xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) & səl̓ilwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories/VANCOUVER
West Coast Environmental Law is pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Andrew Thompson Award, which recognizes individuals who have made an outstanding lifetime contribution to environmental protection and sustainability through law in BC.
“From political or community leaders, to grassroots activists and community members taking action in the courts or on the front lines, to the unsung heroes working tirelessly behind the scenes – we raise our hands to this remarkable group of change-makers for environmental justice,” said Jessica Clogg, Executive Director & Senior Counsel.
The award was presented Thursday evening during West Coast’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art. Since 1974, West Coast Environmental Law has worked to transform the legal landscape – improving access to environmental justice in BC, and working alongside partners and allies to develop innovative legal solutions grounded in Indigenous and Canadian law.
The Andrew Thompson Award was established in 2002 by West Coast Environmental Law and the Thompson family as a legacy to Dr. Andrew Thompson, a groundbreaking BC environmental lawyer who was one of West Coast’s first directors. In recognition of West Coast’s 50th Anniversary, the theme of this year’s Andrew Thompson Award was “50 Years of Changemakers for Environmental Justice”.
This year’s 2024 Andrew Thompson Award was awarded in four categories.
Indigenous conservation leaders / Indigenous law defenders:
- ʔaʔsiwɬ (Ascasiwt), Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, syilx Nation, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
- Kukwpi7 Art Adolph, Xáxli’p, Director of Operations, St’át’imc Chiefs Council
- Bea Silver, Semá:th Nation
- Chief Councillor Doug Neasloss, Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation
- Giindajin Haawasti Guujaaw, Haida Nation
- Iris Siwallace, Ancestral Governance Researcher, Nuxalk Nation
- Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett, Heiltsuk Nation
- Na’Moks, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chief of the Tsayu Clan
- Naxginkw (Tara Marsden), Gitanyow Nation, Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions
- Nuskmata, Nuxalk and Secwepemc, Executive Director of the Moccasin Footprint Society
Lawyers & legal scholars:
- John Rich
- Linda Nowlan
- Mark Haddock
- Michael M’Gonigle
Science and the law:
- Otto E. Langer
Community environmental changemakers:
- Denise Foster, Save Estuary Land Society
- June Ross, President, Vancouver Island Water Watch
- Ruth Simons, President and Executive Director, Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative
- Ross Muirhead, Elphinstone Logging Focus
The awards were presented by Gid7ahl-Gudsllaay (Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson), K.C. of the Haida Nation, a past ATA award winner and colleague of Andrew Thompson.
West Coast congratulates each of this year’s winners on their outstanding achievements. More information about the 2024 Andrew Thompson Award recipients and their achievements can be found here.
Quotes from award recipients:
“The Union of BC Indian Chiefs has enjoyed a long and progressive relationship with West Coast Environmental Law, from marching together to stop pipelines, to traveling to shareholders meetings where we addressed the intersections between environmentally destructive oil and gas development and upholding Indigenous rights. I am grateful for the solid support and consistency and look forward to many more years of partnership.”
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, syilx Nation, President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
“Over the years, it has been an honour and pleasure working with West Coast Environmental Law, along with our St’át’imc Elders and Knowledge Holders in documenting St’át’imc values, principles, and laws regarding restoration and management of St’át’imc territory.”
Kukwpi7 Art Adolph, Xáxli’p, Director of Operations, St’át’imc Chiefs Council
“I really very much appreciate West Coast Environmental Law. The first time I phoned there, someone named Sunshine answered. We talked for hours and hours that summer. I was living in smoke and putrid air that summer (because of the factory)... Anytime I needed to discuss with West Coast they were there for me...I'm so grateful for the consistent care and the attention they've given me concerning this issue that affects the whole community.”
Beatrice Silver, Semá:th Knowledge Keeper
“Navigating the intersection between colonial and Indigenous laws is fraught with tension and challenges. Having allies and legal experts to support our work is essential. The lawyers at WCEL all understand the unique risks and opportunities to utilize colonial laws to advance sustainability and Indigenous rights. Instead of simply coercing their Indigenous clients to conform to colonial laws, they have helped to breathe life into ancestral and modern Indigenous laws through their RELAW and other programs. Without this vision and skill, much of the work that I have undertaken would not have been possible.”
Naxginkw / Tara Marsden, Gitanyow, Independent Consultant, Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions
“Nuskmata’s nomination for this award highlights the fact that the legal community and West Coast as a law organization are recognizing the critical importance of Indigenous law and jurisdiction to protect the land, which the Crown would be well to take note of. Indigenous leadership and legal authority being recognized as being both important and necessary to protect our collective wellbeing and ecosystem integrity is a step forward in clearing the path to just solutions for future generations.”
