2025 Susan Langley Earth Steward Teaching Award Winners
2025 Award Recipients
The following educators have been chosen as the recipients of LSF’s 2025 Susan Langley Earth Steward Teaching Awards to recognize teachers for their exemplary contribution to sustainability education in Canada. This year’s winners and runners up demonstrate exceptional leadership in sustainability education, are recognized as inspirations to their students and school community, and have taken on creative, innovative projects to advance sustainability learning and education.
Winners
Congratulations to Kyle Kitchen & Kathy Ross! Learn more about the amazing work they are both doing below:
Kyle Kitchen
Garrison Road Public School, Fort Erie ON
Kyle is a forward-thinking educator at Garrison Road Public School in Fort Erie, ON who brings sustainability to life through land-based, experiential learning. By integrating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into cross-curricular, inquiry-based projects, he empowers students to engage with real-world environmental issues in meaningful ways. A standout example is his student-led pond restoration project, where learners collected and analyzed ecological data using coded Micro:Bits, then replanted native species sourced from local nurseries. He bridges curriculum and community by embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, elevating student voices, and involving families and local partners in his initiatives. Kyle exemplifies what it means to be a sustainability educator and leader. His teaching is rooted in innovation, inquiry, and real-world problem-solving, empowering students to become engaged, responsible citizens.
Kathy is a passionate educator at Peachland Elementary in Peachland, BC who teaches her students who combines subjects across the curriculum, including how to be responsible local and global citizens. Her students have built water filters, planted gardens, visited and worked in the local food bank, and collected donations for those less fortunate, and learned from other students around the globe. Inviting local experts into her classroom is a regular event, either virtually or in person. She takes time outside her regular classroom hours to work on learning that impacts all students and staff. Kathy invites parents to be a part of the land-based learning and community visits. Working on sustainability goals is a regular part of Ms. Ross’s classroom and learning is always followed up with actions by students to reinforce the learning and understanding that they can make a difference.
Kathy Ross
Peachland Elementary, Peachland BC
Runners-up
Congratulations to the following runners-up! Learn more about the amazing work they are doing below:
Holly Hudson
We'koqma'q Mi'kmaw School, Whycocomagh NS
Holly is an educator at We’koqma’q Mi’kmaw School in Whycocomagh, Nova Scotia who connects outdoor practices with her curriculum, providing a basis for a relational understanding. With the support of respected Elders in her community, she helped organize a food forest and medicine walk outside her school. This has allowed lessons to be immersive, hands-on experiences. Students actively participate in planting, nurturing, and harvesting, emphasizing experiential learning and creating direct connections to their environment. These interactions foster respect, understanding, and a deeper appreciation for Mi’kmaw perspectives on sustainability and stewardship. Involving students in every step, from planning to harvesting, instills a sense of ownership and pride. Students see the direct impact of their efforts, which boosts confidence and motivates them to take initiative in sustainability projects. Holly is a lifelong learner, constantly seeking to deepen her understanding of sustainable practices and Indigenous knowledge.
As a science teacher at École secondaire catholique Champlain in Chelmsford, ON, Chantal regularly integrates learning opportunities that are rooted in sustainability. Her role allows her to guide and inspire her students and colleagues in incorporating sustainable practices on a daily basis. She is the resource person who her colleagues frequently approach to share and improve their environmental lesson plans. Chantal is equally a model in her concrete actions and recommendations for ecologically relevant school activities: renting reusable tablecloths rather than using plastic, opting for biodegradable balloons, or setting up composting stations at events. In favour of sustainable development, Chantal strives to engage her students, colleagues, parents, community members, and other stakeholders in impactful initiatives.
Chantal Rioux
École secondaire catholique Champlain, Chelmsford ON
Scott McMillan
W.P. Wagner High School, Edmonton AB
Scott is a teacher at W.P. Wagner High School in Edmonton, Alberta who actively encourages students to extend their sustainability engagement beyond the school. Scott’s mentorship has supported student success in competitions like Caring For The Watershed and the Emerald Youth Awards.He has connected three student teams with provincial Youth Summits on agriculture, forestry, and water over the past five years, empowering them as future sustainability leaders. Scott’s commitment to fostering these diverse initiatives serves as a visible model, inspiring both students and colleagues to embrace environmental stewardship and take leadership roles within his school community. He has participated in multi-day professional development events on Forestry and Agriculture in Alberta. These opportunities have allowed Scott to connect with leaders in education, agriculture, and forestry in his province and bring fresh ideas and a sense of hope back to his classroom. The impact extends as he and his students share their summit learnings with peers and colleagues.
In her role as Teacher-Librarian at École Varennes in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Suzanne offered monthly SDG invitations to classroom teachers. She visited the classes interested, and shared a story book linked to that month’s lesson along with a short activity and age-appropriate discussion. She also teaches collaboratively with classroom teachers and is passionate about bringing students outside. Suzanne is always trying to infuse her lessons with climate action. As a Master Gardener and Master Composter, Suzanne is always sharing her knowledge about plants and nature with students and staff. She runs an Environment Club at both École Provencher and École Varennes as well as the community gardens. As a Forest School Practitioner, she is also keen to pass along respect for the land and acknowledge the wisdoms of Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded the land for thousands of years.
Suzanne Simpson
École Provencher and École Varennes, Winnipeg MB
Honourable Mentions
Congratulations to:
- Melissa Rosenburg – Bruce Peninsula District School (Lion’s Head, ON)
- Kelly Pevie – Jakeman All-Grade School (Trout River, NL)
- Niki Taylor – Exchange Met (Winnipeg, MB)
- Vicki Keen – Metis Beach School (Métis-sur-Mer, QC)