A path to post-secondary isn’t the only byproduct of the Pearson College experience. The core of the UWC mission is to develop young leaders further so that they can become change-makers in the communities in which they come from. A pair of Climate Action Leadership Diploma (CALD) graduates have deferred their post-secondary pursuits to make a difference back home.
Matty Mead grew up in a small northern community where outdoor experiences were a big part of everyday life. Turns out the call of the Yukon isn’t just the territory’s travel slogan. It beckoned Mead to return home to engage in some serious climate education conversations.
“I don’t think a lot of folks understand how different northern life is,” said Mead. “My time at Pearson made me appreciate my home that much more.”
As a part-time environmental research assistant for Yukon University, Mead also delivers programming in schools to encourage students to learn about a critically endangered resource.
“Salmon are a huge thing in the Yukon and a really big cultural piece,” said Mead. “They make the longest salmon migration on the planet, and many small communities depend on them. It’s very important for me now that I’m home to spend time focusing on something so meaningful to the land I live on.”
Finn Rutherford-Simon can relate. A Cree Dene Metis from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, she felt a similar call to return home rather than jump right onto a post-secondary path.
Finn (left) and Maddy (right) pose for a photo during last year’s UWC Day
“I needed to be with my community, my elders, my people, and my family,” said Rutherford-Simon.
She also needed to dive into meaningful work and found that through a non-profit. It obtains funding for communities to run sports, recreation, and community programs, and this summer, she was able to add an environmental resistance component.
“Summer is when our air pollution is at its worst because of forest fires,” said Rutherford-Simon. “We partnered with the Red Cross to supply communities with masks so people can remain active outdoors.”
The pair are the epitome of students who’ve absorbed the place-based teachings and honed their skills for reconciliation related to climate action, just as the CALD program was designed. While Mead doesn’t have Indigenous ancestry, both he and Rutherford-Smith have a real connection with the Indigenous communities in their regions, and it’s that element within the curriculum that resonated with all first-year CALD students. Interactions with Uncle Joe (Norris), Willie (Sinclair), and Laurie (Dr. Meijer-Drees) were cited as the most impactful experiences within the program. For both Matty and Finn, this cultural piece was invaluable.
“Having adult support that is focused on providing Indigenous students with additional care is key to creating a safe environment for Indigenous students on campus,” said Rutherford-Simon.
“We also want to hold up Rebecca (Beauchamp – Director of Indigenous Initiatives) and everything she did for us during our time at Pearson,” added Mead.
Neither is sure where their paths will lead, but both are comfortable in their decisions to return home to do the work they feel is important to them and their communities.
“Maybe I should just be a plumber,” Mead said half-jokingly, echoing the challenges of all youth trying to balance a vision of the future where hopes and dreams intersect with practicality. “But my interest is climate action, so I’ve accepted an offer to the University of Alaska Fairbanks to learn about rural and community development. What I learn will be related to where I live.”
Rutherford-Simon is exploring her own options. “I’m heavily considering law or education,” she said while still leaving a door open to dive deeper into her current profession in recreation. “I don’t really know yet, but I am only 19 years old, so that’s OK.”
No matter how it’s measured, this pair from the original CALD cohort is achieving success the way they define it and aligning it with the spirit of the UWC mission: making education a force to unite people for peace and a sustainable future.