Bev Sellars, Honouring Nuskmata, Executive Director, Moccasin Footprint Society
“It’s a real honour to be recognized on this 50th anniversary. West Coast has been a significant part of my legal career for over 40 years. I received pro bono advice from West Coast when I was an elected member of the Islands Trust in the late 1970s and that interaction was a big factor motivating me to go to law school. Once at law school, I worked as a summer student at West Coast and on being called to the bar, spent 10 years as a Director. Since then I have taken on numerous cases through the West Coast Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund.”
John Rich, Senior Counsel, Ratcliff LLP
“I’m truly honoured to receive the Andrew Thompson Award from the remarkable West Coast Environmental Law. It's been inspirational to work with so many friends and colleagues over the years to reform laws and empower people to speak up for our wild and precious world. Let’s keep pushing for the change we need, now more than ever!”
Linda Nowlan, Lawyer
“West Coast Environmental Law has felt like a spiritual home to me for four decades. First, as a summer law student, I was thrilled to learn one could actually work in this field with fantastic people who share values and commitment to right relationship with the earth, and have fun doing it. Second, as a young board member, I gained nonprofit management insights and experience.
Third, as a staff lawyer I was able to advocate law reforms and provide legal education and advice to people throughout BC who sought to protect the environments they love. And fourth, as an independent EDRF lawyer, I benefited from WCEL funding, which enabled me to assist passionate clients throughout the province who sought to protect their local environment and quality of life. Although the challenges have been great, I am so thankful for these opportunities that West Coast and its supporters have made possible.”
Mark Haddock, Lawyer
“Yes, it’s West Coast’s 50th anniversary. Amazing but true. I for one have drawn on its work for over 30 years of my own research, teaching, and activism. It’s past time to celebrate WCELA’s contributions with, for example, an institutional biography of its scholarly and practical legacy, and the people that have made it all happen.”
Michael M'Gonigle, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Law, UVic
“I first was associated with WCEL when Kim Roberts was a staff lawyer for that group in the 1970s. I mentored citizens in laying their first charges against polluters (i.e. Her Majesty the Queen, Fraser River Harbour Commission, Ven Dev Enterprises and Crown Zellerbach). I advised citizens to work with Kim Roberts to word the information but Mr. Roberts advised the citizens to work with me in that I was the expert in such matters. I arranged for DOJ to represent the citizens and these private informant Fisheries Act cases were the first in Canada and were successful.
I was advised that WCEL considered me to be a citizen director of WCEL but had to reconsider that idea in that this could cause a conflict with government. In recent years I did work with WCEL staff such as Anna Johnston, Andrew Gage, Barbara Everdene etc. to take legal action against the BC AG on the BC EAO approval of the jet fuel facility in the Fraser Estuary. I worked to obtain funding for a private lawyer to represent us with partial funding from the WCEL conflict resolution fund and once VAPOR was retired, I arranged for remaining VAPOR monies to be donated to WCEL.”
Otto E. Langer, BSc (Zoology) MSc
“The incredible support received from West Coast was fundamental to the conservation of 9.2 hectares of ecologically significant land at the French Creek estuary on east Vancouver Island. Receiving an Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund (EDRF) grant in 2019 validated the Save Estuary Land Society’s land acquisition campaign and elevated community awareness. We are very grateful to the WCEL team for their expert legal advice which resulted in the establishment of the French Creek Estuary Nature Preserve in 2022.”
Denise Foster, Save Estuary Land Society
“At the outset, I need to thank my nominator. I am so very grateful to her and to West Coast Environmental Law for this recognition. West Coast Environmental Law has supported Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition in our attempts to protect our large aquifer (Cassidy Aquifer). There is a metal recycling company that sits atop this aquifer. We want it gone from here! West Coast Environmental Law and CUPE, Local 401 have supported us in this battle. I thank you all!”
June Ross, Vancouver Island Water Watch Coalition
“Receiving WCEL grants allowed a lawyer to review, write and submit covering letters to ELF’s numerous reports on why critical forests we identified were important to protect, adding leverage with possible legal implications onto government forestry decision-makers that helped our campaigns considerably.”
Ross Muirhead, Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF)
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For more information, please contact:
Alexis Stoymenoff | Director of Communications, West Coast Environmental Law
604-684-7378 ext. 228, astoymenoff@wcel.org