The City of Burnaby’s annual Environmental Awards were recently celebrated, recognizing individuals and associations that have had an environmental impact on their community. In the category of Community Stewardship, Irene Lau, acting chair for the board of directors for the Burnaby Lake Park Association (BLPA), was acknowledged for outstanding environmental achievements contributing to environmental stewardship, public awareness and rehabilitation of the City of Burnaby’s environment.

The most recent award adds to a long list for the BLPA, whose mission has been to preserve, restore and protect the ecological integrity of Burnaby Lake Regional Park.

Lau began volunteering with the BLPA after seeing an ad for volunteers in the Burnaby Now in 2010 and has been instrumental in its leadership since 2012 when she joined the board. She plays a major role in connecting the community with nature through habitat restoration and enhancement, education and outreach. In advancing BLPA’s mission, vision and values, she credits founding member, Joe Sadowski, as being the motivation for her involvement.

“He took us on a nature walk and he was so fascinating and so passionate. He has been such a source of inspiration. As a city girl I knew about five birds: robin, chickadee, mallard, crow and Canada goose. As an immigrant, who didn’t go camping and who was not particularly outdoorsy, Joe had the ability to connect, and I was fascinated by nature,” says Lau. “I was like a sponge, absorbing all of the information from members and directors. I couldn’t believe that I could learn so much about nature in the last 14 years.”

Founded in 1976 as one of the first community groups to start with them or growing the ‘birding is for everyone’ philosophy and educating the public on the migration routes, BLPA and its outreach programs have looked to build community and an appreciation for nature.

Appreciating nature and building the commitment to preserve and protect

“Birds are a wonderful discovery. There is this stereotype of a bird watcher, in a fisherman’s vest, an exclusive hobby to have, but birding is for everyone and people are so passionate about sharing knowledge,” says Lau.

Lau adds how valuable a practice that can be, particularly since the organization’s community outreach activities were curtailed for over two years due to pandemic-era lockdowns.

“I have been so lucky to be the only person on Piper Spit, in the middle of Burnaby Lake. There is Metrotown and Lougheed Mall – you can hear the hum of Highway 1. But if you block that out, you’re hearing the birds, the rustle of the wind in the trees and you feel the serenity despite the bustling city around you. There is this sense of amazement. Burnaby Lake is right in the middle of the city. We do not have to go far to access nature,” says Lau. “Through COVID, we learned how important nature is, how important it is for our mental health.”

In addition to birding, Lau has also worked to collaborate with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and built a community with the park’s diverse groups to share details on bear awareness, education and safety in the park. Overall Lau and the BLPA have looked to actively promote the values of caring for the environment, community collaboration and action and communication and education.

“We are so incredibly lucky to have this green space in the centre of the city, to have an engaged group, with learning and outreach,” she adds. “We’re lucky to work with Metro Vancouver and share the same values, [being] committed to protecting the ecosystem and connecting people to nature. Here we have the same passion for nature. We attract people who have the same values, who care about nature.”

Lau encourages Metro Vancouver residents to come out to Burnaby Lake Regional Park, to make nature a part of their everyday lives and to connect with the diverse park population and programs for appreciation, education, outreach and enjoyment.

“We are like a gateway to nature for some people and encourage people to learn more. If people learn to love it, you’ll want to protect it,” says Lau.

For more information about the BLPA, visit: www.burnabylakepark.ca/who-we-are