May 20, 2026: Islands Trust Council Announces 2026 Community Stewardship Awards Nominees

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Bowen, Denman, Gabriola, Galiano, Gambier, Hornby, Lasqueti, Mayne, N. Pender, Salt Spring, Saturna, S. Pender, Thetis 
 
 
 
May 20, 2026 – for immediate release 2026-06-IT 
 
Islands Trust Council Announces 2026 Community Stewardship Awards Nominees 
 
Lək̓ʷəŋən, METULIYE/Victoria, BC – Five individuals and three organizations have been nominated for the 18
th
 
Islands Trust Community Stewardship Awards Program. Nominees are being recognized for a wide variety of efforts 
including conservation, island-wide community clean-ups, biodiversity planning, and building bridges between 
Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members. Award recipients will be announced after the June 2026 
Islands Trust Council quarterly meeting and recognized locally at local trust committee or Bowen Island 
Municipality meetings over the coming months. 
 
“Across the Islands Trust Area, people are stepping forward in remarkable ways to care for the places and 
communities they love,” said Laura Patrick, Chair of the Islands Trust Council. “This year’s nominees reflect the 
strength of island stewardship through environmental leadership, community service, cultural connection, and a 
deep commitment to building resilient and caring communities. Trust Council is honoured to recognize and 
celebrate their contributions.” 
 
The 2026 Community Stewardship Awards Program nominees are from Bowen Island, Gabriola Island, Keats Island, 
Lasqueti Island, and Saturna Island. 
 
Individual Nominations 
• Sheila Harrington, Lasqueti Island, is nominated for her book Voices for the Islands 
• Dan Rogers, Keats Island, is nominated for community leadership in the Keats Island and Howe Sound region 
• Douglas Leatherdale, Keats Island, is nominated for clean-up initiatives on Keats Island 
• Dr. Wendy Palen and Dr. Tom Sisk, Bowen Island, are nominated for their work on the Nex̱wlélex̱wm/Bowen 
Island Biodiversity Plan 
 
Organizational Nominations 
• Bowen Island Conservancy, Bowen Island, is nominated for its work to protect the Cape Roger Curtis area 
• Breaking Bannock, Gabriola Island, is nominated for its Building Bridges initiative  
• Saturna Scribbler, Saturna Island, is nominated for publishing the Saturna Scribbler since 1990 
 
Since 2008, the Islands Trust’s Community Stewardship Awards program has recognized individuals and 
organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership in preservation and protection of the Islands Trust Area. The 
program is offered once per elected term. 
 
Islands Trust Council will select the award recipients during its quarterly meeting in June 2026. Learn about this 
year’s nominees and past recipients here. 
 
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Islands Trust is a special-purpose government representing over 30,000 people living within the Islands Trust Area 
and 10,000 non-resident property owners. The Islands Trust Area is located within Coast Salish territory and is the 
homeland to many Coast Salish Peoples who have called this place home since time immemoria

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