Climate advocate honoured on the 15th anniversary of McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award
A tireless high-school instructor passionate about climate education—and now pursuing a PhD on that timely topic—has received the 2025 McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award from the UBC Faculty of Applied Science.
Heather Eckton, a science educator at West Kildonan Collegiate, in Winnipeg’s Seven Oaks School Division, has accepted the honour on the 15th anniversary of the annual award. In 2010, Dr. James McEwen (BASc ’71, PhD ’75), P.Eng., and his family established the accolade to spotlight the often-unsung contributions of high school teachers and their mentorship.
“Mrs. Eckton has a real gift for instilling passion, or finding passion within her students and helping them channel that into real-life projects,” said Jordan Dearsley, a former student of Heather’s, and now a third-year environmental engineering student at UBC. Dearsley has received $2,500 for nominating Eckton, an educator who, she says, gave her “endless amounts of encouragement” in her sustainability and science classes from Grade 10 to 12.
Eckton has been granted not only $2,500 for her own professional development, but $5,000 for school enrichment activities. She will also nominate a student to receive a $7,500 UBC entrance scholarship.
A passion for hands-on learning
When Dearsley developed an interest in green roofs after a lesson, Eckton invited the principal to class to discuss her ideas and even provided a tour of the school’s roof.
“This was how I ended up doing a presentation for members of the Manitoba Public School Finance Board, school administration, the Superintendent and the architects on the project,” she said. “I still remember the pride Mrs. Eckton demonstrated that day.”
Other projects included building “animal enrichment devices” for the Winnipeg Zoo and participating in watershed protection projects. Dearsley also had the opportunity to speak on a panel for a TEDx event. “I talked about the importance of hands-on projects for climate education, and this can be fully attributed to her.”
Heather Eckton, currently a PhD candidate at the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Education, focuses her research on action learning as a strategy to engage students and help address eco-anxiety.
Eckton was the first person, Dearsley said, who “really made me feel something could be done about climate change.” If there were a youth climate rally downtown, she’d advertise it. “Too last-minute to get school buses? No problem. Mrs. Eckton spoke to the principal about chartering a bus, opening her classroom so students could make posters.”
Celebrating important lessons
On September 19, the Faculty hosted an event to celebrate the teacher and PhD candidate. Attendees included Dr. James (Jim) McEwen and his children, members of the UBC Applied Science community, including Dean James Olson, and Dearsley.
The nominator recalls a conference at which a political figure spoke out against climate policy, prompting Dearlsey to scoff. “It was a small moment, but Mrs. Eckton immediately noticed my face.” She pointed out the respect the climate council youth showed the politician. “She used this moment to show me the importance of maintaining relationships and keeping an open mind.
“As a young person learning about advocacy for the first time, this was such an important lesson. I continue to use the lessons she taught me today.”
Nominations are now open for the 2026 McEwen Family Teacher Recognition Award
