewart
1985 Clarke Birchard
1984 Lloyd Fraser
1983 Dorothy Walter
1981 John Aikman
1980 Bud Wiener
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2025 The Canadian Ecology Centre
2024 Jacob Rodenburg
2023 Barrie Martin
2022 Bill Elgie
2019 Bonnie Anderson
2018 Peter Rasberry
2017 Royal Botanical Gardens
2016 EcoSpark
2015 Andrew McMartin
2014 Grant Linney
2013 Bob Henderson for the McMaster University OEE Programs
2012 Marlene Power
2011 Brian Lisson
2010 Peel District School Board Field Centres
2009 Clare Magee
2008 Diane Beckett, Ottawa parent
Jane Veit, Toronto parent & Diane Beckett, Ottawa parent
2007 Bill Mason and MacSkimming Oudoor Education Centres, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
2006 The Toronto Urban Studies Centre, TDSB
2005 Bronte Creek Project, Halton District School Board
2004 The Institute for Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies, The Bluewater District School Board
2002 TOES, Toronto District School Bd (TDSB)
2001 Kortright Centre for Conservation
2000 Skid Crease
1999 Camp Tawingo
1998 Mark Whitcombe
1997 Seneca College Outdoor Recreation Technician Co-op Program
1996 Outdoor Ed., Etobicoke Board
1995 Bert Horwood
1994 Frank Glew
1992 Joan Thompson
1990 Cathy Beach
1989 Queen’s OEE Program
1988 Rod Ferguson
1987 Outdoor Ed., North York Board of Education
1986 Chuck Hopkins
1985 Leslie M. Frost Natural Resources Centre
1984 Jean Wansborough
1983 Audrey Wilson
1982 Bill Andrews
1981 Jack Passmore
1980 Bob Pieh
1979 Ralph Ingleton
1978 Ron Frenette
1977 Toronto Island Natural Science School
1976 Murray Finn