Environmental Leader, honourable mention
Sebastian Sajda is vice-president of Force of Nature Alliance, after serving as president for three years.
He also served as chair and spokesperson for the Friends of Bear Creek Park and was a founding director of the West Coast Climate Action Network. He serves on the city’s Environment and Climate Change Committee and remains regularly involved in issues around environment, transit and housing in Surrey.
"Even though most of my efforts are directed towards climate and conservation efforts, in the end these are meant to help people," Sajda said. "The flooding and deadly heat domes we've seen in Surrey have had such huge impacts on individuals and, as the science tells us, these events will only become more frequent and more severe. Fighting for green spaces, for mitigation efforts, and for adaptation are all ultimately to help people."
Sajda's focus is mostly at the municipal level because, he notes, that's the one that most often immediately impacts our lived environment.
He noted his efforts "very much depend on the efforts of many other people."
"On my own, there is little I could do, but in acting in concert with members of the community and other advocates for the environment, much can be achieved," he said.
