The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum and the British Columbia government, announces this year’s Together for Wildlife Scholarship recipients.
Among them is Westin Creyke, a master’s student at the University of Northern British Columbia.
The 10 scholarship recipients are master’s degree and PhD candidates conducting applied research that will make positive impacts in the areas of stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making related to wildlife and wildlife habitats in B.C.:
- Landon Birch: Master’s, University of British Columbia - Okanagan
- Mitchell Brunet: Doctorate, University of British Columbia - Okanagan
- Tristen Brush: Master’s, University of British Columbia
- Alexia Constantinou: Doctorate, University of Victoria
- Westin Creyke: Master’s, University of Northern British Columbia
- Siobhan Darlington: Doctorate, University of British Columbia - Okanagan
- Isabel Deutsch: Master’s, University of Victoria
- Paige Monteiro: Master’s, Simon Fraser University
- Larisa Murdoch: Master’s, Thompson Rivers University
- Megan Roxby: Master’s, Simon Fraser University
The Together for Wildlife (T4W) strategy was initiated by the B.C. government in 2020 to improve wildlife and habitat stewardship throughout the province.
The T4W Scholarship Program, administered by HCTF and now in its second year, supports the strategy’s goals by improving support for scientific research, building stronger partnerships within research communities, and sharing the results of that research with British Columbians.
The scholarships also aim to support reconciliation and collaboration with First Nations, encourage a diversity of perspectives on wildlife stewardship, and build capacity among Indigenous communities and rural areas of B.C. to undertake wildlife stewardship work.
“We are proud to welcome these 10 students into the community of conservation through the Together for Wildlife Scholarship Program,” said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF.
“It is exciting to see the diversity of projects, such as research on birds, ungulates, and carnivores, to better understand the relationships within our environment, along with using technologies to improve wildlife and habitat management. As future conservation leaders in B.C., we look forward to their work with communities and contributing their knowledge to wildlife stewardship.”
“Research on wildlife is crucial for expanding our knowledge of biodiversity, habitat stewardship, and the interrelated ecosystems that allow British Columbia’s unique and diverse species to thrive,” said Nathan Cullen, minister of water, land and resource stewardship.
“The Together for Wildlife strategy, the Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation, and the draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework support science-based stewardship that will allow future generations to enjoy and appreciate this province’s amazing range of wildlife.”
