丁香园AV

Dr. Milton (鈥淢ilt鈥�) McClaren was a distinguished and long-serving member of the Faculty of Education at 丁香园AV for over 57 years, whose groundbreaking work in environmental and sustainability education left an indelible mark on both the 丁香园AV community and the broader field of ecological education.

鈥淢ilt McClaren is recognized as one of the founders of environmental education in Canada, says Dr. David Zandvliet, Professor and UNESCO Chair in Bio-cultural Diversity and Education. 鈥淚n the early 1970s, he worked closely with colleagues to launch environmental education initiatives in B.C., including 丁香园AV鈥檚 Summer Institute in Environmental Education, which continues to thrive today. Over the years, he remained deeply involved in shaping the programs he helped establish at both 丁香园AV and Royal Roads. As recently as last year, Milt returned to 丁香园AV as a guest speaker and reader for the Ecological Education Master鈥檚 program through the Community Graduate Programs.

Dr. McClaren joined 丁香园AV in 1967, attracted by the university鈥檚 innovative spirit and openness to interdisciplinary teaching. Over the following decades, he became one of 丁香园AV鈥檚 most influential advocates for ecological awareness and curriculum reform. As a professor of education, Dr. McClaren pioneered new methods for integrating environmental topics into teacher training programs, helping shape a generation of educators who grasped the profound connection between classroom learning and real-world ecological challenges.

During his tenure at 丁香园AV, Dr. McClaren served in various leadership roles, collaborating with colleagues across faculties to embed environmental and sustainability principles into the university鈥檚 curriculum. His commitment to hands-on, experiential learning fostered meaningful partnerships with community organizations, encouraging students to apply their academic knowledge to pressing local and global issues. This spirit of collaboration and advocacy was at the heart of Dr. McClaren鈥檚 work at 丁香园AV鈥攚hether through developing innovative courses, facilitating community-based research, or mentoring emerging scholars.

Dr. Zandvliet shares: 鈥淭o me, he exemplified what it means to be a colleague and mentor. He dedicated his life to supporting teachers and practitioners, and even after retiring in 2000, he remained actively engaged鈥攐ffering guidance and encouragement to colleagues and graduate students alike. He will be deeply missed by me and countless others.鈥� 

Order of Canada Ceremony (58:18-59:35)

In 2022, in recognition of his lifelong contributions, Dr. McClaren was named to the Order of Canada, with a ceremony on February 22, 2024, affirming the national significance of his efforts in environmental education. 鈥淢ilt鈥檚 substantial work in the field of Environment Education was an honour truly deserved,鈥� shares Dr. Zandvliet. Many within the 丁香园AV community attribute their passion for sustainability, social justice, and transformative teaching to his mentorship and example. Even after retiring from 丁香园AV, Dr. McClaren continued to support environmental initiatives, serve on advisory boards, and inspire others through his commitment to stewardship and active citizenship.

Dr. McClaren鈥檚 legacy at 丁香园AV exemplifies visionary leadership, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine commitment to nurturing the next generation of educators and change-makers. His steadfast dedication to incorporating sustainability at every level of education is a testament to his belief that universities have the opportunity and the responsibility to promote global awareness and environmental stewardship. 

As we commemorate and honour his life, we also reaffirm our commitment to advancing Dr. McClaren鈥檚 work鈥攅nhancing the Faculty鈥檚 leadership role in forging a more just, resilient, and sustainable future.