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Alumni in Action

Merdeka Miles ’21

As a lead author for the Western University Climate Crisis Coalition, Merdeka Miles '21 works with a student-led team that demands divestment and more sustainable practices from their school.

Achieving these aims through advocacy and awareness, Merdeka is uniquely positioned to help. With a dual degree in Physics and Philosophy, she brings scientific, ethical, and environmental perspectives to address the climate crisis. However, Merdeka says her deep passion for environmental activism, fostered at Meadowridge School, truly drives her work.

The alum credits her Grade 3 teacher, Mr. James Willms, now Meadowridge's Director of Environment and Risk, for sparking her early interest in environmentalism. Under his guidance, Merdeka and three of her classmates formed the "Dream Green Action Team," an in-school recycling initiative that used its profits to support the local food bank. "It was a huge turning point for me," she says. What started as a small-scale project became the foundation for her lifelong advocacy. "Looking back, that early experience set the stage for everything I'm doing now."

Today, as she leads efforts within the Climate Crisis Coalition, Merdeka continues to combine her love of science and the arts to make a meaningful impact. "Being the lead author allows me to bring my academic passions together and apply them to something that matters."

 

Richard Laurie ’17

Through family adventures and school trips, Richard Laurie ’17 grew up exploring the trails, lakes, parks, and forests of Maple Ridge. These experiences inspired his passion for the environment, shaping his academic and professional paths.

After graduating from Meadowridge School, Richard pursued a degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Environmental Studies with minors in Forest Conservation and Environmental Ethics. Following his undergraduate studies, he began working as a Forest Conservation Officer Urban Forester, focusing on restoration projects, invasive species removal, and reforestation efforts.

With encouragement from a professor and a growing commitment to his field, Richard decided to pursue a master’s degree. He is now working towards his Master of Forest Conservation at the University of Toronto.

Throughout his academic and professional career, Richard often reflects on his early explorations back home, using these experiences to inform his work. Having witnessed the effects of pine beetle infestations and the devastation of forest fires, he combines personal insight with academic expertise. “By spending time outdoors and engaging with the natural world, you appreciate the interconnectedness of all living and nonliving things,” he explains.

 

Olivia Maddigan ‘17

As a Physical Scientist with the Great Lakes Surveillance Program, part of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Olivia Maddigan ’17 contributes to a 50-year federal initiative focused on monitoring the water quality and health of Canada’s Great Lakes.

This vital program includes data analysis, reporting, lab work, and fieldwork—notably, an annual science cruises aboard a Canadian Coast Guard vessel. Olivia and her team collect and assess samples from multiple depths, both nearshore and offshore, at all hours of the day and night.

Olivia thrives on every aspect of her work, whether in the lab or out in the field. She shares that she enjoys how it blends science with creativity while addressing crucial environmental and safety concerns. “Our data is publicly available open source, so it informs all kinds of research,” she explains.

Reflecting on her journey into environmental science, Olivia credits her thirteen years at Meadowridge for sparking her passion. “The school always emphasized nature and sustainability, and the campus fostered my appreciation for the natural world,” she says. From camping on Week Without Walls (WWOW) trips to researching Brady’s Beach during the Group 4 Pearson College Trip to walks in the North Forest, Olivia’s Meadowridge experience profoundly shaped her love for the outdoors, inquiry, and hands-on learning. “Meadowridge influenced my choices and career so much.”