TWO North Vancouver residents are among the latest Simon Fraser University recipients of graduate research fellowships from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS).
According to a written statement, SFU doctoral candidates Dionne Bunsha (School of Resource and Environmental Management) and Sabine Jessen (department of geography/School of Resource and Environmental Management) were among the 11 new people who received a climate change research fellowship for 2011-2012.
PICS awards the funding, from $12,000 to $50,000 annually, to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at SFU, and the universities of British Columbia, Northern B.C. and Victoria, which comprise the institute, a provincial government-created consortium building capacity in priority areas of climate change research.
Bunsha, an award-winning writer, photographer and researcher, is developing a monitoring and adaptation plan to help communities better mitigate climate change's impact on natural resources such as plants and trees. Her research is in partnership with the Central Coast First Nations, an alliance of Aboriginal groups on B.C.'s north and central coast and in Haida Gwaii.
Jessen, a veteran advisor to many organizations on resource, coastal zone and environmental management, is helping B.C. and federal marine conservation agencies develop a joint marine protected area network. Jessen is examining government options for maximizing marine ecosystems' adaptability and resilience to climate change under a marine protected area network.
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Kelly Trach, 18, of Rockridge secondary, was awarded the West Vancouver Municipal Employees' Association 2011 Academic Scholarship. The $1,000 award is open to the children of association members as well as to members in their high school graduating year. Trach works at a variety of recreation sites throughout the district. In addition to a demanding course load, she was involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, including the Free the Children Club, West Vancouver's Youth Advisory Council and the Community Teens for Teens Christmas Bureau.
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West Vancouver police Const. David Sherry, who is presently assigned to the Integrated First Nations Unit, competed at the World Police and Fire Games in New York City from Aug. 26 to Sept. 5, where he secured a bronze medal in the games' karate tournament. He was also given a piece of the World Trade Center as a token of appreciation from a police-officer-turned-firefighter.
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North Vancouver's Maeve Murphy joined more than 250 cycling enthusiasts and event volunteers from across B.C. Sept. 10-11, for the B.C. Lung Association's 27th Bicycle Trek for Life and Breath.
Murphy was one of eight North Vancouver trekkers who took part, many of whom return annually for the popular two-day, 200-kilometre ride through the Fraser Valley to raise funds in support of vital lung health research, programs and clean air initiatives. So far the 2011 event has raised more than $170,000, contributing to the total $5 million raised during the event's 27-year lifespan.
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