Science teacher Michael Léveillé encourages students and youth from around the world to learn about biodiversity on a local and global scale.
Michael is a science teacher who has gone above and beyond his professional responsibilities to encourage meaningful environmental education and action amongst his students.
Michael formed the Macoun Marsh Committee to protect significant marsh land at a local cemetery. With the support of several volunteers and local organizations, he was able to provide his students with the opportunity to successfully identify and record over 1 250 local plant species in the marsh. The committee also raised the profile of biodiversity in the marsh, raising $52 000 to build an outdoor classroom for the students at St-Laurent Academy, where Michael teaches.
These outstanding accomplishments involving youth in environmental education have since expanded and have received international acclaim. Michael founded BiodiversityMatters, an organization created to promote biodiversity-related initiatives on a global scale. Michael was also the driving force behind the Second International Youth Symposium on Biodiversity, involving over 100 youth from ten countries, which developed a youth accord that has since been translated into 17 different languages.
The film Our Incredible World, based on the story of the Macon March and the outdoor classroom, was also created; winning second place at an international film festival.
