By Maxime Matthew, Ecologos/Water Docs Volunteer

My time at Ecologos has been filled with joy, inspiration and community. The staff and volunteers are a unique community of people who share the values of interconnectedness, reciprocal relationships and the intrinsic human connection to nature. The vision behind Ecologos’ advocacy and work comes from Stan Gibson. It has been very impactful as a young professional to learn and be a part of the advocacy that Ecologos does through education, art and storytelling.

I started working at Ecologos soon after completing my Environmental Studies degree and have since transitioned into a voluntary role on the Design Team for Water Docs’ programming. I always felt that a welcoming and enabling environment was created for me at Ecologos to share my thoughts, ideas and experiences. It's so inspiring to know that Ecologos’ different programs - Water Docs at School, Water Docs Where You Live, the Water Docs Film Festival, and now the #LaterNoMore project - have a massive impact on spreading environmental awareness, and inciting thought and action about collective solutions to the adverse effects of climate change. The power of storytelling and art moves people, transcending language, gender, culture, and economic backgrounds. We all have a relationship with the natural world around us, and particularly connections to water, no matter where we come from.

Stan at a Water Docs Film Festival event in 2016

Stan has always been the voice in the room to ensure that we're staying true to our mission to change attitudes and connect people to ways of protecting water and a liveable climate in everyday life. He has remained committed to fostering a culture of appreciation for everyone’s experiences and insights within the team, and to work towards sustainability in our work. Stan has encouraged a strong appreciation for the ideas and solutions brought by the younger generation and has continued to support our ideas with his breadth of knowledge and resources.

Ecologos’ founder, Stan Gibson, speaking at Water Docs Film Festival in 2019

One of the ways that Stan has inspired me most is with his devout belief in positive advocacy for water and climate, and his belief in the human ability to embrace and connect our emotions to nature. It leaves me with a lot of hope to know that a younger Stan and Mariam had such a strong vision and dream for the future that they continued to pursue through the programming of Ecologos for 24 years. At this time in history, when the impacts of climate change and the water crisis are being felt more and more, it is so important to learn from the example of the advocacy of Stan and Mariam, who never held onto gloom or anxiety and just kept pushing forward. I'm grateful to Stan and Mariam for their vision, their work and their many years of dedication. I wish Stan a happy, peaceful and healthy retirement! I know he will always be cheering us on.

With the announcement of Stan’s retirement, we are highlighting the Stan Gibson Legacy Fund, created to help support the work of our organization and especially for the development of our new initiative, the #LaterNoMore project. I hope to continue to be a part of the team that brings these visions to life, and I look forward to the development of our #LaterNoMore project. I encourage you to make a contribution to the Stan Gibson Legacy Fund and to be a part of making impactful programming happen that will incite environmental action and increase environmental awareness through education.

If you have any fond memories of Stan or our organization and want to wish him a happy retirement, you can contribute any amount to this fund and include a farewell message. These messages will appear in a virtual card we will be giving Stan on July 2nd, his 78th birthday.
You can contribute to that fund and write your message here.