Chris Rider
Executive Director, Canadian Parks & Wilderness Society - Yukon Chapter (CPAWS Yukon)
In 2011, the public voice was stolen after land use planning for Yukon’s Peel Watershed was botched. In 2018, after a long court battle, the community finally got it back. Chris ensured it couldn’t be ignored. He led an extensive public campaign that challenged the common ‘conservation vs. industry’ paradigm and highlighted that Yukoners wanted more environmental protection, not less. With support from the First Nations who have called the Peel home for millennia, he strengthened connections between NGOs, First Nations people, and businesses; amplifying the voices of those closest to the land. As a result, 83% of the Peel Watershed – an area larger than Nova Scotia! – will be protected!
