It’s with great pride that we share the news that FortWhyte Alive’s former President and CEO, Bill Elliott, will soon receive the Order of Manitoba, the Province’s highest honour.
This incredibly well-deserved recognition goes to Bill for his incalculable impact on our province by championing the cause of sustainability through environmental education over a 35 year career as FortWhyte’s first Executive Director and then its President and CEO.
His legacy lives in the 660 acres of urban oasis that is FortWhyte Alive. What was once a 200 acre landscape left by industrial activities is now home to countless wildlife, thanks to Bill’s vision and ability to inspire those around him.
From developing the prairies that are now home to North America’s largest urban bison herd to envisioning the development of FortWhyte Farms, Bill’s ability to see a brighter future at FortWhyte was and continues to be inspiring.
It was through his leadership that FortWhyte gained both prominence and credibility in the community among its key constituents – teachers who took advantage of its leading edge, curriculum-linked environmental education programs; volunteers who did everything from delivering those programs to assisting with accounting; and donors who supported the Centre’s mission.
Few cities in North America are blessed with a place such as FortWhyte Alive – a place where people connect with the natural world, where countless songbirds find sanctuary, and where hundreds of thousands of school children have learned the importance of sustainable living.
We’re proud to provide this space to Manitobans, and recognize that none of this could have been possible without Bill’s leadership. We are forever grateful for how he has grown FortWhyte Alive into the place it is today.
Congratulations Bill on this extraordinary achievement!