October 16, 2025
Teika Newton Receives 2026 Clean50 Honour
LOWWSF is pleased to announce that our Executive Director, Teika Newton, has been named as one of the 2026 Clean50 Honourees, joining an esteemed cohort of Canada's environmental and clean economy leaders. Teika received the award as an Environmental NGO Advocate, alongside five other peers, during a ceremony in Toronto in mid-October.
Gavin Pitchford, CEO of the Delta Management Group that hosts the Clean50 awards explains, “Canada’s Clean50 Awards are announced annually by Delta Management Group and the Clean50 organization to recognize those 50 individuals or small teams, from 16 different categories, who have done the most to contribute to the clean economy in Canada over the past 2 years.”
Awards are presented at the annual Clean50 Summit where current and past years' honourees gather in person for one very full day in Toronto. The event provides important networking opportunities and centres on strategic discussions to tackle some of today's thorniest and most urgent environmental challenges, though a lens that is sensitive to social and economic impacts. This year, many participants were focused on ensuring action to meaningfully address climate change remains a priority in times of geopolitical uncertainty and as Canada invests in nation-building projects. The theme of 'valuing water' was also central to discussions, as it is to our mission at LOWWSF.
Teika was recognized for her important contributions to advancing international water and climate diplomacy, specifically focused on her work with LOWWSF over the past two years. The award recognition noted, in particular, the support she and the Foundation have provided to the International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board to deliver more than a dozen water quality management and restoration projects. Also noted were the annual International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Forum, which provides a crucial space for cross-border collaboration in watershed science and policy, as well as the role LOWWSF plays in hosting and coordinating the International Multi-Agency Arrangement - the table where water resources managers and field personnel from 30+ agencies of federal, provincial, state, and Indigenous governments in Ontario, Manitoba and Minnesota gather to share information, co-create water resources management and restoration strategies, and learn from one another.
These successes are the result of the incredible, small-but-mighty LOWWSF team, including Meghan Mills (International Watershed Coordinator), former long-time Executive Director and now Board Director, Todd Sellers and his fellow Directors. Described by Clean50 as a team "small enough to fit in a canoe with room to spare", our work "has a continental reach... [that makes] an outsized splash."
