Ten Graduate Students Awarded Together for Wildlife Scholarships

VICTORIA, BC –(COMMUNITYWIRE)– The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF), in partnership with the First Nations–B.C. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum and the Province of British Columbia, is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Together for Wildlife Scholarship.

This year, ten PhD and master’s students were awarded $20,000 each to support applied research that contributes to wildlife and habitat stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making in British Columbia.

2025 Together for Wildlife Scholarship Recipients:

· Mitchell Brunet – Doctorate, UBC Okanagan

· Melissa Butynski – Doctorate, University of British Columbia

· Westin Creyke – Master’s, University of Northern British Columbia

· Nathan Earley – Doctorate, University of Victoria

· Johanna Griggs – Master’s, University of Victoria

· Sima Khanal – Doctorate, University of British Columbia

· Zoe Konaz – Master’s, University of British Columbia

· Danny McNeil-Willmott – Doctorate, University of Northern British Columbia

· Yaelle Sarid-Segal – Doctorate, University of Northern British Columbia

· Robyn Stack – Master’s, Thompson Rivers University

Launched in 2020, the Together for Wildlife strategy is a provincial initiative to improve wildlife and habitat stewardship across B.C. Now in its third year, the scholarship program supports the strategy’s goals by investing in scientific research, fostering collaboration across research communities, and sharing knowledge with British Columbians.

In addition to supporting academic excellence, the Together for Wildlife Scholarship aims to advance reconciliation and collaboration with First Nations, encourage diverse perspectives in wildlife stewardship, and build capacity for conservation leadership in Indigenous and rural communities across the province.

“We are proud to support these ten students in their applied science studies in wildlife conservation through the Together for Wildlife Scholarship Program,” said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF. “The students’ projects cover a diversity of topics that will contribute to better management of our natural resources. These include a focus on species such as bears, wild sheep, mule deer, and small mammals, and a range of topics including fire stewardship, community science, impacts of logging, and weaving Traditional Knowledge and Western science. As future conservation leaders in B.C., we look forward to their work with communities and contributing their knowledge to wildlife stewardship.”

“Our government is pleased to support scientific research into wildlife, ecosystems, habitat conservation, biodiversity and related pursuits through the Together for Wildlife scholarship program,” said Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “This investment in British Columbia’s future complements ongoing initiatives such as the Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation and the Conservation Lands Program, as well as our commitment to protect 30% of the provincial land base by 2030.”

More information about the Together for Wildlife Scholarship Program: https://hctf.ca/scholarship-program/

More information about the Together for Wildlife strategy: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/together-for-wildlife

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/plants-animals-and-ecosystems/wildlife-wildlife-habitat/together-for-wildlife/home-page/t4w_goals_and_actions.pdf

About the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural diversity of British Columbia’s wildlife habitats. HCTF works in partnership with governments, non-government organizations, and the public to ensure a sustainable future for B.C.’s wildlife and their habitats through funding conservation projects, as well as providing educational opportunities on B.C.’s freshwater fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Since 1981, HCTF has provided over $242 million in grants for over 3,800 conservation projects throughout B.C.

About Together for Wildlife
Together for Wildlife is a provincial strategy initiated by the British Columbia government in 2020 to improve wildlife and habitat stewardship throughout the province. The strategy incorporates project funding, the setting of proactive objectives, and improved data and knowledge to achieve the strategy’s vision: “Wildlife and their habitats thrive, are resilient, and support and enrich the lives of all British Columbians.”

About the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife Habitat Conservation Forum
The First Nations-B.C. Wildlife Habitat Conservation Forum provides advice and recommendations to the B.C. government to fulfill Goal 5 of the Together for Wildlife strategy: “Collaborative wildlife stewardship advances reconciliation with Indigenous governments.” The forum facilitates this goal through an ethical space process, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments collaboratively develop protocols framed by pre-existing treaties, other agreements, and inherent Indigenous rights.

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For more information contact:

Carly McGregor, Communications Coordinator,
Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
250.940.3011 | 1.800.387.9853 x 210
carly.mcgregor@hctf.ca