Sylvain Turgeon, a fervent protector of the environment with a passion for nature, has just completed his bachelor’s degree in education at the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, after having first obtained a BA in outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. The modern reincarnation of a fur trapper, this young man has sought to understand, through research carried out for his master’s degree, the mechanisms that make outdoor activity and adventure so beneficial, especially among the high-risk adolescent clientele. In fact, his love of nature and adventure, combined with his sustained efforts, was the basis for Canada’s first research group and task force in therapeutic adventure which began its activities this fall. The recipient of a scholarship of excellence from the Fondation Pierre et Gisèle Laberge, awarded to a student whose research project is expected to have a positive impact on the community in the field of education, Sylvain has also set himself apart through his active commitment to the United Nations Association in Canada and the Canadian Council for International Co-operation. A trainee in international cooperation in Burkina-Faso in 2001, and founder of the Comité environnement at UQAC, he also initiated the Escaliers Vivants public health project.
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In addition to a bachelor’s degree in geography and economics from McGill University, Melissa Garcia-Lamarca has just completed her graduate studies in economic and community development at Concordia University. Passionate about social justice, she devotes a great deal of spirit and time to various projects, all of which have the primary objective of improving the quality of life in her community. While studying at Concordia, among other things, she took an active part in the Sustainable Concordia Project, a student organization which aspires to make the university more helpful towards its student community. As a member of this organization, she in turn participated in fund-raising activities, problem solving, the assistance of students in difficulty, assessment and coordination, with the goal of making Concordia a more supportive campus. Her profound commitment to social justice has also led her to participate in different development projects including one in Buenos Aries, Argentina, and another in Canberra, Australia. She is currently working with four other people towards the foundation of a cooperative of specialized consultants which will carry out projects in sustainable development.
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