Get to know our outstanding 2021 alumni award recipients
You're invited to join dean Jean Andrey and each of this year's exceptional award recipients:
a pioneer in environmental planning whose work and philanthropy has contributed to the protection of 1000s of hectares of sensitive lands in Ontario, an internationally renowned scholar mobilizing knowledge in biocultural diversity, sustainability and reconciliation, a respected planning firm with a 50-year history of supporting the School of Planning and its students, a loyal university ambassador who championed the faculty's first class-led scholarship campaign, and a gifted scholar advancing emergency management practice across Canada and around the world.
Find out what drives these incredible graduates, the people and places that have helped them succeed and how they are contributing to sustainability in Canada and around the world.
Derek J. Coleman (PhD ' 74)
2021 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
A pioneer in his field who has helped to shape environmental policy, protect sensitive lands and provide philanthropic support to important environmental, educational and social causes. President of Ages Consultants Ltd., Derek was a member of one of the first cohorts of PhD graduates from the School of Planning and founder of one of the first firms in Ontario dedicated to environmental planning.
Maureen G. Reed (PhD '91)
2021 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award
A prolific and outstanding researcher, Maureen holds the UNESCO Chair in Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability, Reconciliation and Renewal, University of Saskatchewan. She has made exceptional contributions in her field and to her community, pioneering research on gender and forestry in the global north and has worked extensively with Biosphere Reserves (BRs) fundamentally changing how BR practitioners work together and their engagement of and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Anne-Marie Marais (BES ’95)
2021 Friend of the Faculty Impact Award
A loyal supporter of the University of Waterloo and Class Champion for her Planning Class of 1995, Anne-Marie served as inaugural co-lead of the Toronto Alumni Chapter and continues her service as Leadership Advisor. She has planed an led several class reunions and successfully led a class campaign to raise money to establish the Planning Class of ’95 Entrance Scholarship, creating a legacy that will support first-years planning students for years to come.
MHBC Planning Urban Design & Landscape Architecture (MHBC)
2021 Friend of the Faculty Impact Award
Since it was established in 1973, MHBC has grown to more than 100 staff in six offices, hiring dozens of graduates and employing hundreds of coop students. MHBC employees visit campus to speak to classes, volunteer as student mentors, serve on Pragma Council, and support student scholarships. In 2020, MHBC established the MHBC Award for Black and Indigenous students. MHBC President, Brian Zerman (BES '98) will be accepting the award for the firm.
Eric Kennedy (BKI '12)
2021 Young Alumni Achievement Award
A member of the inaugural graduating class of the Knowledge Integration (KI) program, Eric's research helps communities prepare for and manage natural hazards and socio-environmental crises in Canada and across the world, including wildfires and the Covid-19 pandemic. He is founder of the Collaboration on Emergency Management, Preparedness, and Policy Research lab at York University where he is a professor of Disaster & Emergency Management at York University.
The University of Waterloo is committed to achieving barrier-free accessibility for persons with disabilities who are visiting, studying, or working at Waterloo. This event will be delivered through Zoom. After the event, a recording with captions will be available. If you would like to request an alternative format or any other accommodation, please contact event organizers via email envalumni@uwaterloo.ca, or by phone 519-888-4567, ext. 42492. Please note that some accommodations may require time to arrange.