Nov. 25, 2025
Deborah Wehnes Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) proudly celebrates Deborah Wehnes as the recipient of the 2025 Recycling Council of Alberta (RCA) Rs of Excellence Award for Lifetime Achievement. This award recognizes Wehnes’ many years of dedicated service in waste reduction and environmental leadership.
"As a long-time educator and as someone who ran a school recycling program for four years, I was genuinely moved and inspired. The award is beyond deserving,” says Jim Gordon, Operations Manager at RCA, noting the decision was unanimous."
Wehnes spent nearly 25 years with the CBE, including taking on the organization’s first Waste and Recycling Coordinator in 2008 – a role she embraced and led with purpose. At that time, most schools sent all waste directly to landfills and had no sustainability frameworks in place. She helped change that. As a key contributor to the CBE’s environmental Stewardship Strategy and the CBE Sustainability Framework, Wehnes has been the driving force in developing and implementing recycling, compost, and reuse systems in place today. It is without a doubt her work directly contributed to the reduction of the CBE’s waste sent to landfills by an astounding 82 per cent.
Wehnes did not accomplish this alone, she built lasting relationships with students and staff providing guidance on how to care for their environment at schools across the city every day. She also partnered with organizations outside the CBE, including the City of Calgary and Green Calgary, to drive continuous improvement and innovation. “What sets Deborah apart is not only her measurable accomplishments but her commitment and passion for her work,” says Olena Olafson, Manager of Energy & Sustainability at CBE. “Her encouragement, guidance, and generosity has had impact on how our internal and external communities think about waste.”
Programs launched under Wehnes’ leadership remain active today, a testament to her ability to create lasting, systemic change. Her career reflects not just isolated projects but a sustained legacy that has inspired generations.
This award is a well-deserved recognition of Deborah Wehnes’ leadership, kindness, and commitment to making CBE schools greener and more sustainable. The award was presented this fall at the Recycling Council of Alberta’s Annual Banquet, amongst fellow environmental leaders and sustainability advocates.
