By Sarah Fullerton
Digital Communications Specialist
Congratulations to MSc student Ben Woodward (Earth Sciences) for receiving the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal! Awarded by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, this medal honours fellows who embody the society’s vision of fostering a greater understanding of Canada’s geography, its changes, and its effect on the environment.
Woodward was nominated for his exceptional achievements, including winning first place in the 2017 Canadian Geographic Challenge and placing third at the International Geography Olympiad. Today, he gives back by mentoring high school students competing in these events, and guiding the next generation of geographers through the Canadian Geography Workshop Series. He also volunteers with the Canadian Geographic Challenge, Ontario Envirothon, Esri Canada GIS Ambassador Program, and the University of Waterloo’s Geospatial Club.
Woodward is honoured to be selected as a recipient of this award and looks forward to supporting spaces where geographers can excel. "If we want to creatively and meaningfully address Canada’s pressing social, environmental, and economic issues, we need to recruit our brightest students into fields like geography and environmental studies and support them in making a change."