I am honoured to win the Alan Duncan Bird Conservation Award!

I was honoured to hear I won the 2024 Alan Duncan Bird Conservation Award which was awarded to me by The Stanley Park Ecology Society and the Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee.The award celebrates the achievements of individuals, groups or organizations based on the following criteria that embody Alan’s work and values:
  1. Contributing to Bird Conservation
  2. Interdisciplinary in Nature
  3. Strong Community Connections
The award comes with a 1500$ monetary prize as well. I am incredibly moved that I won this award. I won the award in recognition for my work with Bird Conservation in BC, my work with Young Birders in the BC Young Birders program that I founded, and for my work to try and make birding more inclusive for BIPOC and LGBTQ+  birders and for my work in bringing the birding community together.

The award will be handed out May 10th, during the Greater Vancouver Bird Celebration which last from May 10-26.

Alan Duncan was an amazing man and I got the pleasure to chat with him before he passed. I am truly honoured to win this award bearing his name.

I really am moved beyond words. Thank you to Yousif Attia from Birds Canada and Team eBird for nominating me and to The Stanley Park Ecology Society and The Vancouver Bird Advisory Committee for choosing to award me. I sure wish my parents lived to see this day. Hope they can see it from up above.

You can read more about the award and press release HERE





Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 1, 2024 at 10:01 AM

    Congratulations Mel! You are awesome and deserve this award so much! You have done so much for the birding community, thee birds, our province and more

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 1, 2024 at 5:57 PM

    Alan was a very good, long-time friend, neighbour and colleague. We miss him dearly and often. He would be thrilled with you winning the award. :-) From what I've read, you embody everything "Alan" and are carrying his spirit forward. Warm congratulations! Susan Abs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingMay 4, 2024 at 11:05 PM

      Thank you so much Susan for your kind words it means a lot.

      Delete
  3. MarkMay 2, 2024 at 12:11 AM

    Melissa very proud of you and this is really deserved. Your parents would be so proud congratulations sweet one. Also I pre-ordered your book can't wait for it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melissa HaftingMay 4, 2024 at 11:04 PM

      Thank you Mark. I really hope you will like it!

      Delete
  4. AnonymousMay 2, 2024 at 1:01 AM

    GO GIRL GO! SO MANY IN BC LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS, RESILIENCE, AND ALL YOU DO FOR BIRDS, CONSERVATION AND THE YOUNG BIRDERS! YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON LONG AFTER YOU ARE GONE! - H.

    ReplyDelete
  5. lonelytravellerMay 2, 2024 at 10:11 PM

    Congratulations on receiving this award. You deserve all the recognition in the world for the amazing work you do and the contributions to the environment and society. To read the write up they did on you is very inspiring to see all your accomplishments and great strides over the years.

    ReplyDelete

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