GIN President Doreen Dewell receives Award

Community Educator of the Quarter: Doreen Dewell

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Tell us about yourself and your work at Whatcom Community College.
I suppose you could call me a lifelong learner. I earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Victoria (UVIC) way back in 1972, then post-graduate degrees later on, including a bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a Master of Science from SFU. My career has included positions as an interpreter and naturalist, biologist, researcher, secondary school science teacher, post-secondary instructor, laboratory supervisor, and lecturer of biology and environmental science classes. My undergraduate major was marine biology
and I have taught upper level invertebrate zoology at both U.Vic and UBC.

In 2006, I became a Canadian Certified Environmental Practitioner (CCEP) and co-founded and became the president of my own environmental nonprofit organization called Green Ideas Network (www.greenideasnetwork.org). At Whatcom Community College, I work as an adjunct faculty member, usually teaching two classes per quarter (biology and environmental
science).

I have lived in South Surrey since 2002 and am involved with local environmental groups here (the Friends of the Semiahmoo Heritage Trail, advisory board member of Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest, and the Surrey/White Rock Pesticide-Free Coalition - Education and Research Team). Green Ideas Network has focused on hosting environmental film festivals and creating
educational displays for community environmental events.

What motivates you to teach the next generation of decision makers?
I think it is extremely important to be a role model for the people I teach. I have been a dedicated environmentalist for most of my life and believe that everyone should be informed and aware of the issues and learn to practice environmental stewardship. Learning biology and learning to respect and take care of the environment go hand in hand, so I convey that to students at every opportunity. I really believe that students who have learned this will go on to make a difference toward a better world in the future.

That is really my mission: to communicate and share my knowledge of the environment to all my students with passion and integrity; to help them understand the profound interconnections of all living things (humans are part of nature, not separate from it and we really, really depend on it). I think it shows that I care about other species and the environment and that if I can do my part, so can they.

Why does Whatcom Community College partner with NSEA?
I am speaking for myself here: I was very excited to learn about NSEA and it was Stephanie Williams (previous Squalicum Creek Volunteer Coordinator) who contacted me directly, otherwise I may not have known about NSEA (thank you, Stephanie). Salmon habitat enhancement is very near and dear to my heart. I was looking for opportunities to involve my students in the community in order to earn “extra credit” and thought that NSEA was a perfect fit for me because I wholeheartedly support what it does.

Why is wild salmon recovery in Whatcom County so important to you and the students you work with?
I have been involved with salmon habitat enhancement for a long time and am fully aware of how much work it involves. I took part in a biophysical inventory of the Coquitlam River watershed
back in 1987 and was a founding member of a streamkeeper group called the Hoy/ Scott Streamkeepers (I was a member until 2001 when we moved away). I have also served on the board of the Coquitlam River Watershed Society.

So, I have been involved at the decision making level with habitat restoration and protection. I know that things sometimes go wrong and there are failures, but I also know that there are successes, too.

I believe that protecting wild salmon is where environmentalists and biologists “draw the line in the sand.” If we don’t save salmon, there’s not much hope for anything else. Salmon are such an iconic species of this area; we have to do everything we can to help them recover.

Encouraging students to help out in “work parties” is not really a “hard sell” because most of them already like salmon and are excited about them. When they work with NSEA, I think they form a deeper connection to salmon and have the satisfaction that their contribution is worthwhile. They go home with a little more knowledge about how to care for salmon.

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