In early February, the Rev. Dr. Mishka Lysack was honoured with the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal before well-wishers who included the bishop of the diocese of Calgary, Greg Kerr-Wilson.
An associate professor in social work at the University of Calgary, Lysack was recognized for his commitment and vision in environmental leadership. Lysack is also an Anglican minister who has spoken about the connections between faith and protecting the environment at Sunday services and workshops around the diocese of Calgary.
Senator Grant Mitchell presented the medal, and took the opportunity to congratulate Lysack for his outstanding work in protecting the environment and his commitment to fostering community-based leadership and environmental citizenship.
“I have nothing but the deepest respect for Dr. Lysack and his innovative approach to public education in cultivating environmental leadership, especially in the faith and ethnic communities. No one does it with more
tenacity and sensitivity than Dr. Lysack,” said Senator Mitchell.
“I was both surprised and deeply honoured to be nominated for the medal,” said Lysack. “And it galvanizes my commitment to my research and community engagement on environmental leadership in sustainable energy strategies, especially renewable energy, both in Alberta and in Canada.”
At present, Lysack is co-ordinating a team of academics, community and business leaders, and NGOs in three provinces (Ontario, Nova Scotia and Alberta), focusing on public education and engagement of policy-makers and the community to encourage the ramping up of renewable energy generation in these three provinces.
Lysack is becoming increasingly recognized for his work in environmental leadership. Because of his innovations in environmental leadership and education, Lysack was selected and interviewed by the Canada West Foundation as one of 40 extraordinary Canadians for their book, An Extraordinary West. Last fall, he was invited by Mount Royal University to dialogue with Preston Manning on the question: “Is it possible to be a Green Tory?”
Helen Steeves Jull is a member of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, diocese of Calgary.
